Life in a vegetarian Britain?
Stan Frith raises an interesting point about what would happen to all the animals if we all went vegetarian, in response to my letter on the connection between swine flu and intensive pig farming (Bath Chronicle Letters, May 22).
Sadly, farmed animals live a controlled, distorted life, often filled with pain and fear.
The vast majority are kept in indoor units where they never see the light of day. Those that are kept outside are only kept alive for a fraction of their natural life spans before being slaughtered for meat, often in the most barbaric manner imaginable.
All farmed animals are born to die at our command, a disgusting idea. Also some breeds have been so changed from their natural ancestor that it would be kinder to let them die out. For example, broiler chickens and turkeys bred for meat are often so obese that they can barely walk and suffer from crippling leg disorders.
However, we could set up large nature reserves for the more traditional (now rare) breeds that haven't been so changed.
There would be much more land available for reserves because most of it is used to grow crops for fattening animals at present. Also, there would be more space for forests and woods and other wildlife reservations where genuinely wild British species of animal and plants could flourish. In other countries we could encourage the breeding of our farm animal's wild ancestors – the wild pig, turkeys and jungle fowl (the forerunner of the battery hen) by stopping the destruction of their homes.
Many people forget that all farmed animals have been bred from wild animals and that their natural ancestors need preserving.
In a vegetarian world animals would not be kept for profit and greed but would be allowed to exist in their natural state and live their life in freedom. This is in the long-term, but as people cut down on meat and, as a nation, we are, there will be fewer animals bred and less suffering.
For help on cutting down your meat intake or going veggie ring Viva! on 0117 944 1000, email info@viva.org.uk or write to Viva! at 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH.
JUSTIN KERSWELL Campaigns Manager Viva!
5 Comments
by Mike, Weston Bath
Friday, June 05 2009, 8:53AM
“christine , the idea that i ( at the moment ) still have a choice , is of course true , my problem is , if I as a meat eater were to stand in city centres trying to convince people to eat meat , as a balanced diet is healthier ,it would be frowned upon , yet it seems perfectly accepted tht people with a view ( which i support their freedom to have ) of veggie-ism can be evangelical about it without challenge ,
on a seperate , note , of restaraunts
why do they feel pressured to offer a veggie option yet veggie ones never offer the option of a ( steak) meal ?
i do have veggie freinds and often ask them why it is i have to cook a special meal for them yet when i go to theirs i eat what they cook ( veggie)?”
by Tom Trosborg, Bath
Wednesday, June 03 2009, 10:37AM
“Christine, there are a few restaurants in Bath who - as I understand it - feel that they have been forced to take for instance kangaroo or foie gras off their menus, due to pressure from groups like Justin Kerswell's. That seems to me is to remove choice for these restaurants' patrons.”
by Christine, Bath
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 3:37PM
“Mike, I think that we do have the freedom to eat meat or not and no one is denying that are they? But a non meat eater is putting forward a viewpoint and it is one that some people may not know. Why does it bother you?”
by Mike, Weston , Bath
Friday, May 29 2009, 9:14AM
“we'd have to Tom as there'd be so many people out of work !
seriously though , why can't people allow others the freedom to choose to eat meat or not !”
by Tom Trosborg, Bath
Thursday, May 28 2009, 9:02AM
“Perhaps we should all go hunting instead of relying on farmers?”