The measure of any great society can be seen in how it treats the least of its inhabitants ; those less capable of protecting themselves against oppressors that for no other reason than might makes right, oppress the voiceless .
The moral status of animals
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-animal/
" Rather, by perceiving the attitudes that underlie the use and abuse of non-human animals as shallow or cruel, one interested in living a virtuous life will change their attitudes and come to reject treating animals as food or tools for research. "
Without disruption, society can shift to a non violent diet, and save our planet, feed the hungry, be more healthy and place workers in jobs not requiring psychological distress. We all win.
Working together, we can do this.