For centuries animals have been hunted and killed for the survival and benefits of human kind. I believe meat consumption is a practical part of life, therefore I can not say I believe in animal rights, but I do certainly do agree that animals so deserve better treatment, for their benefit and definitely our own. Meat used to be healthy and beneficial for the hunter, filling them up with protein, vitamins and an endless amount of nutrients. But due to the growing obsession of eating meat and corporations need to profit, the quality of meat has gravely declined through out the years. In addition, our mentality that we now view animals as property rather than wild beasts, making us feel more comfortable about using them. Our meat addiction is not only polluting our bodies, but our environment as well, by our means of production. The quality of meat from animals left in the wild and those factory farmed is horrific. The cost, and lack of knowledge, is what makes is more desirable and allowing this trend to continue. They are fed corn, because it fattens them and allows them to slaughter them more quickly. Cows are not evolved to digest corn, they are evolved to digest grass, because corn is too starchy for there bodies, which makes them subject for sickness. But need not fret, these corporations hatched plans just for these scenarios, by feeding them hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease. A cow is not able to survive if it were kept on this diet. But luckily for us, these factory farms kill the cow beforehand and deliver it to us. How can this possibly be good for us? To list a few, consequences of eating maltreated animals on our bodies include, disturbance of hormonal balance, caused by the addition of synthetic hormones, risk of bacterial contamination, and it is linked with heart disease and diabetes because a large portion of the meat we buy is fat and tissue from the animal and lacks the nutrients and protein we sought years ago and was our primary purpose for hunting. This is just the treatment of cows, not to mention turkeys, pigs, chickens and even fish. In addition to dangerously damaging our bodies, factory farming is a huge threat to our environment. They are associated with environmental hazards, such as land, water and air pollution because having so many animals is one place produces more waste than the surrounding land can handle. As well as climate change, because cattle produce green house gas emissions, methane. This is why I believe animals deserve better treatment, to protect our health and our environment.
The unnecessary and extreme animal cruelty has been and is becoming an even more serious issue. I believe we should give better treatment to animals and not just use and experiment on them as we do as if they are just means to an end for us. What was once growing and farming to produce american food at its normal and natural rate has now turned into mass production of chemically infused animals and produce which are then a shell of what they are supposed to be. In American's efforts to pay a little less now they are actually putting off more payments for later. All the externalities that are caused by the slaughtering of animals include but are not limited to late in life health issues, higher costs of health and life insurance and so on. The subsidies the government gives are on those products that are broadly consumed by the masses which include meats and junk food. If people became a little less ignorant and more aware of the damage they are producing in the environment and gave a bit more concern for the countless animals that are being killed daily by the ton to produce all the food we choose to enjoy, it will cost us a little more now but would save us more than just a few dollars in the future and would stop the mass slaughter of these animals which we claim false superiority over.
Animal Cruelty is, and will always be a touchy subject. I for one, am completely against the way animals have and are currently being mistreated around the world, but I am not against the production of meat. Sure, you might not stand for animals being killed, but I bet you're not complaining when you're slobbering over your cheese burger. With that being said, the way animals are being treated before being killed and sent out to your local supermarket can and should be changed for the better, but it’s something that can never be completely prevented. It is a necessity for animals to be killed and prepped for production for the well-being of the human race. Animals are also used as experiments in labs to test vaccines for vicious diseases such as rabies and polio. The fact is one animal can save millions of human lives. If we stop these experiments on animals, then someone will have to take its place. Are you willing to put your life before an animals’ for the sake of saving millions of lives? People do take advantage of the fact that most animals cannot defend themselves, but the truth is we need animals to serve a purpose. So unless you’re giving up meat or volunteering yourself to be a guinea pig in a science lab then should take a minute to assess the topic before being so quick to judge it.
Do animals deserve a better treatment? Whether animals are capable of feeling pain or not, does not matter for the simple fact that we-humans- are sentient beings, and we should not treat animals with the level of cruelty we have become accustomed too. Animals are very smart creatures in their own way despite popular beliefs. Animals unlike human being are well capable of living on the planet earth without culture. However, a human being could not last a year on planet earth without culture and the ability to use tools. Animals have even transcended in to human realm by the amazing of some experimental animals, especially Koko the monkey, who was capable of learning over 400 language signs. On the other hand, I have yet to see a human being live off the earth without tools, which will never happen because we are not anatomically built for such conditions. But nowadays, we have become desensitized to our animal companions. We kill lions, bears and tigers for their furs. We put monkeys, wolves and eagles in cages for our amusements at the zoo. We keep dogs, cats and hamsters as pets. The rest of the animals are in farms or slaughter houses waiting to be bleach with ammonia, packaged, and delivered to the nearest food market ( I’m well aware that there are more animals in the world than the one’s I just mentioned, but bear with me). We have become artificial carnivores. Human beings are not anatomically meant to eat meat. The consumption of meat can be linked to a thousand health problems. And despite popular beliefs, we don’t have to eat meat in order to survive, so why do we still eat meat? The only good reason for killing an animal is to help us find new vaccines for treating malicious bacteria and diseases. I usually don’t agree with utilitarianism, but killing one animal to save a million lives is justified. However, producing a trillion pounds of soybean and corn, to feed billions of animals in farms, in order to provide millions of people with package meat, is just bad math; when you consider all the repercussions.
America has been a developing nation in many things such as production of new types of technology, advancement in war tactics, and new ways of living for the average middle-class American. However, there’s something getting worse over the years instead of improving on a more positive outlook: treatment and care for animals in our “animal-farming” business. There’s people who think that animals have no feelings and they wouldn’t be able to express any sentiment because of having no language. However, why do pigs, for example, squeal when you brand them? That’s called pain. Just because they can’t tell you they feel something doesn’t mean that you can’t conclude anything from their reactions. In America, these factories are mass-producing animals as if they were inanimate objects. Pigs and chickens are being fed low-quality, chemical-induced food and sent to their death when they are fat enough or fully-grown. I believe this is a very cruel way to raise the food that WE eat. There has to be a negative outcome when you affect the well being and health of an animal that you will ingest. Not only is their body fed to have a lot of fat and hormones, but their psychological treatment also affects their state of health. This is a traumatic experience for chickens, cows, pigs, chicks, veal, and other animals growing in this business. In 2013, we shoudn’t have to make animals go through this pain and suffering for us to survive. The people who work in that business are just too ignorant to care about how animals are being treated in the process. It’s a long, miserable life for them and then they die. All these factor that animals are exposed to affect the quality of the meat as well. This procedure is too unnecessarily cruel for animals, and we should learn to approach this matter in a different, more moral way other than having them beaten to death. If we at least feed the animals better quality food, our health might not be at such a high stake to get all these diseases from obesity and too much fat in our systems. In conclusion, this matter is unacceptable behavior and we have to attempt other approaches in growing our food.
I don’t agree that animals are on this planet solely for hunting purposes, so we can eat their meat or what they produce. Man has been doing this for centuries, but think about how the quality might compare to the meat we find in the grocery store in present times. With all the hormones and antibiotics injected into animals, we’re lowering our body’s natural defense system. Our immunity becomes less than what it should be. A lot of people believe that meat is the best source of protein. This isn’t the case. Many of the desired nutrients we look for in meat is abundantly found in plant-based foods. Most americans aren’t getting the proper amounts of fruits and vegetables, fiber included, in their diet. Unfortunately, our bodies get used to eating a certain way and we crave the wrong things. I’d like to say I practice what I preach, but I also love eating a well prepared steak (Changes are in order). Not only are we harming animals, but we are killing ourselves at the same time. Aside from the obvious, that a lot of people don’t eat right, take a look at the bigger picture. According to the World Health Organization, the United States spent more on healthcare per capita, and more on health care as a percentage of its GDP(Gross Domestic Product), than any other nation in 2011. Healthcare spending in the U.S. is more than 2.6 trillion each year, and more than half of that is wasteful spending due to preventable conditions due to obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related health issues. This is just the bigger picture that results from unhealthy diets, meat being a part of that. I don’t believe meat is the enemy, I believe we are our own enemies. Every single person has a choice to cut down on the consumption of animal products and widen their awareness of the ripple effects. In turn, it would cut down the the production to farm animals because the demand isn’t there. I am in favor of animal rights; man can be very cruel when in presence of his own ignorance, myself included. Simply by removing our blinders - becoming aware of the creatures we share this planet with, and how we are being affected by bad choices, we can make a huge impact individually and worldwide. Preservation of species and the ecosystem should be kept on the forefront.
A food web is a linear consequence of links in a food web starting from a species that eats no other species in the web and ends at a species that is eaten by no other species in the web. The food chains were first introduced by the African-Arab scientist and philosopher Al-Jahiz in the 9th century and later popularized in a book published in 1927 by Charles Elton. For centuries humans have been at the top of this web. Why? We have intellectual capability animals don’t have. Dating centuries back the process of human hunting animals for meat has become a completely different process. Before we had the adrenaline of putting our life’s at risk, the fresh first draw of blood, and the taste of victory. Now a day we purchase meat in a supermarket packaged and delivered to us. Not only do we use animals for our nutritional needs but also for experimental. Now we have to think to ourselves, if we can’t kill animals for their meat then how we will sustain our nutrition. Yes, many may say we have created vitamins which can replace the nutritional value of meats, but is it the same? And how are these vitamins tested? Through experiments performed on animals. Would you volunteer your family members or yourself for these different experiments? Knowing there’s a high chance of death? Mostly likely not, hence why we need animals. If animals were the ones on top of the food pyramid they would've done the same to us. It’s just a chain of command, no one stops to pity others and if we do we fall behind and we are killed. I’m also not saying you can go ahead and mistreat your dog or your cat but if the animal is being use to better our human society than I’m for it. We will always have extreme animal cruelty but think of it this way, we also have human cruelty in this world. Wouldn't we solve that issue than worry about animals’ mistreatment?
