From Animal Farmer to Animal Advocate | Simon Plazolles-Hayes | TEDxKingstonUponThamesSalon

good evening my name is Simon Missoula’s

good evening my name is Simon Missoula’s Hayes and I’m from the town of Delaware

Hayes and I’m from the town of Delaware

Hayes and I’m from the town of Delaware Ohio in the United States of America

Ohio in the United States of America

Ohio in the United States of America when I was 10 years old my family and I

when I was 10 years old my family and I

when I was 10 years old my family and I moved to the countryside where my

moved to the countryside where my

moved to the countryside where my parents started their own farm morning

parents started their own farm morning

parents started their own farm morning and night we worked on this farm tending

and night we worked on this farm tending

and night we worked on this farm tending to our goats sheep chickens llamas and

to our goats sheep chickens llamas and

to our goats sheep chickens llamas and occasionally ducks the best way for me

occasionally ducks the best way for me

occasionally ducks the best way for me to learn how to take care of these

to learn how to take care of these

to learn how to take care of these animals and how to become a farmer was

animals and how to become a farmer was

animals and how to become a farmer was by being a part of my local 4-h club 4-h

by being a part of my local 4-h club 4-h

by being a part of my local 4-h club 4-h is an international agricultural based

is an international agricultural based

is an international agricultural based youth organization that teaches kids

youth organization that teaches kids

youth organization that teaches kids leadership and responsibility by having

leadership and responsibility by having

leadership and responsibility by having them take various projects from a wide

them take various projects from a wide

them take various projects from a wide variety of options I took a lot of

variety of options I took a lot of

variety of options I took a lot of projects throughout my time in 4h but

projects throughout my time in 4h but

projects throughout my time in 4h but one of the ones that’s most memorable to

one of the ones that’s most memorable to

one of the ones that’s most memorable to me is market lambs

me is market lambs

me is market lambs the way that the market lamb project

the way that the market lamb project

the way that the market lamb project worked was that I was given a

worked was that I was given a

worked was that I was given a responsibility over one of our newborn

responsibility over one of our newborn

responsibility over one of our newborn baby lambs in February that I would then

baby lambs in February that I would then

baby lambs in February that I would then take to the fair in September market

take to the fair in September market

take to the fair in September market lambs like other market animals were to

lambs like other market animals were to

lambs like other market animals were to be shown ranked and then auctioned I

be shown ranked and then auctioned I

be shown ranked and then auctioned I would show my lamb on a Sunday and on

would show my lamb on a Sunday and on

would show my lamb on a Sunday and on Wednesday he would go to auction during

Wednesday he would go to auction during

Wednesday he would go to auction during the auction I would walk my lamb into

the auction I would walk my lamb into

the auction I would walk my lamb into the ring where the bidding would

the ring where the bidding would

the ring where the bidding would commence and when the highest bid was

commence and when the highest bid was

commence and when the highest bid was taken I had to take my lamb back to his

taken I had to take my lamb back to his

taken I had to take my lamb back to his pen to wait for the men to come and

pen to wait for the men to come and

pen to wait for the men to come and collect him put him on the trailer that

collect him put him on the trailer that

collect him put him on the trailer that would go to the slaughterhouse I

remember when I left the stage the

remember when I left the stage the feeling of pride and happiness of having

feeling of pride and happiness of having

feeling of pride and happiness of having just sold my lamb had turned a remorse

just sold my lamb had turned a remorse

just sold my lamb had turned a remorse and guilt upon the realization that I

and guilt upon the realization that I

and guilt upon the realization that I had just sold out my friend the pet that

had just sold out my friend the pet that

had just sold out my friend the pet that I had known since it was born

I would sit next to his pen and I would

I would sit next to his pen and I would try to reason with myself and I would

try to reason with myself and I would

try to reason with myself and I would tell myself that this was normal this

tell myself that this was normal this

