I think this is a great article by Adam, related to the first post.
Are humans superior to animals?

What does equality really mean? I think refers to an individuals importance in relation to another individual, in order to make the term meaningful in this context, and frame it in the mindset of the exploiter. And so equality may address the question: who is more worthy to survive?

My personal opinion on the matter is that sentient beings are equal.
It's fair to assume that we animals, all have an interest in a continued existence, and in not being exploited.
Now I don't know about insects, they are a constant source of confusion for me, but I'm sure we can all agree to afford them this assumption.

It's hard to say that a human enjoys life more than a dog and vice versa. Even so, does ones ability to enjoy life qualify as valid reason for his or her continued existence? I don't think so.

Does ones lifespan matter, or the amount of time one has left?

Is ones "goodness" or utility to others make that person more equal/important?

Is the life of those you are responsible for or care about, mean they are more equal/important?

Is your life more equal/important than others lives?

Personally, I would answer no to the above questions. And because of that, I am at times upset over my current circumstance; being vegan in a non vegan world.
I think it is important to remember that we human animals can avoid contributing to the majority of direct or indirect harm other animals experience in today's society. And by harm I mean suffering, exploitation or death.
Unfortunately it is rare to be able to avoid all of it even if we are vegan. Some of us have to face daily, the questions I've asked above.

Surely we are also contributing to dispelling the idea that, "it is permissible for us to exploit animals, both human and non human", through our interaction with other human people.
So I also think it's just as important to keep in mind, that through this contribution, we can be more useful, to both non-human animals and human animals, than otherwise.