Our Hen House
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Blog

Rolling Out the Results: “Meat Ethics” by Runner-Up Joanna Strittmatter

by Visiting Animal April 24, 2012
written by Visiting Animal

Yesterday, we started rolling out the results of our contest, “Calling All Herbivores: Tell Us Why It’s Unethical to Eat Meat.” Today we are publishing the fantastic essay of our second of four runners-up (followed by the winner, whose essay will be published this Friday). Remember, the runners-up are listed in no particular order. Today’s essay is by Joanna Strittmatter. 

***

RUNNER-UP

Meat Ethics

by Joanna Strittmatter

“It sounds like propaganda.”

I raised an eyebrow at such a statement. It’s not as if I had just been selling the idea of going to war. In fact, I had not been selling anything. Turning down meat products is an easy way to stick out as a vegetarian. And as a vegetarian, the burden of explaining yourself seems to meet you around every corner. I always attempt to keep responses as short as possible, in the hopes of having an enjoyable night out while leaving heavier discussions for a more appropriate time. But this time I was caught off guard. While giving my general response of health and personal values, I was intrigued by the accusation of my reasoning behind not eating meat as being propaganda.

Photo by Connie Pugh; Courtesy of Farm Sanctuary (www.farmsanctuary.org)

For one to truly raise the question of ethics regarding a socially accepted and commonly practiced activity, it must be clearly stated as to what the issue really is. Although it is not the only problem, this essay addresses the ethics involved in consuming meat because it is customary and seemingly enjoyable. The fact is, in our country, meat is not a necessity in order to preserve life. It is simply a profit-driven industry and an extravagance that humans are unwilling to live without, regardless of its effects on health, environment and the livelihood of conscious creatures.

While this sounds like so many other industries in the world, the subject at hand is the ethics of consuming meat. Moral principles must be considered when any thought is given to the process of bringing meat to your plate. By simply researching the subject, it is easy to realize that the meat and dairy production industries are cruel. One could research veal production, foie gras, humane-slaughter regulations for poultry (non-existent), the de-horning process for cows, gestation crates for pigs, the cruel confinement of battery hens, and countless more subpar standards that are a sad reflection of man’s superiority. If evolution or man’s ascribed status in the food chain is the culprit behind these acts, then perhaps it is prudent to consider that something may have gone awry in nature.

Arguments made for the necessity of meat in our culture are ill founded. Converting over to a vegetation-based diet has proven again and again to improve general health, reduce risks of disease, improve symptoms of existing ailments, and with an appropriately balanced plan, lead to a healthier community. The China Study provides a strong correlation between diet and disease by documenting the relationship between a vegetation-based diet and lower rates of various cancers and degenerative heart diseases.

In addition to health issues, meat consumption affects many global, social and economical factions as well. Between the methane gas output assisting in the destruction of the ozone layer, the rainforests that are being torn down to provide land for grazing cows abroad and the large amounts of grain fed to cows to produce small amounts of meat, animal agribusiness proves time and again that the driving force is in the almighty dollar.

If this still “sounds like propaganda,” I encourage everyone to research the topic at hand. The notion that “it tastes good” or “we were made to eat meat” can no longer be accepted. The burden of education falls on humans and should be exercised in all aspects of life. If it is preferable to not know how your dinner makes it to your plate then it begs the obvious realization that it shouldn’t be there.

The real question then becomes whether or not it is ethical to keep looking away.

Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Rolling Out Our Contest Results: “Why It’s Unethical to Eat Meat,” Starting With Runner-Up Ashley Capps
next post
More Essay Results: “Why It’s Unethical to Eat Meat” by Runner-Up Britt LoSacco

You may also like

Tickets Are Going Fast, and You Don’t Want to Miss This Party...

Upcoming AR Conferences and VegFests

Actipedia

You Had Me at “Vegan Iron Chef”

Book Giveaway, First 100 Chimps Documented, and Newest Addition to Our Flock

Video: ABA Animal Law Committee Volunteers for BAD RAP

Scholarships Available for Veg High School Students

Reducing Suffering Through Provocative Art

The “Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan” Podcast is Finally Here! Episode...

Schooltivism: A 16-Year-Old Activist Describes How She is Changing the World for...

Search Episodes

Subscribe to our Shows

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherCastBoxPocketCasts
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherCastBoxPocketCasts
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

Subscribe to OHH Emails

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

Instagram

Join us On Facebook

Join us On Facebook

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

@2021 - Our Hen House


Back To Top
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Our Hen House
Search Podcasts
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate

Subscribe

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcher
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcher
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

OHH NEWSLETTER

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

 
Sign In

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

Password Recovery

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here