I think the way humans treat animals is cruel because they solely rely on profit and money making endeavors. The way some farms kill these animals is a reflection of their true character. They like seeing animals suffer and get sacrificed. Some of the food we eat are shot up with all kinds of chemicals and raised in over packed barns with each other. For example, the way chickens are raised is terrible. They are being shot up with chemicals as soon as they hatch and these chickens are too weak to weak to move because of all the weight that is being put on them. I think corporations should use better tactics when it comes to raising and killing animals for food. Killing animals in a flagrant way should be against the law because animals have been around before humans. Also these animals are what gives us our protein so we should take precaution on how we treat them. We need to be more conscious on where our food comes and how they are being processed before it hit our dinner plate. If that happens then we have a better respect for these animals who keeps us alive.
The topic of animal cruelty will always open the doors to a debate because people in our society have such different views on this subject. Personally, I understand that throughout our lifetime animals have been hunted and killed in order for us to survive. The consumption of meat is something that I am accustomed to. I would be a hypocrite if I were to say that I am completely for animal rights rather than eating their meat for my own benefits. However, I am against animal cruelty. I feel that animals sense pain, and just because we cannot understand what they are saying, since they do not speak, does not mean that we cannot observe and acknowledge the pain that they are in. For instance, just because a baby cannot speak does not mean that he/she does not feel and sense pain. As humans we acknowledge that something is wrong when a baby cries; we do not just ignore its cry or decide to take advantage and abuse the baby because we do not understand what he/she is saying. That is basically the same thing with animals, just because we cannot speak with them does not mean that we cannot understand them and it does not give us the right to take advantage of them. But as humans we are bias towards animals, we choose to see them as inferior creatures who shouldn’t be treated well; but they should. Not only is the mistreatment of animals unfortunate enough for them, but nowadays the meat that we consume coming from those same mistreated animals is chemically infused; meaning that what we are eating is toxic to our bodies. At the end of the day, it is all a cycle because when we mistreat the animals, abuse them, use them for experimentation and infuse chemicals in their bodies, we end up eating the meat that they provide which is intoxicating our bodies. Imagine how much safer it would be to eat meat from an animal that was taken care of safely and properly? If an animal is healthy then the meat they will provide for us will be healthy too and we would not have to worry about suffering certain health issues induced by the meat we have consumed later on in our future.
Today's consumption of animals and their slaughter has become so far removed from what the original hunters could have imagined. I believe that when there is something needed from every aspect of an animal that can be cultivated without having atrocious faming and death rituals the consumption of an animal is fine. When there is a specific farm created to raise more animals, that these animals are fed genetically modified corn and other foods that is destroying surrounding farms, and that the slaughter of the animals is done on a conveyer belt; so that I can eat a fatty memory of what people call chicken or filet mignon. I am compelled to stop short of consuming something that is so far from nature. In nature there is an order of things, the ecological systems that we and animals are all a part of. The mere cultivation process of the animals right now is destroying our farms and forever altering the animals which is not necessary for our sustainability . We have to change our perspectives of animals being just foodstuffs and see the larger picture that if we use the animals for mere consumption and alter them to be more readily available to us then we are destroying our selves.
Today's consumption of animals and their slaughter has become so far removed from what the original hunters could have imagined. I believe that when there is something needed from every aspect of an animal that can be cultivated without having atrocious faming and death rituals the consumption of an animal is fine. When there is a specific farm created to raise more animals, that these animals are fed genetically modified corn and other foods that is destroying surrounding farms, and that the slaughter of the animals is done on a conveyer belt; so that I can eat a fatty memory of what people call chicken or filet mignon. I am compelled to stop short of consuming something that is so far from nature. In nature there is an order of things, the ecological systems that we and animals are all a part of. The mere cultivation process of the animals right now is destroying our farms and forever altering the animals which is not necessary for our sustainability . We have to change our perspectives of animals being just foodstuffs and see the larger picture that if we use the animals for mere consumption and alter them to be more readily available to us then we are destroying our selves.
Animals deserve to be treated well. There is a variety of characteristics that we can use to classify animals, some are cute, some are used for scientific study and one of the most known uses is to eat. But no matter what they are to us they must be treated properly. There are many ways that we can benefit from animals, we can ride them, use them for farming, and food. Animals can benefit from us as well. Like we raise and protect sheep from other predators, but we also use them as nutrition and attire. In the process though we must ensure that they are cared for properly and not mistreat them which would result in abuse. There are many natural resources on this earth for us to use and we must ensure to use them well. Using hormones to enlarge our food or keeping animals in unkempt conditions just to make a greater gain is unethical. With our intellect in this day and age we should be able to take care of our natural habitat, our animals and our world. To properly care for what we have in the present time and take the necessary steps to ensure a promising future for us the animals and our planet.
Animal cruelty has been a controversial subject for society for quite some time now. People assume that since animals are at a lower consciousness, than most humans, they shouldn't be granted rights such as penalties against animal cruelty. It has been made public that most of the meat we consume comes from factories and slaughterhouses that do not give animals the proper care or environment for them to live fruitfully (even if their lives are meant to be short lived). With the advances in science and technology the meat has become more genetically modified and processed, which the public is just finding out about. Many people make the argument that we are meant to eat meat, we've been doing it since the beginning of time. Yes this is a valid point but our fellow ancestors treated animals with the out most respect. They did not over indulge in eating or hunting for meat, being well aware for other forms of meeting their nutritional needs. Most of the meat we consume has chemical additives to them like sulfuric acid, which is used for the red coloring of meat. Do I believe we should stop the production of meat? No of course, I'm actually eating a steak right now, but I do condone the proper and ethical production of it. Having farms with acres of land and individually caring for the needs of animals is time consuming and expensive but isn't our health priceless? If we were to teach the masses about other forms of protein and nutrients we would be able to be less dependent on meat production, which is causing Americans to become obese. Cheaply produced meat is damaging our bodies and most don't even realize it. An other animal rights issue is using animals to conduct experiments. I fully condone the use of animals for experimental reasons because lets face it no human is going to volunteer to be pried open for the greater good. What people fail to know is that there are many regulations regarding the treatment of animals that are being tested. Before an experiment can be conducted they have to be approved by a board which can only happen if there are no intents to cruelty. Animal testing is important in the development of medicine and treatments. Wether we realize it or not humans, animals, and the Earth itself are interconnected, without one there simply can't be an other. It is important for us as morally conscious beings to treat other LIVING organisms with the respect they deserve (they were here first you know.)
I do agree that animals should be treated a lot better, and we have to realize that we can’t just look at them as a food source only. Although I disagree with animal cruelty I am definitely not against eating meat. Human societies have based their whole diets on meat from animals for a long time and I don’t think that should stop. What I do think, is that these huge corporations are putting unhealthy things into these animals to make them grow at a faster rate so they can produce more and ultimately get more money. This is hurting us yet we don’t make changes to our diets because we see the price differences. I never eat fast food for this same reason. I believe the government should force these corporations, and limit them from killing too many animals. If the purpose of killing animals such as cows, and chickens is for the sole purpose of consumption then I have no problem, but when animal cruelty becomes a factor with dogs, cats, tigers, and other animals like I think we have a larger issue.
Although I stand a firm believer in anthropocentrism, I do believe that it is wrong to inflict pain and cruelty on the lesser species of the earth simply for the purpose of our consumption. Yes it is true that animals have been placed on the earth for our nutritional benefit, but the way that society-most especially America-has exploited that benefit is absolutely repulsive. Obviously, it is considered wishful thinking to ever believe that the American food industry will disintegrate and humans will revert to “hunter-gatherer” status, taking only from the earth that which is needed and not that which is craved. That is the mindset that we should advocate. Animals should have the right to exist within their natural settings. Not only have humans deprived them of that habitat, but we have subjected them to cruelty. Does it make any logical sense to inflict pain on our basic means of survival? No. We should provide the animals with at least the courtesy of a quick death; they have sacrificed their own lives for the survival of the dominant race Homo sapiens. Jennifer Carvel
I am a person who loves animals. For me they are amazing creatures, each one has its purpose in this earth. As the Professor says, animals were here before than humans beings, so why do we have to be so rude and cruel with them? I think that humans are more “animals” than them because we can think and distinguish between what is wrong and good and we still continue doing wrong things in our world, our family, our environment and even ourselves. It’s not fair the bad treatment to animals. It broke my heart when I saw that video in which those workers mistreat the cows and pigs as if they didn’t feel pain. It is so hard to see this reality in animals. Everyday humans are becoming less aware about what are feelings, emotions, what are life, love, values, principles, and justice. I don’t want to imagine what will happen if we don’t to stop killing our precious animals and destroying our nature.
