I got a comment yesterday that questioned these two aspects of vegetarianism. Actually, I see it hasn't popped up yet, but I did see it in my email...so I'll have to check on that.

Meanwhile, I can tell you about both these subjects with no doubts whatsoever, as I have direct (1st and 2nd hand experience) with both of them. 

Environmental impact: Years ago I worked at the State level at the Department of Agriculture. Yes, I was a lowly secretary, but I was often the first line employee to hear complaints and reports from farmers and their neighbors out in the field.

Although I thoroughly beleive that factory farming is at least trying to improve their environmental impact- I witnessed some expressions of concern in industry meetings- I also know for a fact that the washout from manure storage systems, and manure in fields is a near-daily occurrence.

As far as the actual slaughter- again, this varies by person. Many of the people that I went into meetings with most likely wanted the process done as quickly as possible. However, we know- know- that things happen. The veterinarian I worked for had to inspect slaughter plants once in a while. She came back with horror stories. . . first hand horror stories of severely wounded and tortured animals that were not treated quickly and humanely.

The worst story this veterinarian ever told me:

The cows come to the plant in slat-sided trailers, even in the winter. During the ride to the plant, they often urinate all over themselves and each other. My vet witnessed an incident in which an animal was frozen by urine to the trailer. Instead of turning a a warm hose on the animal, a crane was used to pull the animal from the trailer, ripping off part of the hoof and lower leg in the process- it had stayed stuck to the trailer. From trailer to slaughter is often hours.

I've travelled a bit in Mexico. I was fortunate to dine at a Birriria- a goat meat specialty restaurant. This was before I was vegetarian. I was told that the animals were slaughered directly in the back yard of this huge restaurant. We know this slaughter is done quickly and more humanely than the slaughter palnts here in the US. In the US, the almighty dollar alwys gets in the way. At a mom-and-pop place like this Birirria (spelling, sorry), the almighty dollar actually works in the reverse, ensuring the animals on the property are well treated and quickly killed.

I have no desire to contribute to the pain and suffering of other beings in my world. I also wish to leave a clean (ish), pure world for my children.        

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