based on the ongoing discussion about eating meat and other animal products,
it seems to me that three types of arguments have been presented against
eating meat
the first says that eating meat is bad for the eater, physiologically and/or
spiritually . . . meat by its nature contains substances that are bad for our
physiological health . . . maintaining one's life by eating the flesh of other
sentient beings (when alternatives are available) distorts one's view of one's
humanity
the second says that eating meat is bad for the animal . . . as an animal it
had a "right" to live out a natural life without human interference
the third argument says that eating meat is bad for the environment and for
people involved in the production of meat, because of the practices used to
produce that meat and the economic relations controlling the production of the
meat
it seems to me that the philosophies embodied in the first two arguments are
sound, and provide strong bases for not eating meat . . . on the other hand,
the third argument seems to me to rest on faulty praxis . . . i do not
disagree at all with the claims that much meat is raised and processed using
practices that are 1) harmful to the animals, 2) polluting of the environment,
3) dangerous to the health of farmers, farm workers and factory workers, and
4) unfair economically to those three groups . . . but it seems to me that the
most effective response to that condition is not to give up eating meat, but
rather to seek out sources of meat that have been produced in ways that are
environmentally, economically and socially sustainable . . . one can do this
by direct contracting with farmers through a CSA (Community Supported
Agriculture) program, or by purchasing one's meat at stores (e.g., food
co-ops) that investigate and warrant the sustainability of the production
practices . . . one can also encourage and educate local restaurants and
markets to investigate the production practices which underlie the meat they
purchase . . . it seems to me that, if one is concerned about the
sustainability of meat production, it is more effective to use one's
purchases to reward those producers who are using sustainable practices, than
it is to punish all producers by not eating meat
craig k harris
dept of sociology michigan state university east lansing michigan
48824-1111
tel: 517-355-5048 fax: 517-432-2856
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Jan 7 15:25:50 1996
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 17:26:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Forwarded mail....
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hye!
My name is Marie. I am from France and studiing in Canada until February.
I have to compare French and Canadian lows on the Assisted reproduction.
I am trying to find the existing lows in Canada on the assisted
reproduction technologies (artificial insemination- by husband AIH, by
donor DI, combined AIC- and in Vitro fertilization IVH).
If someone can give me some information it will be very usefull for me!
Thanks,
