Ethical Thought and Action: Examining Ethical Frameworks and Activism

This essay critically examines ethical thought and action through two primary lenses: civil disobedience, as exemplified by Martin Luther King's letter from Birmingham Jail, and environmental ethics, focusing on Aldo Leopold's 'Land Ethic.' The first part of the essay evaluates the recent acts of civil disobedience by vegan protesters in Australia, considering the arguments for and against their actions in light of King's principles. The author explores whether the protests, despite disrupting daily routines and potentially violating laws, are justified in their aim to protect animals. The essay then transitions to Leopold's 'Land Ethic,' analyzing the culling of feral pigs in western New South Wales. It considers whether the culling aligns with Leopold's concept of extending ethical boundaries to include the environment, or if it contradicts the principles of preserving ecological balance. The essay ultimately concludes that while the vegan movement could be more effective through lawful means, the culling was justified due to the economic and environmental damage caused by the feral pigs, suggesting that a balance is needed between idealistic land ethics and practical considerations.

Running Head: ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
1. Martin Luther King, in his Letter from Birmingham Prison, provides an
argument for when it appropriate to break the law. Do you think the recent
acts of civil disobedience by vegan protesters were justified?
Animal Rights Activists in Australia are being called “Un-Australian Green
Criminals” in light of the recent events that took place all over Australia. A sweep of similar
protests was seen all over the country that even led to about fifty people being charged over
the same. This essay will be talking into consideration the letter from Birmingham Prison by
Martin Luther King to argue if it was justified for them to break the law and when should it
be justified.
After the civil disobedience acts occurred, my first thought was that of disdain
because any such activism will inevitably harm the daily routines of the common people.
Even the Prime Minister of Australia spoke against these activists as they campaigned against
the killing of Animals , be it lawful, for food or the maintain a decorum within the
civilization. The prime Minister stated that he was prepared to join any kind of legal
challenges by landholders if they found these vegan protesters campaigning on their farms.
He dubbed them, “green collared criminals” and mentioned clearly in this speech, “if there
are pastoralists, farmers, grazers, who are in a position to bring a civil action against these
groups looking to undermine their livelihood, the commonwealth is totally open to supporting
them in a test case to show these green criminals [it is not on]”.
This is reminiscent of Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham Prison. He is all
for non-violent activism against racism an did not want to be put aside by the authorities who
stated that the activists were a bunch of rabble-rousers. He believed that, "Injustice anywhere
is a threat to justice everywhere". This letter was a response to people who thought that these
battles should be fought in legal courts and not in the streets. Now if I consider the same of

2ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
the animal-rights movement all across Australia, I might state that this activism on the streets
is justified because it is a non-violent collaboration of vegan protestors who just wants to
protect the animals. However, one must keep in mind that they are protesting against things
that are backed by legal rights. All the people who slaughter animals, the various
slaughterhouses, every decision taken by the government is backed by legitimate reason and
it must be kept in mind that a main source of Australian income is derived from the slaughter
houses.
King was of the view that if non violent activists are put aside, the people who
support a movement from the shadows will inevitably come before the government and seek
out answers. Minimalist movement will take a larger form and will be difficult for people to
control. Many people from the animal rights movement were arrested because they were
obstructing a roadway and resisting the police. One must keep in mind that anything that
obstructs the normal lives of people immediately becomes negative and breach in the law and
systems.
Is non violence, people chaining themselves to machinery? This incident had
happened in a abattoir run by the southern meats in the area of Goulburn. A similar case
happened when the protestors were tailed by the police, they broke into another abattoir and
then negotiated their way out with three is sheep. 19 activists had even broken into Carey
Bros Abattoir somewhere near Warwick at dawn, on a Monday. Greg Carrey the owner said
that he wanted the activists charged as he stated, “They are trying to bring our primary
agricultural industry to its knees using stand over tactics … this is un-Australian and harms
the livelihood of many.”
Non Violence is not breaking or entering or harming any legal institution of the
country a person is residing in. That is called destruction of property, be it private or public.

3ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
All of the protestors have crossed the line of non violence into something illegal. Vegan is a
choice and meat is a choice too, why would people raise question about other people’s
choices when meat is being bred and slaughter in ways that do not induce a lot of pain and in
ways that are legal and approved.
The civil rights movement during the time of king was considered extreme by many
but King considered himself moderate, he noted, "So the question is not whether we will be
extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for
love?" This vegan activism is trying to promote love through hate and it seems like an
unjustified way to promote a movement.
In conclusion, I believe that the movement will be better if done lawfully, and by
making claims that are much more reachable in nature. People will have different views
about countless things and in this very civilized world, it is necessary that activism takes
place in a way that actually helps the cause an does not dismiss it, because the campaign was
too unruly or extreme in nature.

4ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
2. How can Aldo Leopold’s ‘The Land Ethic’ help to think through the
culling of feral pigs in western New South Wales?
In New South Wales Riverina, more than 1,600 feral pigs were shot in an aerial shoot
that was conducted by the NSW local land services and had spanned across, 750,000
hectares. These feral pests had a chance of swelling to two million in five years if the
conditions were supportive. Thus, from this perspective, given how damaging their presence,
tends to be, the culling was a step taken towards positive results.
These pigs used to foul up the waterways and destroy the environment around them.
They used to compete for food and possessed a chance of spreading diseases to livestock and
humans. The humans did not have a free range on the Riverina Flood plains either because of
them. The feral pig population in Australia is estimated to be 24 million and the culling has
made it very productive for large landholders because of their grazing country,.
However, this action may be considered completely against the ‘Land Ethics’ as
stated by Also Leopold in the book, A Sand County Almanac (1949) which states that the
land should be allowed to renew in ways that are natural. This incident of culling goes against
the laws of nature. According to the theories presented in his book, humans are utilitarian and
it is defined as the moral right of an individual to do things that are good for people all over
the world. This event was utilitarian in nature because these feral pigs used to get in the way
of people who are trying to cultivate their lands and used to destroy property. The culling is
supported by the Libertarian based land Ethic as well as it states that agents have the right
over themselves and have various moral rights, especially the right to acquire property.
However, the culling had ended up killing various other animals: 349 deer, 67 foxes,
158 goats and even five cats. This is a cause of concern because already animals are
endangered all over the world and if we end up killing them further, it would destroy the

5ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
ecological balance and cause a lot of trouble for the people. Leopold states that, “When we
see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
The land ethic does not limit the community to humans; it also includes planes, animal,
insects, soil, water and more. The code of conduct is formed by interconnected relationships
that are caring in nature. He wants people to maintain direct contact with the natural world in
order to empathize with the various other organisms that form a major part of this community
and to empathize with them as equals. The feral pigs have a community of their own and are
a part of this community as well. He wanted to make sure that his land ethics leave behind a
legacy that hoped for a community based on mutual care and appreciation. He wanted to let
all elements grow and evolve uncontrolled, free of each other. His land ethic is the law of
nature and he wants nature to pave the way.
From the above perspective it is evident that the culling of the pigs go against the
nature and is not at all a part of the ‘thinking’ community that will shaping better land ethics
for all. The act was a very gruesome act that is important for the welfare of people. The land
ethic seems to me as a every utopian concept especially in this world where economic
stability is the topmost priority of all kinds of agents. It is therefore necessary to take steps
that go against this apparent land ethics in order to benefit from the same.
The set of values that have been stated in the book can be considered moral and ideal
but it goes against the set of values that are ingrained within the minds of people. People have
the right to claim their space in nature, after all people are natural beings as well and
according the law of nature can mark their territory. Once it is encroached upon, they can
fight back. Also the encroachment is causing economic losses that mankind cannot afford as
livelihoods are dependent on them, from this perspective the culling was legitimate.

6ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
Thus in conclusion, I am of the idea that the land ethics that have been stated by
Leopold in his book is a rather idealized view and can be implemented in measure but can be
rather unrealistic when it comes to the problem of the feral pigs that were effectively and
correctly taken care of by culling them. An excess of anything will harm the natural balance
of the world.

7ETHICAL THOUGHT AND ACTION
References
Leopold, A. (1989). A Sand County almanac, and sketches here and there. Outdoor Essays &
Reflections.