The Vegan Society of NSW has released a particularly striking ad, and it’s starting complex discussions all over Sydney.
The intentionally cute images of the animals force viewers to question their dietary habits, and ask: ‘Why is it socially acceptable to eat one, but not the other?’
A spokesperson for The Vegan Society of NSW, Katrina Fox, said “We want people to stop and think about the ‘ham’ or ‘beef’ or ‘turkey’ they put on their plates and realise that these farmed animals are no different to the dogs and cats they share their lives with.”
But the confronting way in which the question is posed is, inarguably, very divisive. Essentially, the image draws on extreme emotion and guilt to help peddle the vegan message.
People aligned with veganism have created the hashtag #sydneyveganbus to show their full support for the ad, while others have been quick to criticise the approach.
One Facebook user left a comment on the announcement about the campaign, writing “Eewwww. Fun fact: it is possible to be vegan and not carry on about it.”
Another simply said “I love pork,” before being told by another commenter that it’s “outragous” to suggest “fleeting pleasure justifies taking an animal’s life.”
It’s a highly contentious issue, and no doubt, the philosophy behind this particular campaign will continue to cause a stir well beyond its end date on December 19.
Are you vegan? Do you find the ad offensive? Let us know…
Top Comments
Vegan and love the campaign which uses exactly the same promotional strategies as any other; how people respond to it is a matter of personal responsibility. Sometimes the most obvious double standards are not so obvious and this ad calls that out.
Those annoying vegans, always encouraging me to confront the grim hipocrisy of my own morbid behaviour. Don't they know some people just want to sail comfortably through life without ever having to question their own beliefs? Most of us are quite happy to ignore the welfare of animals thank you very much.