Cruel to Animals, Cruel to People, Cruel to the World – V
Section V – Conclusion
Vegetarianism, or at least a major change in the food industry and the way we perceive what we eat, is not foolish – it’s a solution. It can mean healthy people, a healthy earth, happy animals, an end to world hunger, and a step towards a more peaceful planet. We are meant to be the stewards of the earth, and protect its inhabitants. For those still unable to become full-fledged vegetarians, a step in the right direction would be to at least drastically reducing the amount of meat consumed. Any meat that is produced by an animal that is drugged with chemicals, raised in an unnatural and gross habitat, or brutally slaughtered should not be available to consumers. Many Christians believe that God gave us animals for food, which is difficult to argue. But how is it holy to consume the meat produced in such a way that causes such suffering, and how many would be willing to slaughter that animal themselves, or even witness the gruesome process of mass slaughter, and then eat that meat. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.”-Proverbs 12:10. And would God condone widespread destruction of his creation caused in order for these mass-killings to take place. Mass production is not an option – not if the human race wishes to sustain an liveable environment on this planet.
So, what can be done to transition our culture into a more suitable diet for ourselves and our planet, and what can be done to decrease the amount of destruction caused by the production of food animal products? We can create laws that enforce natural, clean living conditions for food animals to reduce suffering, as well as the amount of chemicals used to keep animals alive. We can require humane methods of slaughter, as Sweden has. We can reduce the amount of meat produced, and practice soil fertility management instead of wastefully over exerting land until it is barren. We can make a difference, and we must.
We are meant to be stewards of the earth, and protect its inhabitants. Are you doing your part?
Albert Einstein summed it up brilliantly when he said “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”
Vegetarianism – Coming Soon
Today I will have finally finished my research paper on vegetarianism and the meat, egg, and dairy industry. Since I have not been able to add to this blog because I’ve been busy trying this get it done, I’ve decided to post it here. My hopes are that those of you reading will maintain an open mind, even if you decide afterwards that you will continue with your current diet and lifestyle. I feel its important to get the word out – not ‘convert’ others. I will be posting it one section at a time over the next four or five days, since it is a bit lengthy for a blog.
In addition to those supporting the argument, for those of you fervently against vegetarianism for whatever reasons, please feel to comment. I’m always interested hearing in new counter-arguments and other’s opinions. I will also try to answer any questions on the subject to the best of my ability.
Excerpt:
“Continuing to clear forests for raising cattle in the U.S. at the current rate would result in complete deforestation of the country within 50 years.”
k·a·l
Recipe: Grain and Bean Wraps
Ingredients:
- 2 cups plain grain/rice pilaf, cooked*
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- salt to taste
- 1 small can water chestnuts, sliced
- 1 small can bamboo shoots, sliced
- 1/4 cup button mushrooms, sliced
- 4 oz kidney beans, cooked and strained
- 1/4 cup macadamia nuts
- 2 green onions, sliced
- lettuce
- soft tortillas
Directions:
Coat frying pan with olive oil and saute garlic, red pepper, mushrooms, and macadamia nuts. Add beans. Add water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, green onions, salt, and soy sauce. Add pilaf, stir, and heat through. Place lettuce in tortilla, spoon mixture onto tortilla, wrap, and enjoy!
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices, add tomatoes, add tofu, etc. These are great with green beans or pea pods as substitute for the kidney beans. The best thing about cooking is that you can make it you own, a recipe is nothing more than a guideline.
*Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf is my favorite grain mix.
