Whilst I have no problem with people who do not eat meat out of a dislike for it, and indeed I agree with those who will not eat mass produced meat because of the conditions and treatments the animals are subjected to, I do have a large problem with those people who do not eat meat because "killing things is wrong" or "I don't anything with eyes". My rationale is as follows: people must eat plants if they do not eat meat. We share up to 80% of our DNA with a banana, therefore, it would be arrogant to suggest that plants do not feel anything when they are boiled alive or roasted in oil. The feeling they experience may be so alien to us that we don't recognise it as such, but nonetheless, I have no doubt it is there. Additionally most vegetarians are more than happy to swig down a pot of Yakult, which, even though they do not represent the sort of animal life most vegetarians consider when they make their decision to become so, are animals. In fact I would go as far to say that all animals are merely co-operative colonies of bacteria/ single-celled organism type animals. Indeed at one stage of our evolution it is highly probable that our mitochondrian were themselves separate, single-celled, lifeforms that formed a symbiotic relationship with our own cells.

So before you decide to become a vegetarian think to yourself- why is it more wrong to kill animals than plants simply because we can empathise with them?

Posted by: Mark | August 23, 2007 2:26 PM

Please do more research before you come up with a rationale such as the above.
Killing is animals wrong, to me it feels wrong. Also I cannot find any reference or source to show that we share 80% of our DNA with bananas nor do I consider that important, one could argue that everything on the planet is carbon based.

This is a pretty sick world in a sense because one form of life must destroy another form in order to live.
However, plants do not have a central nervous system, many plants grow back and as far as we know do not suffer as they have no pain receptors.
If you don't want to eat plants because you feel that is unethical then you can just eat their Fruit (fruitarian) the fruit is offered by the plant or tree in order to spread it's seeds so you are helping life along if you plant them.

Yes, I can empathize with animals because I feel that their lives are just as valid as mine, not more not less.
Additionally if you don't think a person can survive on just fruit look at www.fruitarianfitness.com that guy eats nothing but fruit.

At least people eating a purely plant based diet are minimizing suffering. Have you ever watched any videos of factory farming? It's disgusting.

Plant's and fruit grow back, animals do not.

So what do you suggest people that are vegetarians because they don't agree with killing do? Start eating meat again? Stop eating anything altogether and die?
I fail to understand your rationale.

Eat meat if you will but I recommend you research how your food gets to your plate and decide whether you are ok with that. You are obviously intelligent enough to question various beliefs and ideals.
Regardless of whether man ultimately eats meat, animals don't deserve to be treated like the meat machines we have turned them into.

Lenardo Da Vinci said: "One day men such as me will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men"
He was a fruitarian and sometimes referred to as "The Strongest Man in Venice".

Abraham Lincoln: "I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."

Albert Einstein: "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

Of course, I leave you to make up your own mind as I cannot and nor would I want to do that for you.

Posted by: Phil Griffths | September 28, 2007 3:38 PM

Just one other thing.
On your reference to dairy extra, any animal product consuption supports the meat industry and animal suffering.
These days my personal ethics are such that I will not consume or wear any animal products or by products.
I am a vegan, it has taken me a long time to get here but I am glad I made it.

Posted by: Phil Griffiths | September 28, 2007 3:42 PM

Just one other thing.
On your reference to dairy, any animal product consuption supports the meat industry and animal suffering.
These days my personal ethics are such that I will not consume or wear any animal products or by products.
I am a vegan, it has taken me a long time to get here but I am glad I made it.

Posted by: Phil Griffiths | September 28, 2007 3:43 PM

Wahay! Go Phil, you're an example to us all. xxx

Posted by: Heather Mooney | October 12, 2007 3:06 PM