In addition to concerns about our health, an equally compelling reason for choosing a vegetarian lifestyle is moral and ethical concerns about killing another animal for food. Often, even those who become vegetarians solely for health reasons experience an increased responsibility to protect the animals and wildlife of this planet. The idea of killing animals and birds for “fun,” “sport” or “recreation” is distressing to vegetarians, many of whom are involved in conservation movements.
animal rights
one. Poultry: Animal rights groups have recently focused their attention on “poultry factories,” where chickens are raised exclusively for egg production. Typically, four birds are placed in battery cages that measure only 12″ X 18″. To prevent the birds from becoming hostile, their beaks are removed; otherwise they would peck each other to death. To barely conceive of how this might feel, you should know that the beak is made of tissue that resembles the tissue and nerve endings found in the fingernails and toenails.
They cannot stretch or flap their wings, and lights are focused on them 22 hours a day to force them to constantly eat and produce eggs.
In the early 1950s, it took 14 to 16 weeks to bring a chicken to slaughter weight, and 3.4 pounds of feed was required to produce one pound of chicken meat.
Today it only takes 7 weeks, half the time, to bring a chicken to slaughter weight and requires only 1.9 pounds of feed to produce one pound of chicken meat.
The cost of these supposed “improvements” is not only increased cruelty to the birds, but also increased consumer health risks.
Danger of infection. Research has proven the fact that overcrowding increases the danger of infection. Contaminated birds are difficult to identify because, when caged on a moving conveyor belt on the way to slaughter, they accelerate at a rate of 80 to 90 birds per minute, according to an inspector. Chickens are routinely fed limited-range antibiotics that have been linked to a new strain of stronger organisms that have not only developed immunity to many drugs, but are also consumed by humans who eat these contaminated chickens. And, purely for cosmetic reasons, poultry farmers use a chemical dye called xanthophylls to give meat a golden sheen to fool consumers into thinking it’s healthy.
2. Veal: An even more cruel form of torture has been imposed on calves to induce very white and extra tender meat. They are housed in extremely tight compartments in which they cannot move or turn; and are fed a milky mash laced with hormones, antibiotics, and a variety of chemical additives. They are kept in windowless buildings that are lit only by low-voltage red bulbs that are turned on continuously to artificially stimulate their appetite; their heads are in a restraining slot with a continuous supply of food in front of them, and they can never turn or recline; instead, they must sleep on their feet for several weeks before being sent to slaughter.
The political impact of vegetarianism
People know and often resign themselves to the excessive influence of special interest groups through the writing of laws that are supposed to protect the health and well-being of the citizenry. As vegetarianism grows, both in numbers and in influence, the meat and dairy industries put constant pressure on politicians to counter this positive development, even going so far as to use bullying under the guise of protecting the consumer from Harmfully labeled products. -called charlatans in the health food industry. Although their efforts may seem laudable and altruistic, they are nothing more than weak disguised ploys to impede or even halt progress toward vegetarianism. If you feel your choice rights are being infringed, look for organizations that support leaning and give them your support. Usually, a single individual is not taken into account; however, in unity, there is strength.
Social and Economic Impact
According to R. Buckminster Fuller, the internationally respected engineer, scientist, and architect, and other experts, our planet’s resources are sufficient to feed, clothe, and house every man, woman, and child at the level of the American middle class if we use our resources. resources properly.
Raising livestock requires much more land than raising plants. It takes 12 to 24 pounds of plant protein to generate a single pound of meat protein. 70% of the grain that is harvested in the US is used to feed animals instead of people, which is obviously an extravagant and unnecessary waste. There is only one acre of arable land per person on earth; and the average American carnivore requires 1.6 acres per year to feed, while a vegetarian needs less than half an acre. This inefficiency of meat production is reflected in inflated prices. Plant protein sources are cheaper than less expensive meats, and sprouted grains and seeds provide an excellent source of protein at even greater savings.