The High Cost of Animal Agriculture

Thanks to Susan Weiner at Farm Sanctuary for pointing us to that organization’s network of websites — this has to be one of the most comprehensive resources available on factory farming, animal rights, vegetarianism, and many other related topics. Some of the more interesting resources found were the information from FactoryFarming.com on the environmental and human health costs of factory farming, and the environmental case for vegetarianism at VegforLife.org. I’ve just scraped the surface at this point, but there’s much more information here that I’ll be coming back to read.

piglet
Susan particularly asked all to point to the organization’s campaigns on behalf of “Downed Animals,” and against the production of foie gras and veal. Farm Sanctuary has also targeted Chef Wolfgang Puck for his “huge hand in promoting both foie gras and ‘white’ veal among American consumers.”

As many of you know, I am a vegan vegetarian, but, more and more, I am recognizing that my diet, and the typcial American diet, exacts huge costs on our health and our environment, as well as on the economic well-being of other parts of the world. I have cut way back on my consumption of cheese, though, and frequently eat vegan meals — I’m really happy to see that Farm Sanctuary supports those trying to move in increments away from an animal-based diet. Let’s all read more widely here, and think more and more about transitioning to a more sustainable diet.

Photograph courtesy of Farm Sanctuary.

The Ready Store
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease" ~ Thomas Jefferson

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