I like to provide views from both sides of the coin on issues that we raise, so here’s one that is quite objective:
Source: http://www.care2.com/causes/former-vegans-explain-why-they-eat-meat.html
I suppose this is why I’ve never promoted vegetarianism PER SE, rather, I urge readers to EAT LESS MEAT. Even in my latest book, “Do We Have a Choice?”, I ask that we consider eating less meat, even if it’s just once a week. I fully understand that not everyone can become a vegetarian. Some humans just need some meat to fulfil their dietary needs, but we don’t have to gorge ourselves silly on meat knowing how much suffering goes on at the factory farms.
This excerpt is from the link above:
Every living thing, from mammals, birds, and fish to plants, fungi, and bacteria, eats other living things. Humans are part of the food web; but for the artifices of cremation and tightly sealed caskets, all of us would eventually be recycled into other life forms. It is natural for people, like other omnivores, to participate in this web by eating animals. And it is ethically defensible — provided we refrain from causing gratuitous suffering.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/former-vegans-explain-why-they-eat-meat.html#ixzz1hYkobjeY
For me, the only reason I eat less meat is precisely because I know animals suffer gratuitously in the factory farms. It is for this compassionate reason that I do what I do. And why do animals suffer so much – it is because there is a great demand for meat and that is why billions of animals are bred in the most inhumane conditions and slaughtered in the same.
If we all do our fair share by eating less meat, the amount of suffering in the factory farms can be reduced.
On the other side of the coin, there is the argument that the meat industry is sustainable whereas the plant-food industry is far more ecologically unsound.
And there is also the other argument that says we do not know enough about plants. They are living things, too. What if they too feel pain when they are being cut and cooked?
Yes, there will always be arguments for and against.
I think the bottom line, again, is to adopt a moderate stand and to listen to our body and our heart. It will tell us what we need to eat.
My personal eating principle is this – Eat less meat for compassionate reasons; be flexible when eating out or in functions so as not to be a burden to others.
Comments
One response to “Vegans explain why they eat meat again”
In Holland we have a political party called … Party for the Animals. Of course it does not just fight for the animals alone as a political party. BUT it is a VOICE for the animals.
Holland is a country that have laws for slaughter houses. Animals (I don’t know if that applied to chickens) are given anesthesia before slaughtering. Perhaps is kind of hypocritical but at least the animals do not have to be in pain until they finally stopped breathing. 4 to 5 minutes.
Presently this political party and animal activists are fighting against Moslims and Jewish slaughtering that deviate from the Dutch laws based on religious reasons.
Plants/vegetables — Malaysia is a very lucky country that have sun all year round. I am sure if anyone is interested enough, they can come up with solar energy solution for greenhouses. Yes. Greenhouses … reversed from the cold country. In my simple way, I am sure solar energy can be stored and use as energy to operate air-conditioning. But human being tends to focus more on making money, before what is the best for the rest of the world.
Few years ago, in Holland, there are some lands that was reserved for greenhouses had be released. The reason is since hot air rises, greenhouses now support 2 layers of crops rather than the traditional one crop. Therefore greenhouses are using less land.
IF we look at how carelessly we treated gasoline, and unwilling to spend R&D money in coming up more efficient ways of using solar energy in countries such as Africa, Malaysia, India. Until now when gasoline is running short. And if I see all those tall buildings that are without solar panels. What a waste of opportunities to do something good towards global warming.
Cindy