A thought-provoking question for everyone who loves animals

[Taz_Zoee]

I grew up out in the country where we raised cows, pigs and chickens.......to eat. I watched them be slaughtered. I was young. I don't know that I could do that now. Well, I guess I could.
Our rule of thumb was we didn't name the animals that would be in our freezer. We had a cow (Babe) and a pig (Bobbie Sue) that were pets. They lived out their lives and we did not eat them.
I try not to think of what the steak was before it was seasoned and cooked up for me. I do not think I could give up meat. I mean, if I had to I could.

I also wear leather. I have a leather jacket, vest, chaps and boots for riding the motorcycle.

I am a horrible person. Just writing this out makes me feel like crap! How can I be such an animal lover? Ok, enough of this. I need to not think about this anymore.

I have nothing against people who do not eat meat or animal products. In fact...more power to them. I wish I had that much will power. What I don't like is the people that preach about it or throw it in your face. Luckily I've never encountered these kinds of people in my life and I hope I never do.

[wombat2u2004]

What ARE you all talking about ???
Meat comes from the supermarket.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

What about leather made from the hides of these animals? Do you not have any shoes, handbags, belts, jackets, gloves, etc made of leather? I once had a co-worker who would not eat meat because an animal had to be killed in order for her to do so, yet she thought nothing of sporting fancy leather handbags and shoes.

No, I don't wear leather or buy leather products. However, it is very difficult sometimes to find shoes in particular.

[pomtzu]

What I don't like is the people that preach about it or throw it in your face. Luckily I've never encountered these kinds of people in my life and I hope I never do.

Cindy - this is exactly where I was going when I mentioned my co-worker. She preached constantly, to the point of being obnoxious. When I asked her why she felt it was acceptable to wear the leather but not eat the meat, she always came back with a smart-a$$ answer like - "well why throw the hide away when it can be used"? In other words, she felt it was okay to wear an animal that was slaughtered - just not eat it!!! Double standards in action.

And yes - I wear/use leather too. Jacket, shoes, handbags, wallet, belts. If they are available, then why not buy them since they last practically forever, whereas the synthetics fall apart in no time flat.

And no one here preaches - I respect everyone's decisions and opinions.

[Kirsten]

I agree that preaching doesn't help. It only annoys people and makes them more anti-veggie... On the other hand, I don't like it when people make stupid remarks about me being veggie either. Or when they say things like "meat is the only REAL food".

As for wearing leather... I do have two or three pairs of leather shoes, but will try to get more synthetic ones for the future. Those I already have will be worn for many years, so at least they are not "wasted", but I'm feeling kind of guilty for having them. I don't buy any other leather products, or anything made of fur. And as I have recently learned about this very cruel act of mulesing, I think I won't buy any more whool products either.

What I find interesting is that over the last few years, the awareness for the vegetarian lifestyle is constantly growing. Not only for ethical reasons, but also for ecological and environmental ones. I had no idea how many resources are actually needed for just one kilogramm of meat, how much water, energy, and land (mainly to grow these animals' food) is used for it, not to forget the CO² pollution also. I'm not preaching everyone should go veggie - but if people in the western world would just start eating less meat, people in other parts of the world woudln't be starving. There were some interesting documentions on this subject on tv recently, and this article sums it up:
Environmental impact of meat production

[wombat2u2004]

but if people in the western world would just start eating less meat, people in other parts of the world woudln't be starving.

??????? Why would eating less meat help the starving millions ???

[Karen]

??????? Why would eating less meat help the starving millions ???

The theory is that the grain used to feed the animals would feed many times the number of people the meat of that animal can feed.

[wombat2u2004]

The theory is that the grain used to feed the animals would feed many times the number of people the meat of that animal can feed.

Right.

[Lady's Human]

The theory is that the grain used to feed the animals would feed many times the number of people the meat of that animal can feed.

The problem isn't food. The problem is the warlords who keep their people from getting the food. Control the food, control the population. Just like in the Ukraine under Uncle Joe, the food is there, people just aren't allowed to get to it.

