To Beegan or Not to Beegan
"Where kindness is concerned, make no distinction between humans and other living beings."
-Timber Hawkeye
That Is (Not) the Question
Beeganism is a lifestyle wherein "vegans" consume insect products, primarily from bees (i.e., honey). Of course, this, in reality, has no actual association with veganism because veganism excludes the use of any species of animal. To be vegan but to not extend that compassion to certain species within the animal kingdom defies the core principles of veganism, and therefore anyone proclaiming to be a "beegan" does not yet fundamentally understand the vegan philosophy.
Ethical Concerns
Usually, responding to beeganism as I did in the paragraph above is met with accusations of gatekeeping the vegan lifestyle, but those remarks circumvent the issue at hand: the exploitation of bees. To be clear, bees are just as much an animal as you or I, and though we may not comprehend the full extent of their consciousness, they are still autonomous, sentient individuals deserving of the right to live free from human interference.
Additionally, bees in the honey industry face similar cruelty to other animals used in agriculture. Their bodies are mutilated; they are the victims of bestiality and forceful impregnation; they are transported (through the mail!) while alive over long distances; and they are ultimately killed or die in the process of being exploited. If we believe in the ethics of veganism, we would extend those values to all living beings.
Health Concerns
Honey is often touted as a health food, beneficial to those with various ailments (I've been told several times it would help with my allergies), but it should be stated that it is certainly not healthful. Of course, it's probably not the most unhealthy product one could eat, but it is pure sugar -- it's best to consume sugar in a natural form, like the fructose found in fruits, where other nutrients are available -- and is metabolized by our bodies in the same manner as all other refined sugars. However, if we do choose to consume liquid sugar, it would be best for the bees and the planet if we opted for plant-based alternatives, like date syrup or agave nectar, instead.
Environmental Concerns
"Save the bees!" the environmentalists cry, but they often don't realize that consuming honey and other bee-derived products does about as much good for bees as dairy does for cows. Honeybees, as prevalent as they are, are a nonnative species, their roots tracing back to Asia and Europe. It may be surprising to learn that "the four thousand native bee species in the United States and Canada don't live in hives" or produce honey.1
Of course, nonnative species present varying degrees of danger to the environment, but honeybees' ability to pollinate native American plants pales in comparison to other insects. (In fact, beetles, not bees, are the largest group of pollinators around!1) Because of the abundance of honeybees, native insects (e.g., bees who don't produce honey) and birds face strong competition for resources, leading to disastrous imbalances in the ecosystem.
Long story short, yes, we need to save the bees, but we need to protect indigenous species of bees and other pollinators, too. And the best way to do that is to let the honey industry fade away and restore the natural order.
be conscious, be kind, be vegan
Related posts you may enjoy:
"The Best & Worst of Zero-Waste, Pt. 4"