Animal cruelty is a controversial topic throughout our society. I firmly believe that animals deserve a far better treatment than what they receive. Animals should have rights, and must be protected as any other being. However, how do you kill an animal in a humane way? Something else to reflect on is, if all humans were vegetarian, for the sake of animals, what would be the outcome? Would humans have accomplished all that they have? Also, the world would have an overpopulation of animals. As sad as it is, the food chain is a part of life. Humans must go out, hunt, and gather their own food for means of survival. Although, our cities have become so industrialized and technologically advanced it is hard for a human to just go out and obtain their own food. America has developed a cruel yet rapid way of producing food and getting it out to the markets. But I am not in favor of our system of farming animals in an industrially intense fashion. Our society complains that organic food is too expensive but if they spent more money on that rather than junk food, prices would decrease. It is only expensive due to supply and demand. As a meat eater, it is challenging to reduce the consumption of meats. I do not ask for people to become vegetarians or vegans, but I do believe that people should be aware of the food they are consuming and where it came from, maybe that would give them a different outlook on where to spend their money when planning meals.
The undeniable humane superiority is derived by an old-fashioned yet traditionally endured Western line of reasoning that has erupted a variety of unpredictable “abuses” by human ignorance against other living species that are as special and peculiar. This can be blamed on the uniqueness of our physical features and unquestionable rational capability of guaranteeing survival, and eventually portraying consequent dominance in the natural environment we are expected to persist on. As evolutionists endorse, the survival of fittest has caused generations of some living beings to completely vanish and extinct, while some others to prevail – the case of human kind. On the contrary, a “kinder” line of thought has aroused from a deeper concern with the endorsement of species rights: environmentalists in conjunction with sustainable development folks relentlessly advocate for an “equalizer” effect, hoping to clarify the idea that animals and other sentient beings are as unique as human beings – and should therefore deserve the same respect. The growing movement by environmentalists and sustainable development advocates has demanded a faster and more radical response by those who still adopt the traditional Western perspective, where human superiority justifies environment (and animal) degradation for addressing bare necessities purposes. The debate is ongoing. While it seems to be absolutely necessary to embrace a whether “pro-human” or “pro-animal” choice in the sentient-beings-rights spectra, judging by my own line of thought, it is by no means convenient to make such choice. It is rather pertinent to establish a borderline that will ensure that humans address their bare necessities – survival of the fittest – at the same time that provides a watchful eye on abusing our right to sacrifice one’s life for our own benefit. As Immanuel Kant would argue, solely treating rational beings as an end is morally erroneous, implying justification on not acting the same towards animals. Yet again, abuses by industrialized and processed food industries have been overlooked the past years, but have now begun to be finally recognized as immoral and unacceptable due to the “deep ecology” perspective that gradually replaces the old-fashioned Western view – evoking more harmonious linkages between humans and the natural environment.
The undeniable humane superiority is derived by an old-fashioned yet traditionally endured Western line of reasoning that has erupted a variety of unpredictable “abuses” by human ignorance against other living species that are as special and peculiar. This can be blamed on the uniqueness of our physical features and unquestionable rational capability of guaranteeing survival, and eventually portraying consequent dominance in the natural environment we are expected to persist on. As evolutionists endorse, the survival of fittest has caused generations of some living beings to completely vanish and extinct, while some others to prevail – the case of human kind. On the contrary, a “kinder” line of thought has aroused from a deeper concern with the endorsement of species rights: environmentalists in conjunction with sustainable development folks relentlessly advocate for an “equalizer” effect, hoping to clarify the idea that animals and other sentient beings are as unique as human beings – and should therefore deserve the same respect. The growing movement by environmentalists and sustainable development advocates has demanded a faster and more radical response by those who still adopt the traditional Western perspective, where human superiority justifies environment (and animal) degradation for addressing bare necessities purposes. The debate is ongoing. While it seems to be absolutely necessary to embrace a whether “pro-human” or “pro-animal” choice in the sentient-beings-rights spectra, judging by my own line of thought, it is by no means convenient to make such choice. It is rather pertinent to establish a borderline that will ensure that humans address their bare necessities – survival of the fittest – at the same time that provides a watchful eye on abusing our right to sacrifice one’s life for our own benefit. As Immanuel Kant would argue, solely treating rational beings as an end is morally erroneous, implying justification on not acting the same towards animals. Yet again, abuses by industrialized and processed food industries have been overlooked the past years, but have now begun to be finally recognized as immoral and unacceptable due to the “deep ecology” perspective that gradually replaces the old-fashioned Western view – evoking more harmonious linkages between humans and the natural environment.
“The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but "Can they suffer?” ― Jeremy Bentham. The answer to that is yes they can. Just like Tom Regan said:” He argues that, because the moral rights of humans are based on their possession of certain cognitive abilities, and because these abilities are also possessed by at least some non-human animals, such animals must have the same moral rights as humans. So when they are tortured them like that of course they can feel it. When we are tortured them like that we don’t think about anything but killing them , but as we killing them their face expressions , they scream and if you have a good heart you should feel the pain that they going through. For example, us as humans when something poke us and blood coming out we know how it feels, sometimes blood don’t even come out but the moment that thing poke us automatically we feel the pain. It is true they don’t have the ability to feel, to talk but as they hitting them, or killing them they scream so to me I will say yes they feel it and they suffer. Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. So why treating them bad? It’s true that I am a meat consumer. I believe that it is good to eat meat and it’s good for our health, Since protein is said to improve the overall health and well-being of one’s body, there are other benefits such as the repair and building of body tissues as well as the production of antibodies that will protect the body from infections, thus strengthening the immune system as well. Most importantly, since meat contains all the essential amino acids, it definitely ranks as one of the best sources of protein. However it is good to treat the animals better. Because as much as we are important as humans, I feel like they are as well. They can’t talk, they can’t feel but they can suffer. To conclude, Anthony Douglas William said “There was a time when animals ran toward us .Today, they run away from us”. You will ask why? Well because of the bad treatments, we scare them instead of coming toward us they run because they know what we are planning to do to them. So again I believe that animals deserve better treatment because they are part of our environment.
Unfortunately, humans take animals and their meat for granted. I believe animals should be treated so much better than how they are being treated today. Animals are like us; they are part of our environment, which means they deserve respect and nice treatment just as humans do. Animals are voiceless, and they don’t have a form of communication with us to let us know when they are suffering from pain or mistreatment. Although it has been proven that humans need meat to survive, it is not necessarily true. We have plants that we can use to grow many foods and survive off of. For example, when we go to a grocery store, we are accustomed to going straight to the meat section and putting it right in our basket. But how many of us stop and wonder where that piece of meat came from? Not enough of us do that. Every time I eat a piece of meat, I feel so guilty because I know it came from an animal. Sometimes, instead of eating a piece of meat, I substitute it for something else. We need to put an end to animal cruelty and save the animals. Fortunately, we have many charities and organizations created to help these animals.
I believe that speaking of animal cruelty is as sensitive as speaking of politics. Many people have different opinions and beliefs over the matter. For example, religion plays a role. In the African religion Yoruba, also known as Santeria, animals hold a great part. In this religion animals are sacrificed for spiritual cleansing, offerings, rituals, and so on. To these people this is normal and in the United States allowed. The use of animals for this religion is not prohibited because it would go against religious rights. However, the animals death must be quick and practically painless because if not it goes against the laws of animal cruelty. My point is that not everyone is going to have the same opinion but there has to be some sort of balance!
Not too long ago I went to a festival where an Animals Rights booth was setup. As I walked by I could not help but look at such a gruesome sight. There was a documentary on slaughterhouses showing acts of animal cruelty. To be honest, I could barely stomach what I saw and it truly made me think of where my food comes from. If society were to witness the brutal killings of the animals that fill their stomachs I am almost positive that more than half of the consumers would think twice about their meat consumption and animal cruelty. I believe that animals should be treated better because at the end of the day we are all animals. We act superior to all animals but in reality we forget that many animals can kill us. We may hold a high position in the food chain but there is no number one!
I believe it is our obligation to treat animals with respect despite being a meat eater, I am all for animal rights. Our relationship with animals has changed drastically what used to be hunt and killing what we needed has turned into a billion dollar corporation with complete disregard for animals. They are not seeing as living creatures but instead killed mercilessly for our consumption. Farm houses cramp animals into one location, treat them poorly and kill them without any remorse. Treating animals ethically would not only be beneficial for them but for us in the long run, it would help with our health since these animals are being injected hormones and antibiotics to grow at an unnatural rate. It also harms our environment drastically by creating methane and house gas emissions. We have unfortunately become desensitized to the horrors that occur and turn our backs to it, we must remember that animals are conscious creatures who are aware of pain. The only difference between them and us is our ability to speak.