tell myself that this was normal this was natural and this was right and when

was natural and this was right and when

was natural and this was right and when the men finally came to collect my lamb

the men finally came to collect my lamb

the men finally came to collect my lamb I would apologize to him one final time

I would apologize to him one final time

I would apologize to him one final time but the feelings of remorse and guilt I

but the feelings of remorse and guilt I

but the feelings of remorse and guilt I suppressed them for every year that I

suppressed them for every year that I

suppressed them for every year that I took that project I had my final fair

took that project I had my final fair

took that project I had my final fair when I was 17 years old because less

when I was 17 years old because less

when I was 17 years old because less than a week after I turned 18 I enlisted

than a week after I turned 18 I enlisted

than a week after I turned 18 I enlisted in the United States Army as an

in the United States Army as an

in the United States Army as an infantryman as an infantryman I was my

infantryman as an infantryman I was my

infantryman as an infantryman I was my country’s strength in war and her

country’s strength in war and her

country’s strength in war and her deterrent in peace I trained to be the

deterrent in peace I trained to be the

deterrent in peace I trained to be the most effective fighter that I could be

most effective fighter that I could be

most effective fighter that I could be for my country but when we weren’t

for my country but when we weren’t

for my country but when we weren’t training my time was my own in the fall

training my time was my own in the fall

training my time was my own in the fall of 2013 my friend and fellow soldier

of 2013 my friend and fellow soldier

of 2013 my friend and fellow soldier invited me to his wedding in rural

invited me to his wedding in rural

invited me to his wedding in rural Pennsylvania the night of the wedding we

Pennsylvania the night of the wedding we

Pennsylvania the night of the wedding we were celebrating next to a bonfire when

were celebrating next to a bonfire when

were celebrating next to a bonfire when out of nowhere this cat jumped up into

out of nowhere this cat jumped up into

out of nowhere this cat jumped up into my lap curled up and fell asleep I never

my lap curled up and fell asleep I never

my lap curled up and fell asleep I never considered myself much of an animal

considered myself much of an animal

considered myself much of an animal person but I really liked this cat so I

person but I really liked this cat so I

person but I really liked this cat so I was shocked when the hostess told me

was shocked when the hostess told me

was shocked when the hostess told me that because this cat was a stray her

that because this cat was a stray her

that because this cat was a stray her husband was going to shoot him I knew

husband was going to shoot him I knew

husband was going to shoot him I knew that I could not leave that cat there

that I could not leave that cat there

that I could not leave that cat there with his death sentence so with the help

with his death sentence so with the help

with his death sentence so with the help of a few other people at the wedding I

of a few other people at the wedding I

of a few other people at the wedding I was able to sneak the cat out the

was able to sneak the cat out the

was able to sneak the cat out the following morning

following morning

following morning now I had nowhere else to go I had to

now I had nowhere else to go I had to

now I had nowhere else to go I had to return to my duty station as a single

return to my duty station as a single

return to my duty station as a single soldier I was living in the barracks

soldier I was living in the barracks

soldier I was living in the barracks where we weren’t allowed to keep plants

where we weren’t allowed to keep plants

where we weren’t allowed to keep plants in our room let alone animals so at 3

in our room let alone animals so at 3

in our room let alone animals so at 3 o’clock in the morning under the cover

o’clock in the morning under the cover

o’clock in the morning under the cover of darkness I snuck the cat in through

of darkness I snuck the cat in through

of darkness I snuck the cat in through my window and I kept him in my barracks

my window and I kept him in my barracks

my window and I kept him in my barracks room for a few days until I could sneak

room for a few days until I could sneak

room for a few days until I could sneak him back out again

him back out again

him back out again back to say

back to say

back to say d and back to my parents farm nearly a

d and back to my parents farm nearly a

d and back to my parents farm nearly a year had passed since I had done this

year had passed since I had done this

