The meat industry scares me
Dear Editor,
I have no fear of zombies, witches, or evil clowns lurking on Halloween. What really scares me is meat.
This is the industry that deprives, mutilates, cages, then butchers billions of cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens — animals who feel joy, affection, sadness, and pain, as we do … that exposes undocumented workers to chronic workplace injuries at below living wage and exploits farmers and ranchers by dictating prices.
The industry that contributes more to our epidemic of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, then bullies health authorities to remove health warnings from dietary guidelines.
An industry that sanctions world hunger by feeding nutritious corn and soybeans to animals, instead of people.
The industry that generates more water pollution than all other human activities, that spews more greenhouse gasses than all transportation, that destroys more wildlife habitats… etc.
Fortunately, there are alternatives: plant-based foods. Nothing here to fear.
Mario Vincelette, Rutland