We, humans, are constantly changing. Today is even worse than the day before due to our urge to get more in an instant. As they say “time is money”, so the faster something is done, the better. However, better for who? We tend to take everything to an extreme, just as we, principally corporations, did with animals’ overproduction and killing. It’s been a long time since humans are consuming animals, so we can’t just demand to stop the practice. I used to not think about animals rights. Living in my country, when I ate meat I did not have to think of any of these issues because there just was no need to. There wasn’t and still isn’t any overproduction and massive destruction of animal lives for consumption. Cattles and others are raised properly, just as they used to be in the past. However, presently I am concerned, and I do think about the issues being aware of the overall process used by big corporations to acquire meat in particular. I do agree mostly with Roger Scruton on this matter. I am not so much for the right to be well-treated for animals, but mostly I strongly oppose factory farming. The major reason for that is because I am alarmed about the emerged and still arising diseases that we are facing nowadays. I believe that the composition of our current diet represents one of the relevant causes of the latter. Eating animals that are not properly or even I would say traditionally raised do no good for our health; for we eat meat to get proper nutrients for growth and great health. So what happens if our daily alimentation contains just things that have not even acquired proper nutrients for themselves? What can we possibly get from them? Most of us know the difference between in taste and in end product of an animal real meat and the “ready-to-go” production that have not even attain real maturity manufactured by big companies. And the difference in pricing is pretty obvious to most people. That is also the reason that compels me sometimes to agree with certain activists routing for animal rights. In places where there are no such things, such as where I come from, people are healthy and in great shape despite the lack of some other nutrients that should have been in their diet, for what they consume is gotten and processed naturally. Dahitza Alexandre
Our greed has been making our animals suffer for a long time. We become avid for our products and stock our animals; thus we force our will upon them to the extreme to give us what we want. It wasn’t created to be like that and we can see that by looking at the different tastes that come from our things that we eat. Therefore, due to that it makes us suffer in many lethal ways. Long time ago, we all humans were born with animals instinct to hunt to survive. The animals that surrounded us were there to serve us in any circumstances. Also, they have to hunt to survive and adapt to their environment. That leads us to the circle of life. It is pretty good to think that we have a sort of superiority on things that are in our planet. However, that doesn’t mean that we should abuse them like some of us are doing. So it comes to mind that it is imperative to think that most of all, animals should have their own rights. For instance those we use as food nutrients should have their own rights to replenish fully and naturally before another harvest; for in the long that it will benefits us more than them. I won’t judge people that either eat or don’t eat meat or other products from animals. Though, we all should think as to say about how we treat the latter that serve us in some mysterious ways. We all have our significances on earth, one may not see, but it is there.
I have always been a meat lover. Being of Hispanic descent, meat is included in every single meal, so it is something I was brought up to love. After reading this article, I can completely agree that there should be a moral ethical law against animal cruelty and their level of consumption. Just because we are humans does not justify our actions towards animals. They do not have the power that we do and therefore, as compassionate beings, we should do the best we can to treat them with respect and sympathy. I just recently read a book that stated that eating meat is not even supposed to be part of our day to day diet, so why keep eating it if its not necessary? After reading this i now question my motives more. Should I continue to devour meat in the way that I have been for years, or should I maybe try to decrease this amount. It has become clear that the moral thing and healthy thing to do here is to decrease my intake and start speaking up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
I believe all animals just be treated fairly and with some respect. But that does not mean I am going to stop eating the meat. I believe that if you are against eating meat then do not eat it just go your own way an eat your salad. You can go on about trying to prevent animals being killed but in the end animals will die at some point. whether by killing them (meat eaters) or by taking their food (vegetarians). I am not worried because I am not witnessing them being hunted or their meat being cut. I understand the points that the article has but in the end we are all humans and we do get hungry. What would you do if you were hungry? what would you do if their was no vegetables?. It is best to focus on the natural environment rather than animal treatment because that is a subject that is always going to have arguments and in the end nothing will be solved.
The question of whether or not animals have rights or not is very subjective and does not have a right or wrong answer to me. There should always be a balance when trying to make a point in terms of avoiding being bias and considering other points regardless of what side one approves of the most. Yes, Animals do deserve better than merely taken as “food stuff”, not only because many people share the passion of being animal lovers and protectors (owning pets, taming animals, etc) but because animals are sentient beings without being able to reason or speak our same language. On a anthropocentric view, animals were brought to life primarily for survival needs, and humans are the most sophisticated type of animal as far as the animal pyramid goes. Carnivores and Omnivores have to feed on animal flesh in order to survive; its part of animal nature. The difference is that some people believe that humans who eat meat are titled cruel for doing so because we are reasonable beings and there is an induced ethical connotation : Is eating meat or any animal product morally wrong? Millions of animal rights organizations make valid, reasonable points when it comes to animal cruelty/slaughter/abuse or campaigns which I am sympathetic of because I own pets. I could not imagine being present in a situation where an animal is being mistreated, be it whatever type of animal. On the other hand however, I do admit that I omit the thought of animal processing when it comes to buying chicken or meat when I do my groceries because the thought of it is so sick and cruel, I would deteriorate my health. I like to just think of it as a mere “food item” that I need to eat in order to satisfy my nutritional needs. Although my thoughts may seem contradicting, I refuse to take a side because either one is too extreme. I saw a video on youtube from a Vegetarian campaign with the purpose of changing “people’s life and views regarding animals”. Indeed it changed my life for a significant amount of time. The images and videos of animal slaughters were so hideous I felt remorseful and decided not to eat any meat whatsoever. After some time, my standpoint on ‘meat eating’ leaned on the objective side as it is vital for our health and I preferred avoiding the guilt and feelings this topic arises.
Animal rights has been a controversial topic in society for quite some time now. For many years humans have sacrificed the lives of animals for experimental uses and for the meat that is sold at local supermarkets. Lets be realistic, hunting is completely normal amongst all living things; It is a part of the food chain. Hunting is what keeps our environment balanced. What I am not in agreement with is the way that these animals are being mistreated. The consumption of the meat that we eat is damaging to our bodies as well. Disturbance of hormonal balance is caused by included synthetic hormones; in addition, to the corruption that meat has on our bodies is a lack in nutrients and protein sought years ago and was our primary purpose for hunting. The mistreatment of these poor living things is ignored and unknown to many people world wide. Society should raise the awareness and form animal rights to help protect our environment.
Animals have been merely taken as "food stuff" by the products they produce. Food products produced by animals include: milk, meat, chicken, cheese, butter, eggs, and honey. All these food products are essential to most of our daily routines. In my opinion I believe that animals deserve to be given better treatment. Animals are being over fed with low quality food and are being killed when they are fat enough. This treatment doesn't benefit us because at the end of the day is not healthy for us in the long run.
Animal treatment has become a controversial topic now days. We have people who firmly believe that animals are beings with no feelings and should be utilized for nourishment. Personally I have to admit that I eat some animal byproducts, but I disagree with their treatment. For example pigs are often confined in narrow spaces with other mates. While they also shoot rods into their skulls for instant death. I’m actually against it. I know that animals are beings with the ability to feel pain and should be treated with more respect. I understand that our society is accustomed to eating meat, but at least animals should be treated with dignity before being killed. Now chickens are given the chance to live in free ranges. They hatch eggs without the dangerous chemicals from being stressed. Also, we can make the choice to limit our animal intake. We should substitute byproducts. Milk for soy milk and meat for mock meat to name a few.
I believe for centuries animals have been hunted and killed for the survival and benefits of human kind. I believe meat consumption is a practical part of life, therefore, I cannot say I believe in animal right but I do certainly do agree that animals deserve better treatment. Just because they cannot answer us when we speak to them that does not mean that we cannot understand them and it does not give us the right to take advantage of them. Actually most animals can feel or hear when we hurt or speak to them Animals have emotions just like us human does. So I believe we should not be treating them how we want but the right way they are should be treating. I love meat but they way they are being treated are wrong. If we care about environment, if we care about our lives, we should start treated animals and all living species with respect.
Animals have been merely taken as dollar signs by the products they produce. Food products produced by animals include: milk, meat, chicken, cheese, butter, eggs, and honey. All these food products are essential to most of our daily diets and routines. In my opinion I believe that animals deserve to be given better treatment and should be kept away from anything that causes them to grow un-naturally like hormones. Animals are being over fed with low quality feed and are being killed when they are perfect size for slaughtering. It is abuse to the animal and abuse to the individuals consuming it. I believe whether you are raising an animal as a pet or as a use for consumption, you should keep the animal happy and provide the best quality products to feed it in a natural manner. The meat industry needs to be regulated because this contaminated meat is reaching the mouths of our children and we are seeing the results of it. A simple comparison of a organic piece of chicken breast to a non organic chicken breast will prove that what we are putting in our bodies is toxic.
I do believe animals deserve better treatment. In order to survive, all living things must kill something or someone in order to survive. We kill animals just like animals kill each other in the wild, in order to survive. We do use animals, for tests to produce vaccines and cure diseases. Throughout history we can see how much our survival has included animals. However, when do we cross that line that takes us from survival, into over kill? Instead of eating to live, we live to eat. We consume more food than necessary, which means more animals have to be raised, and a lot quicker. It’s not simply about quantity but about the quality as well. They means that are used to produce so much food, in the condition that they’re made aren’t very ideal us. We use animals for medicine, vaccines and cures for certain diseases, not only for us to survive but many animals as well. Then animals that are used to test cosmetics and other things that aren’t as essential for human life. I do believe animals should be treated better, yes to do raise animals for food and use for experiments, but that doesn't mean you go all out. Animals themselves hunt only for what is necessary and what they need to survive. For centuries they have been a key part of our survival, whether it’s helping produce the fruits and vegetable that we eat, being hunted for food and clothes, or even in other ways we might not realize.
36 comments:
For centuries animals have been hunted and killed for the survival and benefits of human kind. I believe meat consumption is a practical part of life, therefore I can not say I believe in animal rights, but I do certainly do agree that animals so deserve better treatment, for their benefit and definitely our own.
