Can I post this here?

[Flaxbee]

Not trying or wishing to be even remotely argumentative; I'm a vegetarian who avoids dairy and eggs; I avoid these products not so much for my health, but because the lives of the animals in mainstream food production are so brutal and utterly miserable. I can't even bear to think about it.

But I came across this article, discussing the merits of soy and grain production (large scale) and the vast amounts of land that are decimated to produce those products in quantity vs. small farmers that raise well treated animals and ensure that there is no fear or pain when the animals are slaughtered (yes, understanding that as far as they know ... there is no fear or pain).

I guess this article is more about eating locally -- that a person needs to balance their choices and go for the least harmful ones possible - and that includes packaging, shipping, production, land use, everything.

If this is at all inappropriate or offensive here, please delete. As I mentioned, I have no intention of upsetting anyone here. This blog piece just touched on animal rights, so I figured this was as good a place as any (though I'd be happy to wade into GD for fun if anyone thinks I should :D )

http://www.chicken-tender.com/2010/11/heart-change_11.html

[WillParkinson]

1. Read it...

Walked away shaking my head.

There is no such thing as 'killed nicely'. The very word, 'slaughter, evokes fear and pain. It's not a gentle 'oh you go to sleep'. They're butchered.

The author can sugar coat it any way she sees fit.

[Flaxbee]

2. But that's not the whole point of the article. It argues for eating locally ...

and responsibly, because just because you eat a plant-based diet does not mean that animals are not needlessly dying horrible deaths. Their habitat is being destroyed, they get churned up by big mowers and other machines if they're ground-nesting; we destroy the climate by having products shipped long distances using fossil fuels ...

Her argument is that eating locally, and only what is in season, is a better way to care for the planet.

[WillParkinson]

3. Yes, I understood that...

It also seems to be making light of veganism in general (in my opinion). She talks about the area that gets pulled up to make tofu but I did not see here discussing all the area that's torn up to feed the animals that are then slaughtered. (Admittedly I made it through about 3/4 of the article as her attitude about veganism irritated me.)

I will not deny, however, about eating locally. We attempt to do that where we can already.

[flvegan]

4. I'm not even going to touch on the "no fear or pain" part

because frankly, that's absurd.

Soy and grain production wouldn't be nearly as troublesome if such a huge quantity of it wasn't raised to feed to animals raised as food for people. I agree that eating veg*n locally is a very good move, though.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

5. Dead is dead

I wouldn't read such rubbish. I became a vegetarian 37 years ago because I didn't want to feed myself with the dead decaying bodies of once living loving intelligent creatures. (I've had a pet cow for almost 21 years, so I know what I'm talking about).

Next some twit will be talking about eating animals that died of old age..in their sleep..or road kill.