Most people take moderate steps to do the same. It’s not just meat and phones though. It’s difficult to live in a globalized world without reaping the rewards of exploitation or suffering, directly or indirectly, somewhere along the supply chain. Most people do not have the free time or resources to micromanage their consumption, so most people have some habits which become unethical when scrutinized. When their habits are morally criticized, people tend to become defensive.

Do you limit yourself to botanical fruits, or does the suffering of plants not bother you? Surely you sweep the ground before you tread on it to avoid crushing insects. And I trust you don’t use any medicines or cleaning agents that might invoke genocide upon microorganisms.

Personally, I stopped being a vegan for several reasons, yet generally I source my meat either through ethical suppliers, or secondhand (on clearance, at the end of the sell-by date, when it would otherwise be thrown out). I’ve found that people are much more receptive to calm ethical conversations with a fellow omnivore than to Ching Hai, Food Inc, guilt tripping from a condescending vegan. Plus, the measured approach makes them more likely to listen to you about other ethical issues.