The morality behind veganism

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by wegs, Oct 8, 2016.

  1. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    I've always eaten a healthy, organic diet as health and fitness has always been important to me. Not really a frequent consumer of dairy and meat, in general. Occasionally, I've enjoyed dining at a nice restaurant that is known for its delicious steaks. I've recently been exposed to a few documentaries on the horrific dairy and cattle farming practices that are taking place in Canada and the US. We are talking some of the largest dairy farms in these countries. The animal abuse that has been going on is beyond comprehension, and I wept in shock watching these videos. Not to mention, our dairy and meat supplies have growth hormones, and are often diseased, as many of these farm animals are not receiving regular medical attention. Most of the animals on these farms haven't seen daylight or touched a blade a grass ....ever. It is like I woke up out of a coma and have just been introduced to the horrors of unbridled capitalism.

    So, I think I'm going to take the vegan plunge - I can't in good faith buy products that have anything to do with animal abuse, and contaminated, inhumane food processing.

    Some things to think about: http://freefromharm.org/dairyfacts/

    http://freefromharm.org/animal-cruelty-investigation/sows-at-the-stockyard/


    I won't post the videos I've viewed here as they are horribly graphic but you can google those yourself, when you have time to view.

    I never quite understood the moral factor behind veganism. But, my many vegan friends have helped me see the light, and I'm going to make this my new eating lifestyle. If you wish to consume dairy and meat products, please just make sure that the company supplying the food, practices humane and ethical practices when it comes to their treatment of animals.

    What are your thoughts about the morality behind veganism/vegetarianism?
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
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  3. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    My concern with vegan is getting all your protein. Beans, lentils, and tofu I guess. I take such pleasure in eating meat I can't allow myself to forego it. I have very few vices. This is one I think I'll hold onto.
     
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  5. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    While everyone has to make their own decisions of course, it truly isn't a healthy food source (meat and dairy) unless, it is coming from a humane farm. So, there are two aspects of this for me - one, the moral and ethical treatment of animals on these farms and two, that the food is not pure, and free from antibiotics and growth hormones that cause cancer and other diseases in humans. So, if you consume beef, chicken, and dairy - make sure it's from a farm that practices humane and ethical farming practices.
     
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  7. Jeeves Valued Senior Member

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    The nutrition side of any diet is no problem thee days - at least in rich countries, where you can readily find all the vitamin supplements. Calcium and B12 are the main concerns. If you take a vitB supplement, get one that melts under your tongue and is absorbed through : food that needs chewing and can take the place of meat in familiar recipes. I learned to make seitan, which is work-intensive, but there are many tasty, processed soy-based foods that are meant to resemble meat, for the transition. One of my favourites is Veggie ground round; it's versatile and has good texture in spaghetti sauce or casseroles. The drawback of these products: too much salt and they're expensive - so, use sparingly. Textured vegetable protein from the bulk food store is very useful, and I've revently found a vegan concentrated protein powder that can be added to yamburgers, or anything. Mushrooms are a boon, as well.

    Really, all the nutrient, vitamin and mineral contents of foods are accessible on line, as are thousands of excellent recipes, and all packaged food products give you a handy guide to how much of your daily requirement a serving contains. It's easy. And your heart will be grateful, for a long, long time.

    I wonder how vegans will react to artificially produced meat. It's an animal product, but no sentient life is involved. I look forward to it.
     
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  8. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    The choice is not between industrial farming and veganism.

    On the one hand, it is possible to raise, kill, and eat animals in a deeply moral and ethically sound way. The central matter in most traditions is respect and gratitude, directed to the animal.

    One the other, there isn't any likely way to farm ethically in a non-floodplain temperate zone without raising domestic animals and husbanding wild animals - the genetic engineering folks might figure out a few workarounds, but until they do the ethical issues surrounding domestication and vermin suppression cannot be well avoided only. Industrial bell pepper farming is not much less dubious, ethically, than industrial egg production - and probably worse, so far, than industrial dairy operations.
     
  9. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    I thank you'r frinds are right... an i thank the morals of veganism are beter than vetetarianism.!!!
     
  10. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    *Edit to post #3 - cow milk is really not healthy for humans to be consuming (regardless if it comes from a humane dairy farm). Cow milk is really for baby cows. But, the baby cows if they're male, are usually taken within a day or two from their mothers, and isolated in crates and confined spaces, to be slaughtered a few months later, for the veal consumer. I stopped eating veal a while back because I knew about that practice, but the dairy side of things is truly eye opening to me. Almond milk is a delicious alternative to cow milk, less calories, and higher in calcium.

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  11. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    I like to make my own almond milk... its fresh... an i leave the "pulp" in it an the store bout is to sweet for me. I like to add Mcormicks cocoanut extract to it when i use it on keenwah.!!!
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
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  12. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    Almond agriculture is a major player in California's water shortage, and in the pesticide load on the landscape, and in the various downsides of industrial monoculture generally. But almond milk does taste good. Meanwhile, there is no necessity of confining weaned calves in crates for veal - they can be pastured, same as other cattle, and they were until fairly recently. Milk is better food for human beings than grass.
     
  13. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    Ive done the study myself an 82.4% of cows dont give a Sht whether the monster considers therself to be a deeply moral butcher or not... they dont want to be ate... period.!!!
     
  14. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    Did they mention whether they preferred to be killed and discarded, their pasture replaced with industrial monocultures, rather than milked?

    If you are a human being, you are killing animals to live. So are the animals. Your choice is not whether, but how and why.
     
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  15. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    I realize this problem with almond agriculture, and the water shortage in CA. It is surprising to me that 80% of the WORLD's almonds come from California. But, I don't think cow's milk is anymore environmentally friendly - the difference is dairy farms aren't concentrated in one area of the US.
     
  16. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    This is good to know, Jeeves! I do take a daily vitamin, but vitamins should really just be supplements, and not replacing whole foods. Whole foods are still best, and I'm hopeful that I can manage to get a balanced diet with whole foods as a vegan. Yamburgers sound great. I've made black bean burgers before, they are really satisfying.

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    Doesn't sound very appetizing lol -- ''artificially produced meat.''
     
  17. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    No... the study was strictly on ther thouts of bein bred an butchered for food... an they aslo said that humans can shove ther "respect an gratitude" whare the sun dont shine

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  18. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    What if it was indistinguishable from the real thang.???
     
  19. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    Because it's artificial, it will pose a health risk, so the taste won't matter. lol
     
  20. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    Ok... what if the nutrition was even beter than the real thang... an the health risk was proven to be less than tofu... woud you eat it.???
     
  21. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    If the health risk was minimal (anything has potential risk) - and it tastes delicious, then sure, why not.

    This seems a little strange, though...

    http://www.futurefood.org/in-vitro-meat/index_en.php
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
  22. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    Ive been vegitarian for over 45 years... an about 20 years ago i bout some vegie hot-dogs... i bit into one an it was just like eatin a real hot-dog an i spit it out an looked at the package to make sure it realy was vegetarian... an it was... but it was so close to real pig that it grossed me out... so i thank i woud have a prollem wit the new real fake "meat".!!!
     
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  23. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    There are many places where dairy farms are quite benign, environmentally - there are almost no places where industrial almond farming is benign, and especially not where the majority of it is done.

    Know where your food comes from, make your choices.
    I suppose we could just shoot 'em and leave 'em, plant beans in the fertile soil.
     
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