year had passed since I had done this but my actions had really stuck with me

but my actions had really stuck with me

but my actions had really stuck with me and I began to question why I did what I

and I began to question why I did what I

and I began to question why I did what I did why did I go out of my way to help

did why did I go out of my way to help

did why did I go out of my way to help that cat was there a real difference

that cat was there a real difference

that cat was there a real difference between that cat and the animals that I

between that cat and the animals that I

between that cat and the animals that I eat in fact the whole thing made me

eat in fact the whole thing made me

eat in fact the whole thing made me start to question the perception that I

start to question the perception that I

start to question the perception that I held about animals because up until this

held about animals because up until this

held about animals because up until this point I saw that there was mankind and

point I saw that there was mankind and

point I saw that there was mankind and that there were animals here for the

that there were animals here for the

that there were animals here for the purposes of mankind but now I started to

purposes of mankind but now I started to

purposes of mankind but now I started to wonder whether this was ethical logical

wonder whether this was ethical logical

wonder whether this was ethical logical or even necessary what I was

or even necessary what I was

or even necessary what I was experiencing was something called

experiencing was something called

experiencing was something called cognitive dissonance cognitive

cognitive dissonance cognitive

cognitive dissonance cognitive dissonance occurs when a new set of

dissonance occurs when a new set of

dissonance occurs when a new set of ideas and beliefs contradict and

ideas and beliefs contradict and

ideas and beliefs contradict and challenge your old set of ideas and

challenge your old set of ideas and

challenge your old set of ideas and beliefs and in order to resolve this

beliefs and in order to resolve this

beliefs and in order to resolve this inner conflict something about your

inner conflict something about your

inner conflict something about your ideas and beliefs needs to change so

ideas and beliefs needs to change so

ideas and beliefs needs to change so when I could no longer answer my own

when I could no longer answer my own

when I could no longer answer my own questions and when I could no longer

questions and when I could no longer

questions and when I could no longer defend my own actions I knew that I had

defend my own actions I knew that I had

defend my own actions I knew that I had to make a change so I became a

to make a change so I became a

to make a change so I became a vegetarian as a part of a two-week trial

vegetarian as a part of a two-week trial

vegetarian as a part of a two-week trial now a vegetarian doesn’t consume any

now a vegetarian doesn’t consume any

now a vegetarian doesn’t consume any products that come from a dead animal

products that come from a dead animal

products that come from a dead animal but if the animal doesn’t die to produce

but if the animal doesn’t die to produce

but if the animal doesn’t die to produce it like dairy eggs or wool then it’s

it like dairy eggs or wool then it’s

it like dairy eggs or wool then it’s okay this in it of itself though was a

okay this in it of itself though was a

okay this in it of itself though was a very big leap for me because my whole

very big leap for me because my whole

very big leap for me because my whole life I had been staunchly opposed to the

life I had been staunchly opposed to the

life I had been staunchly opposed to the ideas of vegetarianism animal welfare

ideas of vegetarianism animal welfare

ideas of vegetarianism animal welfare and animal rights I became a vegetarian

and animal rights I became a vegetarian

and animal rights I became a vegetarian in August of 2014 and I was honorably

in August of 2014 and I was honorably

in August of 2014 and I was honorably discharged from the Army in February of

discharged from the Army in February of

discharged from the Army in February of 2015 my two-week vegetarian trial

2015 my two-week vegetarian trial

2015 my two-week vegetarian trial continued indefinitely and I was very

continued indefinitely and I was very

continued indefinitely and I was very surprised by how little I missed meat

surprised by how little I missed meat

surprised by how little I missed meat however I still saw this as a very

however I still saw this as a very

however I still saw this as a very personal choice and I didn’t want to

personal choice and I didn’t want to

personal choice and I didn’t want to make it a focal point about my life but

make it a focal point about my life but

make it a focal point about my life but in April of 2015 I hit another point of

