Unsustainable Consumption

Of course big firms and farmers wouldn't be happy if we all gave up the consumption of animal products because it is a direct threat to corporate profits! But you know who would be pleased by our conscious decision to eliminate such products? The animals we have to actively *kill* in order to temporarily satisfy our taste-buds. It’s not your personal choice / freedom of choice to eat meat if it puts others in danger or obstructs their freedoms, it’s a complete contradiction and exceeds a statutory limit.

Just to break it down a bit for you, animal agriculture is the number one cause of all human-induced climate change, and this means that raising animals for food or by-products: consumes 1/3 of all fresh water; occupies 45% of all the Earth's land; causes 91% of all Amazonian destruction; is the leading cause of species extinction; is the leading cause of ocean "dead zones"; and is the leading cause of habitat destruction, amongst many other things. If more people cut down on their intake of animal products that would lead to a lower demand, thus meaning there's a lower supply, and consequently less destruction is caused, less lives are lost, and people's health improves. We have been fed a narrative of lives that we need to eat dead corpses and drink / consume the lactations of bovine animals in order to live a healthy life. However, this is simply not true. Legally there can be up to 400 million pus cells in every litre of milk in the UK, as well as containing antibiotics and growth factors given to the cows. The leading cause of heart disease is cholesterol, and high levels of cholesterol are *only* found in people who consume animal products.

Also, where is the logic in drinking baby calf growth liquid? We are not cows. It’s a myth perpetuated by those with money to indoctrinate us into believing that we cannot lead a healthy life. The only reason we drink cows’ milk instead of, say, tiger or gorilla is money. We cannot house such large animals in cramped conditions without making a loss in profit. It’s a lie and we have allowed ourselves to be duped into this myth.

Moreover, our anatomy and physiology is not designed for processing dead corpses and another animal’s breast milk. Natural meat-eaters swallow their meat raw after no or minimal chewing, relying on their highly acidic stomach juices to break down the meat and kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning. We chew our food thoroughly, and we have a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme in our saliva to start the digestive process, just as other herbivores do. Without the stomach acidity that carnivores and omnivores have, we are forced to cook our meat to avoid the risk of food poisoning. Like all herbivores, we have a long intestinal tract, which is necessary for the proper digestion of the cellulose in plants. Carnivores and omnivores have shorter intestines, which are designed to quickly digest meat before it begins to rot.

“But if we’re not supposed to eat meat then why do we have canines?” Fun fact – hippos have the largest canines in the entire animal kingdom, but they are herbivores. Canines do not immediately mean that we are designed to eat meat. Humans have hands that are useful for gathering vegetables and fruit, but are not good for killing and ripping skin and flesh. Natural omnivores / carnivores (bears / cats) have claws that they use to grasp and tear at their prey.

As for failing crops, people mention how the population has grown. But did you know that in 1912 there were c. 1.5billion people on the entire planet. Just over 100 years later and we now have c. 7billion people on Earth. The mass populous has grown exponentially, and factory farming / any form of animal production is unsustainable. Of course this has put a great strain on the land used to grow crops, but cannot be seen as the only reason. 216,000 more people are born to the planet every day. It is extraordinary. But what’s really extraordinary is that you need, per day, 34,000 new acres of farmable land. As I said earlier, 45% of this land will be devoted to raising cattle, producing dairy, and egg-rearing. Most of the rainforest is being cut down due to soya farming for animal feed. Over 90% of this feed is soya and corn. If we took this feed and gave it to people instead of the animals, then we could begin to make a start in ending world hunger. Why do we need to get our protein sources after they’ve been shoved down the throats of an animal we now shove down our throats? 80,000 edible plants and we still maintain a narrative that plants do not cater to the vitamins / minerals / proteins we need to survive?

Indigenous communities are being wiped out on a daily basis in the attempt to keep up with the demand placed on beef. These are not people who have chosen to participate in a destructive behavioural pattern. Yes, there are some groups in rainforests who have had to make a choice about whether they lose their home or buy into the capitalist machine. But would you call that a choice?

It is impossible to find a way to bring animal agriculture in line with population increases, as well as making it humane (which is the epitome of an oxymoron).

Killing is never ethical.  Meat cannot be ethically sourced.  This is about all life on Earth hanging in the balance of our actions. We have a choice. I have made mine and can say that my conscience is clearer for the better.