Animals Don’t Speak Human once again sparks an important conversation about how we treat fellow living beings through small, everyday actions. 

On November 22, Animals Don’t Speak Human presented an educational series titled “Grow with Kindness” at the green space of Rebo Ijo Wisanggeni, a venue aligned with the spirit of sustainability and environmental awareness.

This event was designed to help the public understand that kindness can grow from the simplest choices, starting with the food we consume. Through an educational approach, Animals Don’t Speak Human highlighted issues surrounding food, animal welfare, and the impact of animal-based consumption on both human health and the environment. 

Awareness of food systems, the environment, and the wellbeing of living beings has become an increasingly important conversation in many public spaces. Through the Grow with Kindness series, Animals Don’t Speak Human (ADSH) continues to emphasize that meaningful change can arise from everyday decisions that seem small, from what we choose to eat to how we manage food scraps.

Plant-Based Diets as a Path Toward a Kinder Planet 

During the event held at Rebo Ijo Wisanggeni, ADSH underscored that a plant-based diet is not merely a trend, but a tangible step toward a healthier, more sustainable, and more compassionate future. This dietary shift has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases while requiring significantly fewer natural resources compared to animal-based protein. Producing one kilogram of beef, for instance, requires around 15,000 liters of water while legumes need only about a quarter of that amount.

Moreover, adopting a plant-based diet helps reduce dependence on intensive farming systems that often overlook the welfare of the animals within them. Each year, more than 80 billion farmed animals are raised in conditions that prioritize productivity over their wellbeing. ADSH encourages the public to recognize that if animals cannot speak the language of humans, then it is up to us to speak on their behalf through kinder, more thoughtful consumption choices.

Food or Feed: A Global Consumption Reality Often Overlooked

One of the issues raised during the discussion was the fact that more than one-third of the world’s cereals are used as livestock feed rather than as food for people. Diverting these crops into industrial animal agriculture creates a major imbalance in global food availability. If these crops were consumed directly by humans, global food capacity could increase significantly. This reality is one reason why plant-based diets are considered a more efficient and sustainable long-term solution for global food security.

Plant vs. Animal Protein: Efficiency, Health, and Planetary Impact

Plant-based proteins are not simply another food option; they are part of a broader solution for both human health and planetary wellbeing. In terms of resource use, producing animal protein, especially beef is extremely water-intensive. To produce one kilogram of beef, approximately 15,000 liters of water are required, a figure far higher than the roughly 4,000 liters needed to produce legumes. This comparison highlights how plant-based proteins are significantly more efficient and far gentler on our increasingly strained natural resources.

Nutritionally, plant proteins also offer advantages that animal protein does not. Plant-based foods contain fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals essential to the body, nutrients that are absent in animal protein, which instead often contains cholesterol and saturated fat. With proper planning, a plant-based diet is able to meet all essential amino acid requirements, supporting overall health while reducing the risks typically associated with high consumption of animal products.

Environmentally, the impact of plant-based protein production is far lower. Plant foods require considerably less land, water, and energy than intensive livestock systems. Greenhouse gas emissions from plant-based production are also significantly smaller, making plant protein an essential component of global climate solutions. For these reasons, plant-based proteins are considered a long-term approach that supports both human wellbeing and the sustainability of the planet we share.

Grow with Kindness: Inspiring Awareness Through Food-Kind Choices
 
Through the event at Rebo Ijo Wisanggeni, Animals Don’t Speak Human reinforced the message that kindness does not always come in the form of grand gestures or large movements. Often, it begins with the simple, everyday choices we make, especially what we choose to put on our plates. Food choices are not just about taste or habit; they reflect our values, our compassion, and our relationship with the world around us.

Through discussions, education, and hands-on experiences during the event, participants were encouraged to see that choosing more plant-based foods means reducing pressure on the billions of farmed animals living in intensive systems. Such systems are widely known for practices that compromise animal welfare in exchange for productivity and shifting consumption patterns is among the most effective ways to reduce the demand that sustains them.

Grow with Kindness strives to remind us that kindness is something that grows, not something that appears instantly. It begins with the willingness to see the connection between personal choices and global impact; with the courage to adjust small habits; and with the compassion we extend to animals, to people, and to the planet we all call home. With a gentle, educational approach grounded in daily life, ADSH hopes each participant leaves with one powerful message: that a better future can begin right on our plates.