in April of 2015 I hit another point of

in April of 2015 I hit another point of realization with the death of my

realization with the death of my

realization with the death of my grandmother my grandmother Shirley Hayes

grandmother my grandmother Shirley Hayes

grandmother my grandmother Shirley Hayes was a remarkable woman

was a remarkable woman

was a remarkable woman she had three children nine

she had three children nine

she had three children nine grandchildren and nine

grandchildren and nine

grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren

great-grandchildren

great-grandchildren I remember after her funeral some ladies

I remember after her funeral some ladies

I remember after her funeral some ladies from her church brought food for the

from her church brought food for the

from her church brought food for the mourners at a reception but when I got

mourners at a reception but when I got

mourners at a reception but when I got up to serve myself a plate of food I

up to serve myself a plate of food I

up to serve myself a plate of food I found that all of the main dishes had

found that all of the main dishes had

found that all of the main dishes had contained meat I was disgusted and I had

contained meat I was disgusted and I had

contained meat I was disgusted and I had to leave the church and try to clear my

to leave the church and try to clear my

to leave the church and try to clear my head by going on a walk during that walk

head by going on a walk during that walk

head by going on a walk during that walk I started to ask myself even more

I started to ask myself even more

I started to ask myself even more questions because we were there to mourn

questions because we were there to mourn

questions because we were there to mourn the loss of a loved one yet how many

the loss of a loved one yet how many

the loss of a loved one yet how many mothers fathers sons and daughters were

mothers fathers sons and daughters were

mothers fathers sons and daughters were slaughtered for it honestly how many

slaughtered for it honestly how many

slaughtered for it honestly how many animals died just to mark her death it

animals died just to mark her death it

animals died just to mark her death it was outside of that church where I began

was outside of that church where I began

was outside of that church where I began to truly comprehend mankind’s complete

to truly comprehend mankind’s complete

to truly comprehend mankind’s complete control over animals

now I was and I still am learning about

now I was and I still am learning about the suffering of animals because when

the suffering of animals because when

the suffering of animals because when we’re eating animals and when we’re

we’re eating animals and when we’re

we’re eating animals and when we’re wearing animals and when were farming

wearing animals and when were farming

wearing animals and when were farming animals we don’t feel like we’re doing

animals we don’t feel like we’re doing

animals we don’t feel like we’re doing anything wrong because what we’re doing

anything wrong because what we’re doing

anything wrong because what we’re doing it’s just life as we know it but when we

it’s just life as we know it but when we

it’s just life as we know it but when we stop doing this and we take a step back

stop doing this and we take a step back

stop doing this and we take a step back and we critically analyze our actions

and we critically analyze our actions

and we critically analyze our actions and the price that the animals paid for

and the price that the animals paid for

and the price that the animals paid for our actions it all begins to seem so

our actions it all begins to seem so

our actions it all begins to seem so wrong now I told myself that I was a

wrong now I told myself that I was a

wrong now I told myself that I was a vegetarian because I cared about the

vegetarian because I cared about the

vegetarian because I cared about the welfare of animals but when I did

welfare of animals but when I did

welfare of animals but when I did further research into the modern dairy

further research into the modern dairy

further research into the modern dairy and egg industry I actually found that

and egg industry I actually found that

and egg industry I actually found that this was contrary to those beliefs

this was contrary to those beliefs

this was contrary to those beliefs because while laying an egg and being

because while laying an egg and being

because while laying an egg and being milked won’t normally kill the animal

milked won’t normally kill the animal

milked won’t normally kill the animal the industries themselves are just as

the industries themselves are just as

the industries themselves are just as cruel because in the egg-laying industry

cruel because in the egg-laying industry

cruel because in the egg-laying industry males pose no use so the day that a male

