Meat Industry Rank Third Worst Environmental Criminals, Globally and Locally

The livestock and meat industries now rank in the top three worst environmental criminals in the world; on both global and local levels. Experts say that eating a vegetarian diet, instead of one rich in meat products, could help alleviate some of the pollution in our water and air, as well as decrease some of the damage being done to the rain forest; also slowing the rate of global warming. Although some reports say that a good part of rain forest demolition is due to clearing of land to grow soy, a great majority of the crops being grown in this region, such as corn, soy, and wheat, is used by the meat industry to feed its' ever growing population of meat puppets.

However, this is just the beginning. Meat is poisoning our society by more than just poisoning the air and water, its' poisoning our food supplies and our bodies as well. Statistics show that over 65% of Americans are over weight, and about 50% of us will suffer from some sort of heart disease or cancer. So how does the meat industry contribute to these numbers? Well, the ADA or American Dietetic Association says vegetarians suffer significantly less from these diseases as well as, type two diabetes, high blood pressure, hyper tension, high cholesterol, and prostate or colon cancer. It is also reported by Dr. Andrew Weil that meat contains a fatty acid known as AA or arachidonic acid. This is known to cause an increase in inflammation that can lead to the development of many other diseases and increased cell proliferation which can lead to malignant transformation of cells and cancer. The worst part is that AA is found naturally in meat, so it will not matter if the animals are organic or free range.

There are other reports that indicate one does not need to consume meat to be healthy. People also believe that athletes who are vegetarians have a leg up due to their diet. They receive all the nutrients, carbohydrates, protein and fiber they need without the detrimental effects of meat eating, such as high cholesterol and saturated fat. There are even reports that indicate that vegetarians may be smarter than meat eaters. Most however, do not believe that this is the cause of an effect, but rather that people who are smart are more likely to make the healthier choice of becoming a vegetarian.

Another way the meat industry is making our planet a not so nice place to live is through animal cruelty. It is known that chickens have had their beaks cut off; veal calves spend their entire lives in pens so small they can't lie down in them, and are kept anemic so that the meat will be more tender. Piglets are known to have their tails cut off, and other animals on these factory farms are being similarly mistreated. Animals such as these have the same pain tolerance and emotional understanding as our pet animals, such as dogs and cats, do. We express our outrage when we see on the news that someone has abused a dog, or has left a cat to starve to death, yet we say nothing when it comes to the rights of these other animals. We have even passed animal cruelty laws in which one could spend time in jail for the mistreatment of a pet, but millions of animals are being mistreated everyday and instead of pressing charges we pay them to keep doing it; all so you can have a burger from the dollar menu.

There are even hundreds and thousands of videos, articles, and reports on the web that show, and explain the torturous lives these animals are subject to. Yet it seems that no one wants to know, or don't care, about what is happening to these animals. I feel truly sorry for those who believe in cross species reincarnation. Think of what it would be like to go from a meat eating person, who has no idea where that meat comes from, to a cow that's locked into a pen its' entire life until one day you get a bolt shot through the back of your head. No sunshine, no fresh air, no mating or socializing among your own kind, no ability do what it is your very being tells you is right. A life of confinement, and confusion, brought into this world for the sole purpose of selling more burgers, or ribs, or meat byproducts; treated like the product people take you for.

So you say, oh well, who cares they are just dumb animals, well lets look at the people who work for these companies. Many of these meat factories are located in areas of the world where there are no labor laws and workers are just as mistreated as the animals. Many other companies are located here in the US where we do have labor laws, however they like to import illegal aliens into the country to work for them. Companies import these workers for several reasons. The most obvious would be the lower pay rates, no medical insurance, no retirement plans, and the workers inability, for fear of deportation, to report the mistreatment they suffer. An excellent look into the world of the meat industry is the movie called, Fast Food Nation. This movie is not recommended for children or anyone who has a heart and plans to eat at a fast food restaurant any time soon. It is however, an honest look at the mistreatment of the workers in this industry.

So why do we as a species put up with all this unnatural behavior? Simple; we've become a people of convenience. We are lazy when it comes to changing, unless it means less work. It is easier to look the other way and let the world slowly descend into hell than make the effort to change.