Credit: AnimalsAustralia.org, with permission
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As well as the environmental concerns with meat, there are several ethical issues to factor in as well.
Have you thought about how we treat the animals we eat?
I've been doing some research on the way we farm our animals. In Australia, we still allow battery-farming for chickens, and sow-crates for pigs. But other countries like Switzerland, Sweden and Finland have banned them for years.
In Australia we have traditionally kept our cows in pastures. But even now there is a trend towards keeping them in industrial feedlots - I'm sure this is cheaper for the business, but it's pretty horrible for the cows.
I don't think that this kind of cruelty is necessary, and I can see why people go vegetarian full-time because of it. If you want to act to stop these sorts of horrible farming practices, there are lots of great groups you can join.
- Voiceless is an Australian fund for animal welfare
- the RSPCA has several campaigns against cruelty towards farm animals
- Animals Australia has the Save Babe and Save Betty campaigns that you can support as well.
You can also refuse to eat meat unless it has come from a sustainably-managed farm: look for free-range eggs, chicken and pork. I only buy chicken from Mt Barker now, since that's the only free-range brand available where I shop. Have a look around at your supermarket and butcher to find out what you can replace your usual brand with.
I can also get lamb from a farmer who has a stall at the Mt Claremont farmers' markets - he invites people to visit his farm so we can see how he runs things. This kind of transparency is good for everyone.
I'm starting week 2 of the vegetarian challenge today. I'm going to have meat-free lunches this week, which should be quite easy: I've got some pumpkin soup and minestrone ready to bring in to work on some days, to eat with bread rolls, because the weather is still pretty cool here in Perth. I'll be getting salad sandwiches on the other days.
How are you doing with the challenge? Do you think it will lead to a long-term change for you?
Comments
read the article about eating Kangroo meat and the danger in doing so. I far one don,t know why anyone would want to harm them. they are so cute, especially the babies I think it is mean and cruel also I thought it was against the law to harm any wild life animal. I live here in the United States know some times there is illegal poaching against wildlife, especially the deer here they go hunting even after the season is over. shoot grizzly bears any wild animal they can it don,t just happen in Australia. Some people just like I said before are just right down mean and cruel do it for the fun of it.
thank you
Charlene
so you're saying we should only kill ugly animals?
by the way, people are not allowed to go out and shoot kangaroos for the fun of it, only licensed shooters and licenses are not just given away to anyone who asks for one. the national parks authorities control and set the number that can be taken.
kangaroos are part of the australian ecosystem, unlike cattle and sheep and rabbits.
introduced animals do damage to the ecosystem and thus to the other animals who live in it, that is i think far crueller than a quick bullet to the brain for kangaroos that may well starve in the forthcoming season due to the sheer number of them competing for food.
Hi Charlene - they are very cute! But all animals are beautiful in their own way. We have to take responsibility for what we eat, and all our meat starts out as a cute baby animal.
There are so many kangaroos in some places that they're a pest. The rules are there to make sure it's not cruel, and as the article shows, over 99% of the kangaroos processed to be eaten were killed swiftly, which at least is a better deal than cows or sheep get.