A few months ago I saw a film on TV where a cow was being lifted up on a fork lift so it would appear that she was standing. The idea was that as the cow was so sick she could not stand, and it is the law that if animals cannot stand they cannot enter the food chain, the industrial food capitalist involved was making it appear she could stand so he would not loss money. The brutal cruelty of this was a nightmare to see. I was ashamed to be part of the human species.
Then I was walking in the country side recently and on leaning over a gate and holding out my hands a couple of dozen small calves slowly approached me and sniffed and licked my fingers. They were so gentle with their big eyes. On their ears were large plastic tags which had been stabbed into them to mark them for market and slaughter and most likely veal.
I am trying to get the will to become a vegetarian. Not only would this be better for my health. It would be better for the animals of the other species. It would also be better for the earth and the sustainability of life on earth. I will try and put more resources into fighting on this front.
Of course we are not helped by capitalism on this front either. Like in every other area capitalism does not work. Capitalist agriculture in the US is subsidized by the US tax payer. But what is the balance of this subsidy? Beef and dairy are subsidized by over 80%. Fruit and vegetables are subsidized by 1% to 2%. The clout of the big ranchers in the small rural states reflected in the undemocratic senate is illustrated in these figures. Profit and capitalism makes it hard to be a vegetarian. Capitalism does not work.
Sean.
1 comment:
This article points out key examples where profit and greed are more important than more basic human needs.we can always strive to do good onto others if we so choose
Post a Comment