The Harsh Truth
As children, we are taught that murder is wrong but only if a human is murdered. We are taught that serial killers are evil yet we call hunting a "sport." We are taught that Auschwitz was the definition of inhumane treatment yet you think factory farms, fur farms and slaughterhouses are humane. We are taught that jails and prisons are punishments for evildoers yet zoos are entertainment for animals. Isn’t it time to start thinking for yourself?
In today’s society, the murder of a new-born child is a monstrous act in which the killer gets sent to jail for years. However, when a cow or a chicken gets slaughtered for unnecessary meat, then it is entirely reasonable. Even though clear studies are proving that animals are intelligent and feel pain. Why would you think someone lacks any intellectual capacity just because you cannot understand them?
When you think of a chicken, you probably imagine fried chicken from KFC or an egg-laying machine. However, in reality, chickens are more intelligent than your four-year-old baby. “Although other avian groups overshadow their intelligence, chickens know their place in the pecking order, and can reason by deduction—an ability that humans develop by the age of seven.”–Lori Marino, a certified animal psychologist. Therefore why do humans think it is morally wrong to murder a new-born baby, but it is terrific to cram chickens into cages and slaughter them for food which can be easily substituted?
Chickens are put on so many steroids they cannot stand on their own feet anymore. Cows are forcefully impregnated so they can give birth and produce milk again only to have their baby taken away from them moments after birth until she is so "used" and will not give birth anymore she is killed for your dinner. Cows, just like your pet dog or cat have many personalities, some are timid, some are devious, some are bold, whilst some are very friendly.
Your current diet is destroying the planet. Factory farming is the most significant contributor to global warming, producing the most greenhouse gas emissions, since animals have to be fed, slaughtered, transported and stored. Around one-third of the earth's land is used for growing crops solely to feed livestock. One-third of the planet's water is also used just for livestock. In return, not enough meat is produced once the animal is slaughtered.
Also, factory farming is not cheap; it’s one of the most expensive methods of attaining food. “For every 100 food calories of edible crops fed to livestock, we get back just 30 calories in the form of meat and dairy. That is a 70-per cent loss.” – Eco-watch. Our planet is dying from pollution. People are dying from starvation. All because people like you choose to eat animals. You need to open your eyes and start doing what is right.
Not to mention the human body is not made to eat and process meat. We are unnaturally trying to develop our bodies to adapt to meat even though it is not necessary anymore. Our ancestors ate meat as a means to survive. They lived in caves and chased for their dinner, not sat around in a warm house waiting for some fried chicken delivery. As some studies show, humans are not biologically made to eat meat. The human intestinal tract is up over three times longer than a meat-eating animal's. Meaning that meat you just ate will be rotting inside you for hours if not days. Many studies, such as one from Harvard School of Public Health show that meat eating is densely connected to chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Do yourself a favour and live your life to the fullest and not spend the remainder of it in a hospital bed.
While some studies indicate that some types of animal milk and eggs are, in fact, healthy, that is true to an extent. Animal products, as the name suggests are products that come from an animal. Essentially an egg is a chicken's waste, or a period, whatever you wish to call it. A healthy chicken will on average lay an egg a day. Therefore these products will only be healthy if the animals themselves have a healthy life with adequate nutrition. We should not be taking what is not ours in the first place.
Just because a factory farm labels their products as "free range" it does not mean the chickens are living happily. By definition free range is when chickens have access to the outside world, not specifying how much time or the living conditions they have inside. "Free range" farms may let their chickens out for about an hour, and once an hour has passed, they cram the chickens back in their tiny cages, with no room for movement whatsoever.
Even if the eggs are certified as "Organic" and the chickens do indeed lead happy lives, what about male chicks? Immediately upon the hatching of chicks, they are checked for their gender. Females are safe; they lay eggs; it is all good company makes a profit. Males, on the other hand, are either thrown alive into bags, thrown about and forgot about or grounded about alive. “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian" – Paul McCartney. Animals in factory farms do not only lead unhappy lives, but in most cases, they are tortured ruthlessly by their butchers. A sheep which is getting sheared will be kicked about and punched just so they do not move, or even for the pleasure of the butcher. All so you can buy that new jumper.
You are what you eat, so do not be cheap, easy and fake. That is almost what all animal products are. Meats are stained with chemicals to make them look unnaturally red, giving it a fresher look and persuading you that it is right for you. By going vegan, you are not only doing a favour for the animals but for yourself, the planet and those who are starving.
© 2019 Zuzanna Weronika Szafranska