Re: Let's Eat Less Meat

Tom Armstrong (toma@crl.com)
Fri, 3 Jan 1997 09:02:03 -0800 (PST)

Bill,

I think the key to "eating less meat" is "educating children" about the
process. At least, responsible and informed children should know the
complexities and ethical issues raised. Having grown up in an agricultural
belt, my husband who still farms and I have both been aware of the very
intense process of raising and in some cases, butchering and eating our
own livestock and fowl. I wish I could say that we predominantly eat meat
from our own farm.

However, that would be untrue at this time.

Toffler theorizes that while revolutionary changes are occurring faster
in the world, that some issues will remain static including these "moral
dilemnas" until a social/moral imperative demands that we address it.
Well, the time is approaching. Sensible meat consumption needs to be defined
and the processes that define agri-business and their processes
re-examined and in some in cases completely revolutionized.

I would like to think that a decentralization process might occur that
would bring back the family farm in some areas and provide communities with
the access to "home-raised, small-scale meat products", much in the same way
our ancestors did before industrialization swept away these ethical
decisions from the masses and mechanized death in the Chicago Packing
Houses.

Family Farms can also serve as living history exhibits where humane
practices in animal husbandry prevail and teach children the incredible
process. The ethical/moral decisions to eat meat become one of personal
choice and esthetics rather than a socio-commercial mandate and have far
reaching effects on the next generation.

Kathy
Armstrong toma@crl.com Sequera Ranch s.1892 San Gregorio, CA
Barnyard Technology--- Ideas for tomorrow -> from yesterday's scrap.
4th -> 5th gen. on family farm. Can Ag Sustain?
A ghost town fights its way back.. http://www.crl.com/~toma/