h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have an example of how the meat industry is harming the environment. In the area I live in we have an overpopulation of deer. This is due to the fact that all of the trees are being cut down for grazing land and crops for livestock. Thus giving the deer far too much habitat. Also all of the deer’s natural predators have been driven out. This has had devastating effects on the environment. People use the overpopulation of deer as an excuse to increase hunting. This has cased a great deal of hunting accidents (Darwin’s Theories in action in some cases.) Also this solution has yet to deliver results. No matter how much they hunt the deer still prevail.

Another argument I have is how we pick the animals we eat. If you ask someone why we don’t eat dogs. They will more then likely respond with “Dogs are intelligent animals.” Well a pig is equally (if not more) intelligent. Then again there’s the argument that dogs do not taste as good. This I can not argue with considering the fact that I have not tasted dog. Of course in China the whole dog argument is void anyway.

In the end the choice to be a vegetarian is entirely up to the individual and once this choice is made it is nearly impossible to persuade them to change it.

The whole Dog/Pig arguement has an element you seem to have overlooked. Many of us keep dogs as pets, we have a relationship with them, we give them 'Human' characteristics. Dogs have become very adept at returning our affection and displaying loyalty. It's not a question of intelligence but merely an extension of a dogs natural 'Pack' mentallity.

Attributing levels of intelligence to any animal is always misleading. The intelligence we attribute is always in comparison to humans. We say a dog is intelligent because it can understand a set of human commands and be trained to carry out certain tasks. Give a wolf that same level of intelligence and it couldn't survive in it's natural habitat. It makes much more sense to see animals for what they are. A squirrel who survives, prospers and reproduces is very clever at being a squirrel.

As i understand it, pigs are very sociable creatures. For most us they would make terrible pets but if enough people kept them, then i'm sure a bacon sandwich would soon lose much of its appeal because we tend to adorn our pets with 'Child like' characteristics.

I personally have never eaten Dog but i'm not completely averse to the idea. If my kids were hungry and there was nothing else, the dog would be the first thing to go.

I agree, becoming a vegetarian is entirely up to the individual and i fully support that persons choice. What you eat and why you eat it is entirely up to you. It is your body and your mind, therefore it should be your right to choose. I don't feel a need to persuade vegetarians to eat meat. Anyone who does must feel guilty for eating meat and have a need to justify it to themselves. What i will do however, is defend my own right to eat what the hell i like.

"......and the other contributed to the possibility of absolute annhilation for every living species on earth"

In all fairness to Einstein he was involved in the development of the A-Bomb becuase it was better for the Americans to have it before the Germans did. He did campaign for international controls on it after the war though.

That remark was meant to be flippant. I don't have a problem with Einstein. He was a little naieve perhaps but a great scientist none the less.

Why was it better for the Americans to have the A-Bomb?

For most vaggie's it is not necessary for everyone to become vaggie, eat what you want and enjoy good food in what ever way you like. The issue I would be more inclined to take up is when meat eaters think there is something wrong with being a vegetarian. I once went to a party when there was two meat curry dishes and I provided a Caribbean spicy stew, without meat. I could not believe how many people when choosing what to eat said I don't like vegetarian food, not a single one said I don't like Caribbean food. I think there is terible misconceptions here as to what constitutes vegetarian food, probably caused by unimaginative chef's at poor restaurants.

I regularly eat at a cafe in Darlington called the Voodoo Cafe upstairs from a shop called In Arcadia on Skinnergate. Although not a vegetarian they offer a huge and interesting rang of vegetarian options. I talked to the chef who said that paster in tomato sauce is baned from the menu, stating, this is not what a veggie wants, they want quality food and it is only the unadventurous nature of many meat eaters who think that cauliflower mixed with a bit of cheese sauce made with mild cheddar is the hight of culinary diversity.


What I'm trying to say here is that I love my food, I've traveled the world and marveled at the wealth of taste and texture I've experienced all from vegetables, herbs and spices, I'm very healthy and I don't care if all your interested in is sticking meat into a dish just because you feel that bolsters your sexuality or you don't have the culinary skill to prepare quality and tasty food.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment.