I have no fear of all the goblins, witches or even the evil clowns lurking on Halloween. What really scares me are the latest reports about the meat industry.
Such as news of pig farms dumping millions of gallons of pig feces into North Carolina’s water supplies during Hurricane Matthew. Or of saturating their neighborhoods with windborne fecal waste spray. Or of animal farming accounting for more greenhouse gases than transportation.
There’s recurring media reports of horrific atrocities against animals on factory farms. And of subjecting slaughterhouse workers to crippling workplace injuries at slave wages. Also there’s the exploitation of farmers by controlling prices.
Then there’s the repeated reports of studies linking consumption of animal products with elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other killer diseases. There are also reports of the meat industry bullying health authorities to remove warnings from dietary guidelines.
Now, that’s really scary.
I fought back by dropping animal products from my menu, and my local supermarket has rewarded me with a colorful display of fresh fruits and veggies, as well as a rich selection of plant-based meats, milks, cheeses and ice creams. I am no longer scared, though I still fear for my friends and neighbors.
Justin Harris,
Juneau