The human cost of meat

My girlfriend is a vegetarian, which, as Samuel Jackson once said, means that I’m pretty much a vegetarian too.  She’s not really opposed to me eating meat, we just mostly eat together, and so we cook things we can both eat.  I have always been completely unconvinced by the ethical arguments regarding animals.  Sure, slaughtering animals is probably an unpleasant task, and one which I wouldn’t want to do myself, but I find that I’m relatively unmoved by PETA’s videos of the “animal holocaust” going on in our slaughterhouses.  Until yesterday, I had never thought about the human cost of meat production very much, which is not insubstantial apparently.  According to two papers referenced in the link, workers in slaughterhouses suffer psychological disorders from their work, and are more likely to commit crimes.  Add to that the (relatively slight) dangers of aerosolized pig brain, and the more substantial high carbon footprint of meat should give you a bit of pause. 

Don’t get me wrong, I like steaks, burgers, RIBS, chicken, duck, salmon, and just about every other kind of meat I’ve had.  But think about the real costs associated with meat, and maybe stick with a nice healthy, small portion next time.  Also, learn about the deliciousness of beans, which are an oft-neglected part of American cuisine.  Seriously, that recipe is amazing, though if you must, it would probably also be good with some spicy Italian sausage.

Posted by Lucas on 04/04/08 at 05:35 PM
(2) Comments • Link
Page 1 of 1 pages