by EMDEE » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:13 am
There is a belief that the flatulent emissions of cattle bred by the human race are a major contributor to greenhouse gases
I must confess that I am a meat eater. However, I must also confess that at a young age I visited the old Campbeltown Slaughterhouse in the Roading. That was the one before the building which is still standing. There was a central courtyard, and one could watch the goings on through the doors, which were always open. This experience put me off meat for something like three years, until my mother bribed me to start eating meat again. I think the memories had by that time began to fade. I still believe however that many people if they visited this sort of establishment would go vegetarian.
There are different aspects of this argument. It could be said that many of the animals that are used in agriculture could not survive in the wild, as they have been bred specifically for purpose, and that many of them have a better life than their wild counterparts. They do not have to find food or continually be on the lookout for predators. Whilst we would not think that they have an enviable lifestyle, if we look at it from their point of view, they do not know wht their ultimate fate is. Ignorance in this case is bliss.
For those who have a conscience in this respect, by all means opt to be vegetarians, but respect the right of others to make up their own mind. Don't try to convert the whole world, as it won't work. Also, bear in mind that in the natural world there is no such thing as conscience, and there are many animals out there that would eat us if they got half a chance.