To the Editor:
I am a board member of CARE (Compassion for Animals, Respect for the Environment), a local West Chester group dedicated to promoting ethical veganism. I read your recent Quad piece by Ted Trevorrow covering vegetarianism with interest.
Certainly, many of the environmental and health claims of a vegan diet can be exaggerated, causing the animal advocacy movement to lose credibility. Personally, I am vegan for ethical reasons alone. Although there are some compelling arguments on behalf of environmentalism, I agree that the issue is complex.
I wanted to alert you to an upcoming event at the Chester County Book Company; Gene Baur, President of Farm Sanctuary, will be briefly speaking and signing copies of his book – “Farm Sanctuary; Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food” on April 24 at 7p.m. Below is an excerpt from one of the talks Gene has been giving lately to promote this book:
“Gene Baur, President of Farm Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, will briefly discuss the inadequacy of laws pertaining to the welfare of animals in the U.S. food industry. Agribusiness is an influential player in state and federal legislative bodies and has successfully advanced policies to exempt farm animals from basic humane protections. Factory farms take advantage of preferential consideration in lax environmental, health and labor laws, and obtain billions of dollars in government support. Our cheap food system is actually very costly.”
I do hope you’ll consider attending, as Farm Sanctuary has long been known for its integrity and tireless work on behalf of animals used in the factory farming system of the U.S. I believe that Farm Sanctuary has always maintained an even tone and presented information honestly and without distortion.
Lydia Chaudhry
Board Member of CARE
To the Editor:
In response to the article “Vegetarian for the right reasons,” I found it interesting to read Mr. Trevorrow’s take on the ever-growing shift towards healthier, more humane cuisine. In fact, a recent study by Aramark, a leading food service provider, concluded that nearly a quarter of college students are actively seeking vegan options when they sit down to eat for reasons ranging from their own health, to environmental concerns and of course cruelty to animals. Contrary to what Trevorrow implies though, across the board, animal agriculture wastes the limited resources we have by funneling them through animals raised for meat and other animal products. For example, we currently feed more than 70 percent of the grains raised in this country to animals raised for food, rather than eating the grains directly. Similarly, nearly half of the water and 80 percent of agricultural land consumed in this country is used for livestock, when it could be used to grow food directly for human consumption. This wasteful use of our resources has a devastating effect on our local environments as well. Currently, farmed animals produce about 130 times as much excrement as the entire U.S. population, much of which finds its way into our local waterways. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to find healthier, eco-friendly and humane dining options. With dishes such as vegan BBQ “riblets” and vegetarian “chicken” sandwiches widely available, it’s easier than ever to pick up environmentally-conscious fare on the go. For more information on the connection between what we eat and our impact on the planet, visit peta2.com to request free stickers and a DVD.
Ryan Huling
College Campaign Coordinator
www.peta2.com