Meat used to be healthy and beneficial for the hunter, filling them up with protein, vitamins and an endless amount of nutrients. But due to the growing obsession of eating meat and corporations need to profit, the quality of meat has gravely declined through out the years. In addition, our mentality that we now view animals as property rather than wild beasts, making us feel more comfortable about using them. Our meat addiction is not only polluting our bodies, but our environment as well, by our means of production.
The quality of meat from animals left in the wild and those factory farmed is horrific. The cost, and lack of knowledge, is what makes is more desirable and allowing this trend to continue. They are fed corn, because it fattens them and allows them to slaughter them more quickly. Cows are not evolved to digest corn, they are evolved to digest grass, because corn is too starchy for there bodies, which makes them subject for sickness. But need not fret, these corporations hatched plans just for these scenarios, by feeding them hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease. A cow is not able to survive if it were kept on this diet. But luckily for us, these factory farms kill the cow beforehand and deliver it to us. How can this possibly be good for us? To list a few, consequences of eating maltreated animals on our bodies include, disturbance of hormonal balance, caused by the addition of synthetic hormones, risk of bacterial contamination, and it is linked with heart disease and diabetes because a large portion of the meat we buy is fat and tissue from the animal and lacks the nutrients and protein we sought years ago and was our primary purpose for hunting. This is just the treatment of cows, not to mention turkeys, pigs, chickens and even fish.
In addition to dangerously damaging our bodies, factory farming is a huge threat to our environment. They are associated with environmental hazards, such as land, water and air pollution because having so many animals is one place produces more waste than the surrounding land can handle. As well as climate change, because cattle produce green house gas emissions, methane.
This is why I believe animals deserve better treatment, to protect our health and our environment.
The unnecessary and extreme animal cruelty has been and is becoming an even more serious issue. I believe we should give better treatment to animals and not just use and experiment on them as we do as if they are just means to an end for us. What was once growing and farming to produce american food at its normal and natural rate has now turned into mass production of chemically infused animals and produce which are then a shell of what they are supposed to be. In American's efforts to pay a little less now they are actually putting off more payments for later. All the externalities that are caused by the slaughtering of animals include but are not limited to late in life health issues, higher costs of health and life insurance and so on. The subsidies the government gives are on those products that are broadly consumed by the masses which include meats and junk food. If people became a little less ignorant and more aware of the damage they are producing in the environment and gave a bit more concern for the countless animals that are being killed daily by the ton to produce all the food we choose to enjoy, it will cost us a little more now but would save us more than just a few dollars in the future and would stop the mass slaughter of these animals which we claim false superiority over.
Anthony De Camillis
Animal Cruelty is, and will always be a touchy subject. I for one, am completely against the way animals have and are currently being mistreated around the world, but I am not against the production of meat. Sure, you might not stand for animals being killed, but I bet you're not complaining when you're slobbering over your cheese burger. With that being said, the way animals are being treated before being killed and sent out to your local supermarket can and should be changed for the better, but it’s something that can never be completely prevented. It is a necessity for animals to be killed and prepped for production for the well-being of the human race. Animals are also used as experiments in labs to test vaccines for vicious diseases such as rabies and polio. The fact is one animal can save millions of human lives. If we stop these experiments on animals, then someone will have to take its place. Are you willing to put your life before an animals’ for the sake of saving millions of lives? People do take advantage of the fact that most animals cannot defend themselves, but the truth is we need animals to serve a purpose. So unless you’re giving up meat or volunteering yourself to be a guinea pig in a science lab then should take a minute to assess the topic before being so quick to judge it.
Do animals deserve a better treatment?
Whether animals are capable of feeling pain or not, does not matter for the simple fact that we-humans- are sentient beings, and we should not treat animals with the level of cruelty we have become accustomed too. Animals are very smart creatures in their own way despite popular beliefs. Animals unlike human being are well capable of living on the planet earth without culture. However, a human being could not last a year on planet earth without culture and the ability to use tools. Animals have even transcended in to human realm by the amazing of some experimental animals, especially Koko the monkey, who was capable of learning over 400 language signs. On the other hand, I have yet to see a human being live off the earth without tools, which will never happen because we are not anatomically built for such conditions.
But nowadays, we have become desensitized to our animal companions. We kill lions, bears and tigers for their furs. We put monkeys, wolves and eagles in cages for our amusements at the zoo. We keep dogs, cats and hamsters as pets. The rest of the animals are in farms or slaughter houses waiting to be bleach with ammonia, packaged, and delivered to the nearest food market ( I’m well aware that there are more animals in the world than the one’s I just mentioned, but bear with me). We have become artificial carnivores. Human beings are not anatomically meant to eat meat. The consumption of meat can be linked to a thousand health problems. And despite popular beliefs, we don’t have to eat meat in order to survive, so why do we still eat meat?
The only good reason for killing an animal is to help us find new vaccines for treating malicious bacteria and diseases. I usually don’t agree with utilitarianism, but killing one animal to save a million lives is justified. However, producing a trillion pounds of soybean and corn, to feed billions of animals in farms, in order to provide millions of people with package meat, is just bad math; when you consider all the repercussions.
Stanley Jean-Louis
America has been a developing nation in many things such as production of new types of technology, advancement in war tactics, and new ways of living for the average middle-class American. However, there’s something getting worse over the years instead of improving on a more positive outlook: treatment and care for animals in our “animal-farming” business. There’s people who think that animals have no feelings and they wouldn’t be able to express any sentiment because of having no language. However, why do pigs, for example, squeal when you brand them? That’s called pain. Just because they can’t tell you they feel something doesn’t mean that you can’t conclude anything from their reactions. In America, these factories are mass-producing animals as if they were inanimate objects. Pigs and chickens are being fed low-quality, chemical-induced food and sent to their death when they are fat enough or fully-grown. I believe this is a very cruel way to raise the food that WE eat. There has to be a negative outcome when you affect the well being and health of an animal that you will ingest. Not only is their body fed to have a lot of fat and hormones, but their psychological treatment also affects their state of health. This is a traumatic experience for chickens, cows, pigs, chicks, veal, and other animals growing in this business. In 2013, we shoudn’t have to make animals go through this pain and suffering for us to survive. The people who work in that business are just too ignorant to care about how animals are being treated in the process. It’s a long, miserable life for them and then they die. All these factor that animals are exposed to affect the quality of the meat as well. This procedure is too unnecessarily cruel for animals, and we should learn to approach this matter in a different, more moral way other than having them beaten to death. If we at least feed the animals better quality food, our health might not be at such a high stake to get all these diseases from obesity and too much fat in our systems. In conclusion, this matter is unacceptable behavior and we have to attempt other approaches in growing our food.
Gabriela Montero
I don’t agree that animals are on this planet solely for hunting purposes, so we can eat their meat or what they produce. Man has been doing this for centuries, but think about how the quality might compare to the meat we find in the grocery store in present times. With all the hormones and antibiotics injected into animals, we’re lowering our body’s natural defense system. Our immunity becomes less than what it should be. A lot of people believe that meat is the best source of protein. This isn’t the case. Many of the desired nutrients we look for in meat is abundantly found in plant-based foods. Most americans aren’t getting the proper amounts of fruits and vegetables, fiber included, in their diet. Unfortunately, our bodies get used to eating a certain way and we crave the wrong things. I’d like to say I practice what I preach, but I also love eating a well prepared steak (Changes are in order). Not only are we harming animals, but we are killing ourselves at the same time. Aside from the obvious, that a lot of people don’t eat right, take a look at the bigger picture. According to the World Health Organization, the United States spent more on healthcare per capita, and more on health care as a percentage of its GDP(Gross Domestic Product), than any other nation in 2011. Healthcare spending in the U.S. is more than 2.6 trillion each year, and more than half of that is wasteful spending due to preventable conditions due to obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related health issues. This is just the bigger picture that results from unhealthy diets, meat being a part of that. I don’t believe meat is the enemy, I believe we are our own enemies. Every single person has a choice to cut down on the consumption of animal products and widen their awareness of the ripple effects. In turn, it would cut down the the production to farm animals because the demand isn’t there. I am in favor of animal rights; man can be very cruel when in presence of his own ignorance, myself included. Simply by removing our blinders - becoming aware of the creatures we share this planet with, and how we are being affected by bad choices, we can make a huge impact individually and worldwide. Preservation of species and the ecosystem should be kept on the forefront.
Miranda Kincaid
A food web is a linear consequence of links in a food web starting from a species that eats no other species in the web and ends at a species that is eaten by no other species in the web. The food chains were first introduced by the African-Arab scientist and philosopher Al-Jahiz in the 9th century and later popularized in a book published in 1927 by Charles Elton. For centuries humans have been at the top of this web. Why? We have intellectual capability animals don’t have. Dating centuries back the process of human hunting animals for meat has become a completely different process. Before we had the adrenaline of putting our life’s at risk, the fresh first draw of blood, and the taste of victory. Now a day we purchase meat in a supermarket packaged and delivered to us. Not only do we use animals for our nutritional needs but also for experimental. Now we have to think to ourselves, if we can’t kill animals for their meat then how we will sustain our nutrition. Yes, many may say we have created vitamins which can replace the nutritional value of meats, but is it the same? And how are these vitamins tested? Through experiments performed on animals. Would you volunteer your family members or yourself for these different experiments? Knowing there’s a high chance of death? Mostly likely not, hence why we need animals. If animals were the ones on top of the food pyramid they would've done the same to us. It’s just a chain of command, no one stops to pity others and if we do we fall behind and we are killed. I’m also not saying you can go ahead and mistreat your dog or your cat but if the animal is being use to better our human society than I’m for it. We will always have extreme animal cruelty but think of it this way, we also have human cruelty in this world. Wouldn't we solve that issue than worry about animals’ mistreatment?