males pose no use so the day that a male

males pose no use so the day that a male chick is born its killed the hens will

chick is born its killed the hens will

chick is born its killed the hens will live out the remainder of their lives in

live out the remainder of their lives in

live out the remainder of their lives in cramped conditions laying eggs until

cramped conditions laying eggs until

cramped conditions laying eggs until their bodies can’t produce anymore

their bodies can’t produce anymore

their bodies can’t produce anymore and then they are sent to the

and then they are sent to the

and then they are sent to the slaughterhouse dairy is cruel because it

slaughterhouse dairy is cruel because it

slaughterhouse dairy is cruel because it involves the forced impregnation of the

involves the forced impregnation of the

involves the forced impregnation of the cows to create the milk production which

cows to create the milk production which

cows to create the milk production which directly leads to the veal industry and

directly leads to the veal industry and

directly leads to the veal industry and when these cows spend their whole lives

when these cows spend their whole lives

when these cows spend their whole lives continuously giving birth and being

continuously giving birth and being

continuously giving birth and being milked and giving birth and being milked

milked and giving birth and being milked

milked and giving birth and being milked and giving birth and being milked until

and giving birth and being milked until

and giving birth and being milked until they’re physically unable to do either

they’re physically unable to do either

they’re physically unable to do either the reward

the reward

the reward they get sent to the slaughterhouse

dairy is actually so bad that here in

dairy is actually so bad that here in the UK the Advertising Standards Agency

the UK the Advertising Standards Agency

the UK the Advertising Standards Agency approved an advert that labeled dairy as

approved an advert that labeled dairy as

approved an advert that labeled dairy as inhumane so I took the next step and I

inhumane so I took the next step and I

inhumane so I took the next step and I became a vegan which means that I don’t

became a vegan which means that I don’t

became a vegan which means that I don’t eat where use consume anything that

eat where use consume anything that

eat where use consume anything that comes from animals so what if I learned

comes from animals so what if I learned

comes from animals so what if I learned from all of this

from all of this

from all of this to start out as a meat-eating farmer

to start out as a meat-eating farmer

to start out as a meat-eating farmer only to go into the complete opposite

only to go into the complete opposite

only to go into the complete opposite direction I can stand up here and I can

direction I can stand up here and I can

direction I can stand up here and I can continue to tell you the ways how

continue to tell you the ways how

continue to tell you the ways how animals are used and abused but what I

animals are used and abused but what I

animals are used and abused but what I want to emphasize is that there is a

want to emphasize is that there is a

want to emphasize is that there is a disconnect between humans and animals

disconnect between humans and animals

disconnect between humans and animals that for the most part we would have

that for the most part we would have

that for the most part we would have saved that cat but still killed that

saved that cat but still killed that

saved that cat but still killed that lamb I know that there are those who are

lamb I know that there are those who are

lamb I know that there are those who are against the ideas of veganism or animal

against the ideas of veganism or animal

against the ideas of veganism or animal rights or simply don’t understand where

rights or simply don’t understand where

rights or simply don’t understand where we are coming from or don’t believe that

we are coming from or don’t believe that

we are coming from or don’t believe that they are doing anything wrong in their

they are doing anything wrong in their

they are doing anything wrong in their treatment of animals because when we go

treatment of animals because when we go

treatment of animals because when we go to zoos we don’t empathize with the

to zoos we don’t empathize with the

to zoos we don’t empathize with the animals and consider what it must be

animals and consider what it must be

animals and consider what it must be like restricted to a small portion of

like restricted to a small portion of

like restricted to a small portion of land and when people go hunting they

land and when people go hunting they

land and when people go hunting they always claim that they have this great

always claim that they have this great

always claim that they have this great respect for the animal but then they

respect for the animal but then they

respect for the animal but then they proceed to kill the one that they claim

proceed to kill the one that they claim

proceed to kill the one that they claim to respect and they pose next to the

to respect and they pose next to the

to respect and they pose next to the dead body we bring dead beings to mourn

dead body we bring dead beings to mourn

dead body we bring dead beings to mourn at funeral and is farmers and for a

at funeral and is farmers and for a

at funeral and is farmers and for a chose

chose

chose we claim that no one cares more for the

we claim that no one cares more for the

we claim that no one cares more for the animals under our responsibility than us

animals under our responsibility than us

animals under our responsibility than us but we continue to send them to the

but we continue to send them to the

but we continue to send them to the slaughterhouse I believe that we are

slaughterhouse I believe that we are

slaughterhouse I believe that we are under a spell of tradition and normality

under a spell of tradition and normality

under a spell of tradition and normality that tells us it’s okay to do these

that tells us it’s okay to do these

that tells us it’s okay to do these things even though we know that animals

things even though we know that animals

things even though we know that animals are sentient intelligent and have the

are sentient intelligent and have the

are sentient intelligent and have the ability to suffer we tell ourselves it’s

ability to suffer we tell ourselves it’s

ability to suffer we tell ourselves it’s okay because because that’s just the way

okay because because that’s just the way

okay because because that’s just the way that it’s always been but that’s the

that it’s always been but that’s the

that it’s always been but that’s the same bad argument that’s been used to

same bad argument that’s been used to

same bad argument that’s been used to persecute members of the LGBT community

it’s the same bad argument that’s been

it’s the same bad argument that’s been used to tell women that they couldn’t be

used to tell women that they couldn’t be

used to tell women that they couldn’t be anything more than mothers it’s the same