[Kirsten]

The theory is that the grain used to feed the animals would feed many times the number of people the meat of that animal can feed.

Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Thanks, Karen.

The problem isn't food. The problem is the warlords who keep their people from getting the food. Control the food, control the population. Just like in the Ukraine under Uncle Joe, the food is there, people just aren't allowed to get to it.

I admit that half the world eating less meat wouldn't solve all the problems in this world. There are more reasons for starvation/poverty, as the one you pointed out. However, I think that reducing the meat consumption on this planet would be a step into the right direction...

[wombat2u2004]

I admit that half the world eating less meat wouldn't solve all the problems in this world. There are more reasons for starvation/poverty, as the one you pointed out. However, I think that reducing the meat consumption on this planet would be a step into the right direction...

I don't know if it would Kirsten.
Altho, the environmentalist who tells us that by chopping down 3 trees a week in the State of Oregon will eventually destroy the planet would probably disagree with me.
Where I live, on the New England tablelands....it's cattle country. And it is a vast area. Cattle farmers here run their cattle on farms anywhere from 1000 to 20,000 acres in size. The area is rich, has good rainfall, and produces top quality beef, but because of the climate, the area is no good at all for cropping of any description.
So we all stop eating beef, the economy collapses. Who is going to feed us ??
The Sudanese ? Maybe Robert Mugabe could send us some pizzas.

Let me tell you a little story (I think I have written this before on PT).
My next door neighbour Rob sells and exports farm machinery to Sudan. He goes there two or three times a year to show the locals how to use this stuff (not that the locals are very interested in learning...buy hey...they are getting paid for it and get all of this free machinery at the expense of all of those nice people in the UN). So he comes back after the trips and comes into my place for a beer (I know, I know...here's me and him having a beer that we can afford because we have both worked very hard in our life) and he complains about the Sudanese. His very words ??? "They have to be the most laziest people on the planet John, they won't work, they wouldn't work if their lives depended on it. I have to do everything, unpack all of the equipment, put it together, everything, while they all sit around and watch."
And more..."So disappointing John, I took a dozen new tractors to Sudan last year, have a guess where they are now ? I seen them only last week, every one of them, sitting in the fields just rusting away."
So what do you think the real problem is here Kirsten ?? Any ideas ??? Penny starting to drop yet ???

My take on this matter ?? You want to feed these people ??? Fine. But in doing so you will create a bigger monster.
Firstly you will destroy our own economies, secondly you will set a precedent that will never end, you will will simply have to feed these people forever and ever, and in doing so, these people will want more and more and more.
We give them the technology, we give them the equipment, we give them the money....but why use it ?? It's easier to sit in front of their mud hut with hand extended.

[Bonny]

The theory is that the grain used to feed the animals would feed many times the number of people the meat of that animal can feed.

The grain that is fed to animals like hay, soybeans & field corn is not meant to be eaten by humans. The growing season for hay, corn, soybeans is short so it is what is grown in the corn, bean, & hay belt areas. The land gets to rest a good 7 months out of the year & the waste from the animals is used to regenerate the soil. It is a give & take situation & stewards of the land do care about the land & the animals to which they are deemed responsible.

Norman Borlaug developed highly yielding crop varieties that has helped avert famines worldwide.

[wombat2u2004]

The grain that is fed to animals like hay, soybeans & field corn is not meant to be eaten by humans. The growing season for hay, corn, soybeans is short so it is what is grown in the corn, bean, & hay belt areas. The land gets to rest a good 7 months out of the year & the waste from the animals is used to regenerate the soil. It is a give & take situation & stewards of the land do care about the land & the animals to which they are deemed responsible.

Norman Borlaug developed highly yielding crop varieties that has helped avert famines worldwide.

That's right. When natural grass is not growing well around here (which isn't very often), the cattle are fed "Nuts". Nuts are made from salt, mollasses and lucerne (alfalfa)....they taste like crap, but the cattle love them.