Evelyn Sevila
I think the way humans treat animals is cruel because they solely rely on profit and money making endeavors. The way some farms kill these animals is a reflection of their true character. They like seeing animals suffer and get sacrificed. Some of the food we eat are shot up with all kinds of chemicals and raised in over packed barns with each other. For example, the way chickens are raised is terrible. They are being shot up with chemicals as soon as they hatch and these chickens are too weak to weak to move because of all the weight that is being put on them. I think corporations should use better tactics when it comes to raising and killing animals for food. Killing animals in a flagrant way should be against the law because animals have been around before humans. Also these animals are what gives us our protein so we should take precaution on how we treat them. We need to be more conscious on where our food comes and how they are being processed before it hit our dinner plate. If that happens then we have a better respect for these animals who keeps us alive.
Ashley Hudgen Triff
The topic of animal cruelty will always open the doors to a debate because people in our society have such different views on this subject. Personally, I understand that throughout our lifetime animals have been hunted and killed in order for us to survive. The consumption of meat is something that I am accustomed to. I would be a hypocrite if I were to say that I am completely for animal rights rather than eating their meat for my own benefits. However, I am against animal cruelty. I feel that animals sense pain, and just because we cannot understand what they are saying, since they do not speak, does not mean that we cannot observe and acknowledge the pain that they are in. For instance, just because a baby cannot speak does not mean that he/she does not feel and sense pain. As humans we acknowledge that something is wrong when a baby cries; we do not just ignore its cry or decide to take advantage and abuse the baby because we do not understand what he/she is saying. That is basically the same thing with animals, just because we cannot speak with them does not mean that we cannot understand them and it does not give us the right to take advantage of them. But as humans we are bias towards animals, we choose to see them as inferior creatures who shouldn’t be treated well; but they should. Not only is the mistreatment of animals unfortunate enough for them, but nowadays the meat that we consume coming from those same mistreated animals is chemically infused; meaning that what we are eating is toxic to our bodies. At the end of the day, it is all a cycle because when we mistreat the animals, abuse them, use them for experimentation and infuse chemicals in their bodies, we end up eating the meat that they provide which is intoxicating our bodies. Imagine how much safer it would be to eat meat from an animal that was taken care of safely and properly? If an animal is healthy then the meat they will provide for us will be healthy too and we would not have to worry about suffering certain health issues induced by the meat we have consumed later on in our future.
Andreina Membreno
Today's consumption of animals and their slaughter has become so far removed from what the original hunters could have imagined. I believe that when there is something needed from every aspect of an animal that can be cultivated without having atrocious faming and death rituals the consumption of an animal is fine.
When there is a specific farm created to raise more animals, that these animals are fed genetically modified corn and other foods that is destroying surrounding farms, and that the slaughter of the animals is done on a conveyer belt; so that I can eat a fatty memory of what people call chicken or filet mignon. I am compelled to stop short of consuming something that is so far from nature.
In nature there is an order of things, the ecological systems that we and animals are all a part of. The mere cultivation process of the animals right now is destroying our farms and forever altering the animals which is not necessary for our sustainability . We have to change our perspectives of animals being just foodstuffs and see the larger picture that if we use the animals for mere consumption and alter them to be more readily available to us then we are destroying our selves.
Beth Espinola
Today's consumption of animals and their slaughter has become so far removed from what the original hunters could have imagined. I believe that when there is something needed from every aspect of an animal that can be cultivated without having atrocious faming and death rituals the consumption of an animal is fine.
When there is a specific farm created to raise more animals, that these animals are fed genetically modified corn and other foods that is destroying surrounding farms, and that the slaughter of the animals is done on a conveyer belt; so that I can eat a fatty memory of what people call chicken or filet mignon. I am compelled to stop short of consuming something that is so far from nature.
In nature there is an order of things, the ecological systems that we and animals are all a part of. The mere cultivation process of the animals right now is destroying our farms and forever altering the animals which is not necessary for our sustainability . We have to change our perspectives of animals being just foodstuffs and see the larger picture that if we use the animals for mere consumption and alter them to be more readily available to us then we are destroying our selves.
Beth Espinola
Animals deserve to be treated well. There is a variety of characteristics that we can use to classify animals, some are cute, some are used for scientific study and one of the most known uses is to eat. But no matter what they are to us they must be treated properly. There are many ways that we can benefit from animals, we can ride them, use them for farming, and food. Animals can benefit from us as well. Like we raise and protect sheep from other predators, but we also use them as nutrition and attire. In the process though we must ensure that they are cared for properly and not mistreat them which would result in abuse. There are many natural resources on this earth for us to use and we must ensure to use them well.
Using hormones to enlarge our food or keeping animals in unkempt conditions just to make a greater gain is unethical. With our intellect in this day and age we should be able to take care of our natural habitat, our animals and our world. To properly care for what we have in the present time and take the necessary steps to ensure a promising future for us the animals and our planet.
Animal cruelty has been a controversial subject for society for quite some time now. People assume that since animals are at a lower consciousness, than most humans, they shouldn't be granted rights such as penalties against animal cruelty. It has been made public that most of the meat we consume comes from factories and slaughterhouses that do not give animals the proper care or environment for them to live fruitfully (even if their lives are meant to be short lived). With the advances in science and technology the meat has become more genetically modified and processed, which the public is just finding out about. Many people make the argument that we are meant to eat meat, we've been doing it since the beginning of time. Yes this is a valid point but our fellow ancestors treated animals with the out most respect. They did not over indulge in eating or hunting for meat, being well aware for other forms of meeting their nutritional needs. Most of the meat we consume has chemical additives to them like sulfuric acid, which is used for the red coloring of meat. Do I believe we should stop the production of meat? No of course, I'm actually eating a steak right now, but I do condone the proper and ethical production of it. Having farms with acres of land and individually caring for the needs of animals is time consuming and expensive but isn't our health priceless? If we were to teach the masses about other forms of protein and nutrients we would be able to be less dependent on meat production, which is causing Americans to become obese. Cheaply produced meat is damaging our bodies and most don't even realize it. An other animal rights issue is using animals to conduct experiments. I fully condone the use of animals for experimental reasons because lets face it no human is going to volunteer to be pried open for the greater good. What people fail to know is that there are many regulations regarding the treatment of animals that are being tested. Before an experiment can be conducted they have to be approved by a board which can only happen if there are no intents to cruelty. Animal testing is important in the development of medicine and treatments. Wether we realize it or not humans, animals, and the Earth itself are interconnected, without one there simply can't be an other. It is important for us as morally conscious beings to treat other LIVING organisms with the respect they deserve (they were here first you know.)
I do agree that animals should be treated a lot better, and we have to realize that we can’t just look at them as a food source only. Although I disagree with animal cruelty I am definitely not against eating meat. Human societies have based their whole diets on meat from animals for a long time and I don’t think that should stop. What I do think, is that these huge corporations are putting unhealthy things into these animals to make them grow at a faster rate so they can produce more and ultimately get more money. This is hurting us yet we don’t make changes to our diets because we see the price differences. I never eat fast food for this same reason. I believe the government should force these corporations, and limit them from killing too many animals. If the purpose of killing animals such as cows, and chickens is for the sole purpose of consumption then I have no problem, but when animal cruelty becomes a factor with dogs, cats, tigers, and other animals like I think we have a larger issue.
- Kevin Cabrera
Although I stand a firm believer in anthropocentrism, I do believe that it is wrong to inflict pain and cruelty on the lesser species of the earth simply for the purpose of our consumption. Yes it is true that animals have been placed on the earth for our nutritional benefit, but the way that society-most especially America-has exploited that benefit is absolutely repulsive. Obviously, it is considered wishful thinking to ever believe that the American food industry will disintegrate and humans will revert to “hunter-gatherer” status, taking only from the earth that which is needed and not that which is craved. That is the mindset that we should advocate. Animals should have the right to exist within their natural settings. Not only have humans deprived them of that habitat, but we have subjected them to cruelty. Does it make any logical sense to inflict pain on our basic means of survival? No. We should provide the animals with at least the courtesy of a quick death; they have sacrificed their own lives for the survival of the dominant race Homo sapiens.
Jennifer Carvel
I am a person who loves animals. For me they are amazing creatures, each one has its purpose in this earth. As the Professor says, animals were here before than humans beings, so why do we have to be so rude and cruel with them? I think that humans are more “animals” than them because we can think and distinguish between what is wrong and good and we still continue doing wrong things in our world, our family, our environment and even ourselves. It’s not fair the bad treatment to animals. It broke my heart when I saw that video in which those workers mistreat the cows and pigs as if they didn’t feel pain. It is so hard to see this reality in animals. Everyday humans are becoming less aware about what are feelings, emotions, what are life, love, values, principles, and justice. I don’t want to imagine what will happen if we don’t to stop killing our precious animals and destroying our nature.