anything more than mothers it’s the same

anything more than mothers it’s the same bad argument that humanity has used

bad argument that humanity has used

bad argument that humanity has used throughout history to try to justify

throughout history to try to justify

throughout history to try to justify terrible things that they are different

terrible things that they are different

terrible things that they are different than us and this somehow gives us a

than us and this somehow gives us a

than us and this somehow gives us a right to treat them horribly

this idea this idea affects every single

this idea this idea affects every single one of us on earth we as human beings

one of us on earth we as human beings

one of us on earth we as human beings are not alone in this world we share

are not alone in this world we share

are not alone in this world we share this planet with over 8.5 million

this planet with over 8.5 million

this planet with over 8.5 million different species I’m not asking you to

different species I’m not asking you to

different species I’m not asking you to change your religion and I’m not asking

change your religion and I’m not asking

change your religion and I’m not asking you to change the political party but

you to change the political party but

you to change the political party but what I am asking is that you take your

what I am asking is that you take your

what I am asking is that you take your current held values beliefs logic and

current held values beliefs logic and

current held values beliefs logic and ethics and then compare that to your

ethics and then compare that to your

ethics and then compare that to your attitude and treatment towards animals

attitude and treatment towards animals

attitude and treatment towards animals ask yourself is this ethical is this

ask yourself is this ethical is this

ask yourself is this ethical is this logical is this necessary is this good

logical is this necessary is this good

logical is this necessary is this good for the planet good for the animals and

for the planet good for the animals and

for the planet good for the animals and good for yourselves

my whole life I learned how to disengage

my whole life I learned how to disengage I learned to suppress Myra Morris in my

I learned to suppress Myra Morris in my

I learned to suppress Myra Morris in my guilt towards animals and I learned not

guilt towards animals and I learned not

guilt towards animals and I learned not to hesitate to take a life to defend

to hesitate to take a life to defend

to hesitate to take a life to defend others in regards to the animals that we

others in regards to the animals that we

others in regards to the animals that we eat that we wear that we use for our

eat that we wear that we use for our

eat that we wear that we use for our experiments and for our own

experiments and for our own

experiments and for our own entertainment

entertainment

entertainment we push out the bad thoughts we scroll

we push out the bad thoughts we scroll

we push out the bad thoughts we scroll past that video that documents realities

past that video that documents realities

past that video that documents realities for animals and we walk past that

for animals and we walk past that

for animals and we walk past that activist in the street because to stop

activist in the street because to stop

activist in the street because to stop and stare is simply too distressing for

and stare is simply too distressing for

and stare is simply too distressing for us but rather than admit that the

us but rather than admit that the

us but rather than admit that the distress the disgust the sadness and the

distress the disgust the sadness and the

distress the disgust the sadness and the horror that we feel when we come face to

horror that we feel when we come face to

horror that we feel when we come face to face with these realities rather than

face with these realities rather than

face with these realities rather than admit that those are our true feelings

admit that those are our true feelings

admit that those are our true feelings towards these industries we ignore it we

towards these industries we ignore it we

towards these industries we ignore it we put up walls and we swallow the product

I’m not here to make you feel judged I’m

I’m not here to make you feel judged I’m here because I swallowed that lie too

here because I swallowed that lie too

here because I swallowed that lie too but with one small act of kindness I

but with one small act of kindness I

but with one small act of kindness I learned that there is a man-made problem

learned that there is a man-made problem

learned that there is a man-made problem for animals and that we need to work

for animals and that we need to work

for animals and that we need to work together to address this problem rather

together to address this problem rather

together to address this problem rather than continuing to ignore it and hoping

than continuing to ignore it and hoping

than continuing to ignore it and hoping that it will simply go away don’t let

that it will simply go away don’t let

that it will simply go away don’t let apathy tradition or ignorance excuse you

apathy tradition or ignorance excuse you

apathy tradition or ignorance excuse you from allowing this cruelty to continue

from allowing this cruelty to continue

from allowing this cruelty to continue and don’t wait for your own epiphany

and don’t wait for your own epiphany

and don’t wait for your own epiphany before you challenge your views on

before you challenge your views on

before you challenge your views on animals thank you

animals thank you

animals thank you [Applause]