The argument for eating meat is like the argument for other traditions:
- It’s natural
- It’s necessary
- There’s nothing wrong with it
If there’s something we should admit to ourselves, it’s that we’re not always right. We used to think we were the only creatures with superior intelligence, but with the abundance of animal research we have learned that we’re not the only ones.
Animals are Smarter and More Emotional Than You Think!
Look at just some of the things animals can do:
- Crows fashion leaves and metal into tools
- Pigeons deceive each other
- Rats run mazes in their dreams
- Dolphins teach their young to use sponges as protection
- Chimps can pick locks
- Parrots can work with numbers
- Dogs can learn words from context
Animals don’t just have brains, but emotions too!
- When a baby chimpanzee or gorilla dies, the mother will carry the body around for several days in a mourning behavior
- Cats can learn to manipulate their owners through vocalizations
- Different fish within the same group exhibited different personality traits
- Dogs can be depressed or even jealous
- Elephants have been observed “crying”
Recent research has revealed that all vertebrates share the same underlying structures and mechanisms: culture, personality, language and emotions.
Be a Smarter and Kinder Human
Is meat-eating natural or necessary? Not anymore. It was when we were hunting and gathering, but we no longer live in a world where we don’t know where our next meal is coming from. Thousands of years ago, the human brain invented agriculture, and in the past two centuries we’ve identified the nutrients in meat that we can get from soy, nuts, and other vegetable sources. AND when you look at the links between meat and dairy consumption, it’s easy to understand a vegan lifestyle is a smarter decision.
So that leaves the thought that there’s nothing wrong with eating meat. If you really think there’s nothing wrong with it, then you need to ask the question, “Would you eat your dog or cat?” Your dog and cat have the same amount of intelligence and emotion as the meat you eat, but they’re not sleeping on your couch. They are crammed into a cage with no regard for their happiness, safety or well being. The most common reaction is, “But I’m not attached to them.” That may be true, but their animal friends are attached to them. If that still means nothing to you, then spend the day at an animal habitat. I promise you won’t be able to walk away without some kind of appreciation and emotions towards the animals.
The meat industry doesn’t contain it’s waste very well. This toxic sludge, which includes feces and fertilizers, can seep into the soil and waterways and contaminate drinking water. Unfortunately, the laws against disposal of animal waste are not as strict as the ones against human waste. How much animal waste is there? 130 times more waste than people … Continue reading
I previously posted about how dairy doesn’t prevent osteoporosis and that it has links with things like cancer, weight gain, and asthma. However, there is one link left that I think is pretty important - diabetes. A study done in Toronto showed that babies given a dairy-based formula actually developed antibodies for diabetes. As milk enters your body, your body … Continue reading
The Demand of Meat Global demand for meat has multiplied in recent years. This is due to factory farms that consume enormous amounts of energy, pollute water supplies and generate significant greenhouse gases. Total meat supply has gone from 71 million tons to 284 million tons from 1961-2007 Per capita consumption has more than doubled … Continue reading
It seems like there is a message to eat more seafood out there. We hear about the benefits from our doctors, in newspaper articles, on television programs. In fact, it seems like fish consumption goes up when we try to cut back on saturated fat. It’s true that fish are an excellent source of protein, … Continue reading
Milk and Cancer In a study that compared 42 countries, milk and cheese consumption was strongly linked to the rate of testicular cancer. They also linked dairy consumption to the increased death rates from prostate cancer (from near zero per 100,000 men to seven per 100,000 men today over the last 5 decades) and mentioned … Continue reading
Our bodies are made to drink milk – our mothers milk. In fact, we are the only creature that chooses to drink another species milk. Weird. Since our bodies are not suppose to drink milk beyond infancy, this has manifested into a large population of lactose intolerant humans. How many people are lactose intolerant? Almost … Continue reading
Since cow’s milk comes from another species, our bodies recognize it as an attacker or allergen. A doctor at Johns Hopkins School of medicine has even said that up to 50% of all children are allergic to milk. What kind of allergies does milk produce? The body’s most common reaction to the protein in milk … Continue reading
Pumps are great for work or a night out on the town. All the pumps below are made with non-leather soles and have a flair for fashion. You’ll also find that most of the shoes come in a wide range of sizes from slim to extra wide. Women’s Vegan Pumps
Designershoes.com offers many choices of vegan sandals. If you’re from California, you know that the sandal is not a seasonal shoe. However, if you’re only going to wear it for a couple of months, you might as well look good. Plus, it’s vegan friendly! Women’s Men’s Women’s Vegan Sandals Men’s Vegan Sandals