ON NOW...No Country For Animals...Gobal Montreal

[cassiek]

Originally Posted by Gammachi

Why you should really become a vegan, or make a serious effort to consume less meat, dairy, eggs:

1. Animal welfare: Organic farm animals don't get slaughtered or transported any differently than factory farm animals (Maybe not, but they are generally raised with the animal's welfare and the environment in mind. A good alternative, IMO, and more realistic for some individuals then becoming a vegan).

2. Our health: Plant based protein is far better than animal protein in many ways, see this documentary: http://www.youtube.com/user/heylover.../0/yResuAasCnA

3. Environmental: read up on UN report here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ree-diet/print (Yes, it certainly is a fact that livestock are "hard" on the environment in regards to climate change. But so is on-road transportation, household biofuel, household fossil fuel, waste/landfill, power, other forms of agriculture etc. We need to come together and look at and criticize several of our "ways" of being as a species that are both harmful and neglectful to the environment, it is not a simple one-dimensional problem.)

4. Personal: Follow your conscience. Live with integrity. You gain positive energy in making a difference in so many living beings' lives if you stop contributing to their suffering.

5. It's just easier for you to promote animal welfare to others if you don't eat them yourselves. (I tend to disagree with this. I am a huge animal welfare advocate, but I can do so and still consume meat.)

6. Why a pig is food and a dog is pampered? There's no reason. They all feel pain, sadness, suffering, helplessness, despair all the same, just as humans do.

Simple and valid points, but not a simple answer. I've harped on this subject enough, so at risk of sounding like a broken record, I won't repeat my same old arguments. This is a multi-dimensional concern and problem world-wide. Progress can be made, but let us do so being as informed and educated as possible.