Our house is situated very close to a highway and we often see livestock trucks going by. No matter how many of them drive by, it never takes the edge off the effects of seeing them. Given that we are at a set of lights, often the trucks will be stopped for a spell and we can hear the animals kicking and stirring up a fuss. We can hear how frightened the animals are.
These trucks are a reminder for me of how fucked up our society is and how we are going about many things the wrong way.
It might sound odd coming from a vegetarian, but I actually have no ethical issues with folks eating meat. What angers me is the process of how meat gets to most of our tables.
We could be going about it in a more sane and caring way. Apparently that costs too much. These mega farms and mega corps don't want to dole out the cash that might actually give these animals a better of quality of life AND a more humane death.
It is this ass-backwards thinking that makes sometimes feel that we as a society deserve nothing short of collapse.
Sláinte!
Laurel
5 comments:
Well said!
Exactly right!
I am a vegan who has no issues with people who choose to consume meat or dairy - if done responsibly, either :)
Thanks folks! :)
And with yummy recipes that you post Bek, you make it look pretty easy being vegan! ;)
I am no vegetarian, but I do have the utmost respect for the animals that feed me, and I expect those I get meat from to have the same respect.
We had beef cattle, all free range, hormone free, pasture grass and grain fed, well loved cattle.
Do you think the masses want that?
They SAY they want that, but then they go out and buy Walmart meat.
It's very disheartening.
We had a handful of caring, grateful people who bought beef from us regularly, and we were going to make the move into Farmers markets, but it wasn't meant to be. The Ontario beef market pretty much collapsed, and reduced beef farmers by more than 30% across the board. It continues in decline across Canada.
...Too many truckloads of cattle being shipped from province to province and into the States.
We left our farm and farming in 2008, but if we ever have a few cows in the future it will be with the same care, respect and concern that we always maintained.
We try to buy local beef, and check out the farm and the condition of the cattle beforehand.
There will always be vegetarians, and I believe always be meat-eaters, so it's best if we ensure that those who DO have cattle keep to the highest of standards.
Give the cows a good, stress-free, enjoyable life.
Good rant, Laurel! If you don't keep up the pressure on them, they get to thinking they can do as they please.
Thanks for sharing your input, Medusae! :)
I am sorry to hear what happened to your farm...that is truly sad. I hope that you can have critters again one day!
While I do have friends who are farmers, obviously I cannot fully appreciate the challenges that our small producers face. I have the utmost respect for ethical farmers; they have to work extra hard and they realize that their animals are more than just commodities. They are truly worthy of respect.
I am not too familiar with the farmers in your neck of the woods, but if you ever need a source, Golden Beef is really good. I think that they may even have producers right by you. :)
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