In past years, Farm Sanctuary held its Walk for Farm Animals in cities across the country in October. This year, there was only one walk. It took place in Chicago on October 1, 2016.
The Walk for Farm Animals events raise funds for the sanctuary, which cares for farm animals and educates people about the abuses they suffer at the hands of mass food manufacturers. In 2017, the sanctuary will launch a new fundraising event.
Why I’ve supported Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals
When I first moved toward a vegetarian diet decades ago, I found an article called “Why I Am a Vegetarian.” I typed up a list of bullet points from the article to carry in my wallet so I’d have an easy reference to share with people who wanted to know why I had stopped eating meat.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know why, but in those early years, I found it difficult to talk about without being defensive or sparking a pointless debate. At the time, many people around me weren’t in tune with my decision.
Over the years since, most people who know me have made peace with the idea that I’m not going to touch the Thanksgiving turkey, and it’s really not an issue any more. More importantly, I’ve grown in my own understanding of the issues.
I’ve learned more about how industrial farming abuses animals, destroys the environment and threatens the health of human beings. And that’s why I’ve participated in Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals twice and supported the event since I learned about it almost a decade ago.
I’m not much into preaching or telling other people how to eat (unless they ask; then I might share my views ), but I do think this is important. Here’s why.
It’s not just about the animals; it’s also about our planet and you!
Farm Sanctuary is a group of three havens for rescued farm animals (one in New York and two in California). Their mission goes beyond the home they provide for rescued animals. As I mentioned, they educate people about the ways factory farming harms the entire planet and all its creatures.
You can visit Farm Sanctuary (I’ve been to the New York site) and meet the animals. If you do, your eyes will probably open a bit wider to the fact that each of these creatures is unique and has a distinct personality, just like your pets.
For some people, the fact that animals are treated cruelly is reason enough to stop eating them. But there’s much, much more to it.
Here, in a nutshell, is why I support Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals…
(And by the way, nuts are a great source of nutrients for most vegetarians.)
I’m not against humans eating meat if the meat is compassionately raised and healthy. But the thing is, it’s incredibly hard to find that kind of meat, and if you do find it, it’s likely to cost you more than you spend on a week’s worth of groceries.
The reason compassionately raised meat is so expensive is the process of raising meat (and producing many other “foods” as well) has been transformed.
Your burgers and chicken wings are mass-produced industrial products. They are brought to you by conglomerates that have little or no interest in the well-being of animals, the environment, soil, water quality, food safety, nutrition, or your health.
Do you think I’m exaggerating? If you’re not convinced, but you are interested, there’s a great site, Sustainable Table you can visit to learn a lot more about why we need to change the way we produce our food.
The Problems with Factory Farming
When you think of a factory, you probably think of things like mass-production, economies of scale, getting as many products as possible made as cheaply as possible, and things of that sort.
But do you think of health? Do you think of nourishment? A factory is not a good place to produce food meant to nourish you and keep you healthy.
Here are just a few reasons why not. The list is condensed from information you can find on the Sustainable Table website.
- Factory farming is cruel and inhumane.
- Livestock agriculture contributes to destruction of rain forests, global warming, soil erosion, water shortages, air and water pollution, and the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria.
- It takes far more fossil fuel and water to produce a single calorie of protein from beef, pork or poultry than it takes to produce a calorie of protein from soy.
- It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans and grains to produce 1 pound of beef and between 3 and 6 pounds to produce one pound of pork or turkey. People in underdeveloped countries cannot afford meat. The grain used to produce so much meat could be feeding them.
- The correlation between meat consumption and a wide range of diseases is well documented.
- Because of industrialized farming practices, animal fat contains high concentrations of pesticides, herbicides, sterols, antibiotics, growth hormones, and other veterinary pharmaceuticals.
Still not convinced?
I know this issue is complicated and not everyone is convinced it deserves attention. But if you’re one of those people, please answer this (at least for yourself). Why is it okay that we treat certain animals as parts of our family and others as mass-market products?
The animals in places like Farm Sanctuary have a special bond of friendship with their caretakers and supporters, and I assure you they are not less special than your own pets (if you don’t have pets, take a look at the pet-human relationships of people you know).
But if compassion for all beings is not your thing, consider the environmental, political, economic, and health issues. Our food production system needs reform.
Without organizations like Farm Sanctuary helping to educate us all about the abuses of factory farming, we probably wouldn’t make a dent in changing the status quo. But luckily, such places exist, and the good news is things are slowly changing.
Is this just a vegan or vegetarian cause?
It’s not! In fact, if you’re a meat-eater, it might be even more important for you to support places like Farm Sanctuary, that is, if you want safe, healthy food and would prefer not to see animals abused.
In order to reform the factory farming system, all people, whether strict vegans or just people who care about the health and happiness of other beings, need to get on board and support reform.
Will you help?
You don’t need to make a huge donation to make a difference. The more people behind this cause, the more likely the minds and hearts of those that can make a difference will change. We need people who have the power to clean up our food supply and treat farm animals with the respect all creatures deserve!
Please consider a donation to Farm Sanctuary to support its mission. Or just let me know you think about this issue too!
Thanks!
Third Eye 