Animal cruelty is a controversial topic throughout our society. I firmly believe that animals deserve a far better treatment than what they receive. Animals should have rights, and must be protected as any other being. However, how do you kill an animal in a humane way? Something else to reflect on is, if all humans were vegetarian, for the sake of animals, what would be the outcome? Would humans have accomplished all that they have? Also, the world would have an overpopulation of animals. As sad as it is, the food chain is a part of life. Humans must go out, hunt, and gather their own food for means of survival. Although, our cities have become so industrialized and technologically advanced it is hard for a human to just go out and obtain their own food. America has developed a cruel yet rapid way of producing food and getting it out to the markets. But I am not in favor of our system of farming animals in an industrially intense fashion. Our society complains that organic food is too expensive but if they spent more money on that rather than junk food, prices would decrease. It is only expensive due to supply and demand. As a meat eater, it is challenging to reduce the consumption of meats. I do not ask for people to become vegetarians or vegans, but I do believe that people should be aware of the food they are consuming and where it came from, maybe that would give them a different outlook on where to spend their money when planning meals.
The undeniable humane superiority is derived by an old-fashioned yet traditionally endured Western line of reasoning that has erupted a variety of unpredictable “abuses” by human ignorance against other living species that are as special and peculiar. This can be blamed on the uniqueness of our physical features and unquestionable rational capability of guaranteeing survival, and eventually portraying consequent dominance in the natural environment we are expected to persist on. As evolutionists endorse, the survival of fittest has caused generations of some living beings to completely vanish and extinct, while some others to prevail – the case of human kind. On the contrary, a “kinder” line of thought has aroused from a deeper concern with the endorsement of species rights: environmentalists in conjunction with sustainable development folks relentlessly advocate for an “equalizer” effect, hoping to clarify the idea that animals and other sentient beings are as unique as human beings – and should therefore deserve the same respect. The growing movement by environmentalists and sustainable development advocates has demanded a faster and more radical response by those who still adopt the traditional Western perspective, where human superiority justifies environment (and animal) degradation for addressing bare necessities purposes. The debate is ongoing. While it seems to be absolutely necessary to embrace a whether “pro-human” or “pro-animal” choice in the sentient-beings-rights spectra, judging by my own line of thought, it is by no means convenient to make such choice. It is rather pertinent to establish a borderline that will ensure that humans address their bare necessities – survival of the fittest – at the same time that provides a watchful eye on abusing our right to sacrifice one’s life for our own benefit. As Immanuel Kant would argue, solely treating rational beings as an end is morally erroneous, implying justification on not acting the same towards animals. Yet again, abuses by industrialized and processed food industries have been overlooked the past years, but have now begun to be finally recognized as immoral and unacceptable due to the “deep ecology” perspective that gradually replaces the old-fashioned Western view – evoking more harmonious linkages between humans and the natural environment.
The undeniable humane superiority is derived by an old-fashioned yet traditionally endured Western line of reasoning that has erupted a variety of unpredictable “abuses” by human ignorance against other living species that are as special and peculiar. This can be blamed on the uniqueness of our physical features and unquestionable rational capability of guaranteeing survival, and eventually portraying consequent dominance in the natural environment we are expected to persist on. As evolutionists endorse, the survival of fittest has caused generations of some living beings to completely vanish and extinct, while some others to prevail – the case of human kind. On the contrary, a “kinder” line of thought has aroused from a deeper concern with the endorsement of species rights: environmentalists in conjunction with sustainable development folks relentlessly advocate for an “equalizer” effect, hoping to clarify the idea that animals and other sentient beings are as unique as human beings – and should therefore deserve the same respect. The growing movement by environmentalists and sustainable development advocates has demanded a faster and more radical response by those who still adopt the traditional Western perspective, where human superiority justifies environment (and animal) degradation for addressing bare necessities purposes. The debate is ongoing. While it seems to be absolutely necessary to embrace a whether “pro-human” or “pro-animal” choice in the sentient-beings-rights spectra, judging by my own line of thought, it is by no means convenient to make such choice. It is rather pertinent to establish a borderline that will ensure that humans address their bare necessities – survival of the fittest – at the same time that provides a watchful eye on abusing our right to sacrifice one’s life for our own benefit. As Immanuel Kant would argue, solely treating rational beings as an end is morally erroneous, implying justification on not acting the same towards animals. Yet again, abuses by industrialized and processed food industries have been overlooked the past years, but have now begun to be finally recognized as immoral and unacceptable due to the “deep ecology” perspective that gradually replaces the old-fashioned Western view – evoking more harmonious linkages between humans and the natural environment.
Roomending Joseph
“The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but "Can they suffer?”
― Jeremy Bentham.
The answer to that is yes they can. Just like Tom Regan said:” He argues that, because the moral rights of humans are based on their possession of certain cognitive abilities, and because these abilities are also possessed by at least some non-human animals, such animals must have the same moral rights as humans. So when they are tortured them like that of course they can feel it. When we are tortured them like that we don’t think about anything but killing them , but as we killing them their face expressions , they scream and if you have a good heart you should feel the pain that they going through. For example, us as humans when something poke us and blood coming out we know how it feels, sometimes blood don’t even come out but the moment that thing poke us automatically we feel the pain. It is true they don’t have the ability to feel, to talk but as they hitting them, or killing them they scream so to me I will say yes they feel it and they suffer. Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. So why treating them bad?
It’s true that I am a meat consumer. I believe that it is good to eat meat and it’s good for our health, Since protein is said to improve the overall health and well-being of one’s body, there are other benefits such as the repair and building of body tissues as well as the production of antibodies that will protect the body from infections, thus strengthening the immune system as well. Most importantly, since meat contains all the essential amino acids, it definitely ranks as one of the best sources of protein. However it is good to treat the animals better. Because as much as we are important as humans, I feel like they are as well. They can’t talk, they can’t feel but they can suffer.
To conclude, Anthony Douglas William said “There was a time when animals ran toward us .Today, they run away from us”. You will ask why? Well because of the bad treatments, we scare them instead of coming toward us they run because they know what we are planning to do to them. So again I believe that animals deserve better treatment because they are part of our environment.
Unfortunately, humans take animals and their meat for granted. I believe animals should be treated so much better than how they are being treated today. Animals are like us; they are part of our environment, which means they deserve respect and nice treatment just as humans do. Animals are voiceless, and they don’t have a form of communication with us to let us know when they are suffering from pain or mistreatment. Although it has been proven that humans need meat to survive, it is not necessarily true. We have plants that we can use to grow many foods and survive off of. For example, when we go to a grocery store, we are accustomed to going straight to the meat section and putting it right in our basket. But how many of us stop and wonder where that piece of meat came from? Not enough of us do that. Every time I eat a piece of meat, I feel so guilty because I know it came from an animal. Sometimes, instead of eating a piece of meat, I substitute it for something else. We need to put an end to animal cruelty and save the animals. Fortunately, we have many charities and organizations created to help these animals.
-Jennifer Orlandi
I believe that speaking of animal cruelty is as sensitive as speaking of politics. Many people have different opinions and beliefs over the matter. For example, religion plays a role. In the African religion Yoruba, also known as Santeria, animals hold a great part. In this religion animals are sacrificed for spiritual cleansing, offerings, rituals, and so on. To these people this is normal and in the United States allowed. The use of animals for this religion is not prohibited because it would go against religious rights. However, the animals death must be quick and practically painless because if not it goes against the laws of animal cruelty. My point is that not everyone is going to have the same opinion but there has to be some sort of balance!
Not too long ago I went to a festival where an Animals Rights booth was setup. As I walked by I could not help but look at such a gruesome sight. There was a documentary on slaughterhouses showing acts of animal cruelty. To be honest, I could barely stomach what I saw and it truly made me think of where my food comes from. If society were to witness the brutal killings of the animals that fill their stomachs I am almost positive that more than half of the consumers would think twice about their meat consumption and animal cruelty. I believe that animals should be treated better because at the end of the day we are all animals. We act superior to all animals but in reality we forget that many animals can kill us. We may hold a high position in the food chain but there is no number one!
Natalie Castro
I believe it is our obligation to treat animals with respect despite being a meat eater, I am all for animal rights. Our relationship with animals has changed drastically what used to be hunt and killing what we needed has turned into a billion dollar corporation with complete disregard for animals. They are not seeing as living creatures but instead killed mercilessly for our consumption. Farm houses cramp animals into one location, treat them poorly and kill them without any remorse. Treating animals ethically would not only be beneficial for them but for us in the long run, it would help with our health since these animals are being injected hormones and antibiotics to grow at an unnatural rate. It also harms our environment drastically by creating methane and house gas emissions. We have unfortunately become desensitized to the horrors that occur and turn our backs to it, we must remember that animals are conscious creatures who are aware of pain. The only difference between them and us is our ability to speak.
Grethel Villalobos
We, humans, are constantly changing. Today is even worse than the day before due to our urge to get more in an instant. As they say “time is money”, so the faster something is done, the better. However, better for who? We tend to take everything to an extreme, just as we, principally corporations, did with animals’ overproduction and killing.
It’s been a long time since humans are consuming animals, so we can’t just demand to stop the practice. I used to not think about animals rights. Living in my country, when I ate meat I did not have to think of any of these issues because there just was no need to. There wasn’t and still isn’t any overproduction and massive destruction of animal lives for consumption. Cattles and others are raised properly, just as they used to be in the past. However, presently I am concerned, and I do think about the issues being aware of the overall process used by big corporations to acquire meat in particular. I do agree mostly with Roger Scruton on this matter. I am not so much for the right to be well-treated for animals, but mostly I strongly oppose factory farming.
