One Possible Answer

Why is there a disconnect to the meat people eat?

For the last two years, I have gradually given up meat, fish, and dairy and for the last few months have transitioned to a full vegan diet.  I had chosen this path initially because as an environmentalist, I felt it was the best thing to do for the planet.  The fact is that animal agriculture is the greatest contributor to greenhouse gases, primarily methane, and therefore environmental destabilization and planet warming.

I had initially given up red meat, but that was easy, as I never really had a craving for it.  As I read more and more about animal welfare and the treatment in the facilities, it became very simple for me to give up other animal products.  Additionally, learning that there is an allowable level of pus in my dairy products does not make me feel that great about putting it into my body.

Fish was the last thing I gave up.  I had an excuse and it went something like this:  “I have sensitivity to gluten and there are times that the only vegetarian meal on a restaurant menu is the pasta, which I can’t have.  So, on those occasions, I allow myself to eat fish.”  Before you judge, because trust me I do enough of it to myself for the both of us, everyone has their process of getting to where they need or should be.  This was mine.  I was informed enough to know at the time that over-fishing and farm fishing were a reality and a conflict with all the other ethical lines I drew for myself.

I don’t think it truly sank in until I read Foer’s “Eating Animals”.  Like for many people, this book changed my life.  He discussed the reality of the fishing industry in terms that truly affected me and I knew from that point on, fish was gone, too.  I told myself I might give myself one last sushi night.  That night never arrived and I don’t regret it one bit.

But, as most vegans do, I always wonder why do others not change after learning about factory farming?  Why does Meatless Monday seem to be a rational end for most people, instead of a small beginning?  Why do some people not give up meat?

I don’t have all the answers and I hope that I will never pretend to, but I think I have an idea about one of the answers.

I think it is as simple as this.  People don’t equate millions of animals being killed when they have simply ordered a hamburger, grilled chicken breast or wild salmon.  They see it as a one to one ratio.  I ordered a hamburger, therefore, one cow has died.  I simply think that people don’t make the connection that in order to have hamburger on the menu, hundreds, if not thousands, of animals have had to die.  And if they had to kill that many animals, what could the system be like that had to raise those animals…?  I think our brains simply don’t make that connection.  Similarly, when I knew that over fishing was a serious issue, I don’t think I made the connection to the fish that was on my plate was one of many that were caught that day.

But today I saw this photo:

http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn15018-pick-of-the-pictures

With this photo, what I have learned and what had gotten me to quit my last vestige to the animal eating world, was put into a perspective and confirmed what all the scientists have been telling us.

This photo is 75 tons of sharks that are being killed only for their fins.  Just one simple body part and this is what it takes.  But what is more shocking is last year they killed 35,000 tons… that is 470 times more than what you see in this photo.

Yes.  I know that we Americans don’t eat shark fin soup.  And, I am sure some of you will use that reason to negate my point of writing this essay.  But I want you to really look for a moment at how many fucking animals are dead in this picture.  That many animals used to be in the ocean and there are 470 times more that will be killed and pulled out of their home for us to eat ONE BODY PART.  If you have an ounce of compassion, the magnitude of this will hit you.

It is simple math.  There are six billion people on this planet.  That means we have to raise/catch/slaughter almost equal amounts of animals to feed those who still eat meat. For those that we raise, their living conditions are horrendous and their treatment is akin to the treatment of people killed in genocides of the past.  For those that we catch, we are forcing species to go extinct at rates that are not normal per typical evolutionary response.

This planet is not ours.  The animals are not ours.  We have no right to do what we are doing.  It is up to you to make it stop.