I will first start with a disclaimer.  This is not a stand to push for people to become vegetarians by any means.  It is just a push to start a conversation and get people to participate and think about an important topic that effects us all.  I promise not to get too preachy.

I recently read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer.  I decided to read it because I wanted to know where my meat comes from. It turns out in learning more about factory farms, I learned not only the sad truth about the process used to bring meat to us, but how that process also increases global warming.  So what does one day without meat mean?  It can be equivalent to several things.  How does taking 15 million cars off the road sound?  That would help reduce carbon emissions right?  Everyone knows cars pollute, there’s no denying that.  Well, guess what?  Factory farms are the number one reason for climate change. Overcrowding thousands of animals on a factory farm produces massive amounts of, well, shit, literally and figuratively.  Besides the high methane levels, there are lots of other dangerous toxins that are not being properly managed.  Maybe you don’t care about global warming.  But do you care about the water you drink, your health, humane treatment of animals?  I mean, didn’t we all see Erin Brockovich?

While I am not asking people to feel the way I do, I AM asking people to at least stop and think.  Why are we all eating so much meat anyway?  We’re not bears prepping for hibernation.  Why aren’t we taking this more seriously?  There are more antibiotics put into our food annually than medical prescriptions given to patients.  Kids are hitting puberty early, possibly because of all the hormones in our food.  Diabetes and heart conditions are higher than ever before.  Obesity and childhood illnesses are skyrocketing.  Let’s connect the dots.  Our food is the base for life.  If we are mismanaging and abusing that, we are sure not to make it very far.  I want people to be informed and want them to know what they are eating and the consequences that it has on their health, global warming, humane treatment of animals and everything in between.  Factory farms are winning and playing us for fools.  Would you buy that chicken at the grocery store for your family if you knew that the chicken had been genetically modified so that it was forced to grow so fast that it’s bones break and it’s cooped up in a space smaller than a sheet of notebook paper, abused by the handlers, slaughtered in an inhumane way, then sat in a feces water bath until it’s injected with “natural juices” to be more chicken like, and the percentage is higher that it is more likely to be infected with salmonella or some other fatal disease than not?  I’m even saving you from the true gory details of what goes on with chicken.

Alright, I did say I wouldn’t be too preachy, so let me wrap it up.  If you want to make educated decisions about your meat I highly suggest reading Eating Animals.  I have not become a vegetarian, but I will not eat just any meat.  I want to know it did not come from a factory farm.  There are places to get local meat from local farmers.  I will be trying one out this week and will report my experience.  Of course it will be more expensive, but should we really be able to buy a hamburger for 39 cents?  Doesn’t seem right. In addition to this book there are several other books, articles and films on the subject of our food system.  I say find out for yourself and decide.  The easiest way to help out right away without much effort is to eliminate meat one day a week.  Things can change, we all have to work together.  I know we’re all busy busy busy and having to think about food is the last thing you want to deal with, but it really should be a priority.  I don’t have children, but if I did I would find it even more important to know what I was putting in their bodies.  If you are on board with not eating meat for one day a week send me a message and let me know.  I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading!

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