The major reason for that is because I am alarmed about the emerged and still arising diseases that we are facing nowadays. I believe that the composition of our current diet represents one of the relevant causes of the latter. Eating animals that are not properly or even I would say traditionally raised do no good for our health; for we eat meat to get proper nutrients for growth and great health. So what happens if our daily alimentation contains just things that have not even acquired proper nutrients for themselves? What can we possibly get from them? Most of us know the difference between in taste and in end product of an animal real meat and the “ready-to-go” production that have not even attain real maturity manufactured by big companies. And the difference in pricing is pretty obvious to most people. That is also the reason that compels me sometimes to agree with certain activists routing for animal rights. In places where there are no such things, such as where I come from, people are healthy and in great shape despite the lack of some other nutrients that should have been in their diet, for what they consume is gotten and processed naturally.
Dahitza Alexandre
Our greed has been making our animals suffer for a long time. We become avid for our products and stock our animals; thus we force our will upon them to the extreme to give us what we want. It wasn’t created to be like that and we can see that by looking at the different tastes that come from our things that we eat. Therefore, due to that it makes us suffer in many lethal ways.
Long time ago, we all humans were born with animals instinct to hunt to survive. The animals that surrounded us were there to serve us in any circumstances. Also, they have to hunt to survive and adapt to their environment. That leads us to the circle of life.
It is pretty good to think that we have a sort of superiority on things that are in our planet. However, that doesn’t mean that we should abuse them like some of us are doing. So it comes to mind that it is imperative to think that most of all, animals should have their own rights. For instance those we use as food nutrients should have their own rights to replenish fully and naturally before another harvest; for in the long that it will benefits us more than them.
I won’t judge people that either eat or don’t eat meat or other products from animals. Though, we all should think as to say about how we treat the latter that serve us in some mysterious ways. We all have our significances on earth, one may not see, but it is there.
Shanorah Alexandre
I have always been a meat lover. Being of Hispanic descent, meat is included in every single meal, so it is something I was brought up to love. After reading this article, I can completely agree that there should be a moral ethical law against animal cruelty and their level of consumption. Just because we are humans does not justify our actions towards animals. They do not have the power that we do and therefore, as compassionate beings, we should do the best we can to treat them with respect and sympathy. I just recently read a book that stated that eating meat is not even supposed to be part of our day to day diet, so why keep eating it if its not necessary? After reading this i now question my motives more. Should I continue to devour meat in the way that I have been for years, or should I maybe try to decrease this amount. It has become clear that the moral thing and healthy thing to do here is to decrease my intake and start speaking up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Camila Juncadella
I believe all animals just be treated fairly and with some respect. But that does not mean I am going to stop eating the meat. I believe that if you are against eating meat then do not eat it just go your own way an eat your salad. You can go on about trying to prevent animals being killed but in the end animals will die at some point. whether by killing them (meat eaters) or by taking their food (vegetarians). I am not worried because I am not witnessing them being hunted or their meat being cut. I understand the points that the article has but in the end we are all humans and we do get hungry. What would you do if you were hungry? what would you do if their was no vegetables?. It is best to focus on the natural environment rather than animal treatment because that is a subject that is always going to have arguments and in the end nothing will be solved.
The question of whether or not animals have rights or not is very subjective and does not have a right or wrong answer to me. There should always be a balance when trying to make a point in terms of avoiding being bias and considering other points regardless of what side one approves of the most. Yes, Animals do deserve better than merely taken as “food stuff”, not only because many people share the passion of being animal lovers and protectors (owning pets, taming animals, etc) but because animals are sentient beings without being able to reason or speak our same language.
On a anthropocentric view, animals were brought to life primarily for survival needs, and humans are the most sophisticated type of animal as far as the animal pyramid goes. Carnivores and Omnivores have to feed on animal flesh in order to survive; its part of animal nature. The difference is that some people believe that humans who eat meat are titled cruel for doing so because we are reasonable beings and there is an induced ethical connotation : Is eating meat or any animal product morally wrong? Millions of animal rights organizations make valid, reasonable points when it comes to animal cruelty/slaughter/abuse or campaigns which I am sympathetic of because I own pets. I could not imagine being present in a situation where an animal is being mistreated, be it whatever type of animal. On the other hand however, I do admit that I omit the thought of animal processing when it comes to buying chicken or meat when I do my groceries because the thought of it is so sick and cruel, I would deteriorate my health. I like to just think of it as a mere “food item” that I need to eat in order to satisfy my nutritional needs. Although my thoughts may seem contradicting, I refuse to take a side because either one is too extreme. I saw a video on youtube from a Vegetarian campaign with the purpose of changing “people’s life and views regarding animals”. Indeed it changed my life for a significant amount of time. The images and videos of animal slaughters were so hideous I felt remorseful and decided not to eat any meat whatsoever. After some time, my standpoint on ‘meat eating’ leaned on the objective side as it is vital for our health and I preferred avoiding the guilt and feelings this topic arises.
Animal rights has been a controversial topic in society for quite some time now. For many years humans have sacrificed the lives of animals for experimental uses and for the meat that is sold at local supermarkets. Lets be realistic, hunting is completely normal amongst all living things; It is a part of the food chain. Hunting is what keeps our environment balanced. What I am not in agreement with is the way that these animals are being mistreated. The consumption of the meat that we eat is damaging to our bodies as well. Disturbance of hormonal balance is caused by included synthetic hormones; in addition, to the corruption that meat has on our bodies is a lack in nutrients and protein sought years ago and was our primary purpose for hunting. The mistreatment of these poor living things is ignored and unknown to many people world wide. Society should raise the awareness and form animal rights to help protect our environment.
-Vanessa Morales
Animals have been merely taken as "food stuff" by the products they produce. Food products produced by animals include: milk, meat, chicken, cheese, butter, eggs, and honey. All these food products are essential to most of our daily routines. In my opinion I believe that animals deserve to be given better treatment. Animals are being over fed with low quality food and are being killed when they are fat enough. This treatment doesn't benefit us because at the end of the day is not healthy for us in the long run.
- Vanessa Lubeigt
Animal treatment has become a controversial topic now days. We have people who firmly believe that animals are beings with no feelings and should be utilized for nourishment. Personally I have to admit that I eat some animal byproducts, but I disagree with their treatment. For example pigs are often confined in narrow spaces with other mates. While they also shoot rods into their skulls for instant death. I’m actually against it. I know that animals are beings with the ability to feel pain and should be treated with more respect. I understand that our society is accustomed to eating meat, but at least animals should be treated with dignity before being killed. Now chickens are given the chance to live in free ranges. They hatch eggs without the dangerous chemicals from being stressed. Also, we can make the choice to limit our animal intake. We should substitute byproducts. Milk for soy milk and meat for mock meat to name a few.
-Miguel Castillo.
I believe for centuries animals have been hunted and killed for the survival and benefits of human kind. I believe meat consumption is a practical part of life, therefore, I cannot say I believe in animal right but I do certainly do agree that animals deserve better treatment.
Just because they cannot answer us when we speak to them that does not mean that we cannot understand them and it does not give us the right to take advantage of them. Actually most animals can feel or hear when we hurt or speak to them Animals have emotions just like us human does. So I believe we should not be treating them how we want but the right way they are should be treating. I love meat but they way they are being treated are wrong. If we care about environment, if we care about our lives, we should start treated animals and all living species with respect.
Animals have been merely taken as dollar signs by the products they produce. Food products produced by animals include: milk, meat, chicken, cheese, butter, eggs, and honey. All these food products are essential to most of our daily diets and routines. In my opinion I believe that animals deserve to be given better treatment and should be kept away from anything that causes them to grow un-naturally like hormones. Animals are being over fed with low quality feed and are being killed when they are perfect size for slaughtering. It is abuse to the animal and abuse to the individuals consuming it. I believe whether you are raising an animal as a pet or as a use for consumption, you should keep the animal happy and provide the best quality products to feed it in a natural manner. The meat industry needs to be regulated because this contaminated meat is reaching the mouths of our children and we are seeing the results of it. A simple comparison of a organic piece of chicken breast to a non organic chicken breast will prove that what we are putting in our bodies is toxic.
- Vanessa Lubeigt
I do believe animals deserve better treatment. In order to survive, all living things must kill something or someone in order to survive. We kill animals just like animals kill each other in the wild, in order to survive. We do use animals, for tests to produce vaccines and cure diseases. Throughout history we can see how much our survival has included animals. However, when do we cross that line that takes us from survival, into over kill? Instead of eating to live, we live to eat. We consume more food than necessary, which means more animals have to be raised, and a lot quicker. It’s not simply about quantity but about the quality as well. They means that are used to produce so much food, in the condition that they’re made aren’t very ideal us. We use animals for medicine, vaccines and cures for certain diseases, not only for us to survive but many animals as well. Then animals that are used to test cosmetics and other things that aren’t as essential for human life. I do believe animals should be treated better, yes to do raise animals for food and use for experiments, but that doesn't mean you go all out. Animals themselves hunt only for what is necessary and what they need to survive. For centuries they have been a key part of our survival, whether it’s helping produce the fruits and vegetable that we eat, being hunted for food and clothes, or even in other ways we might not realize.
Alberto Martinez
Post a Comment