In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

Everytime you cut down a forest in the interest of the Agriculture you are contributing to the Demise of the Earth. Agriculture is not in alignment with the Earth System. What is in alignment is Permaculture food producing forests that are ecologically diverse. This is the point I am making.

In that case, then wouldn't it make more sense to reduce the number of trees that are cut down?

We might not be able to eliminate agriculture altogether, but why not each do our part to reduce it?

The fact remains that most agriculture is for the purpose of feeding livestock. Look at the statistics I posted. If we can reduce the impact on the Earth by feeding the grains to humans directly instead of to cattle, then why not do that?

Think about it. Step outside of the Box that you define your eating proclivities by and see it from the perspective of the Earth.

It is precisely for the Earth, as well as the animals who inhabit this Earth, that I choose a vegetarian lifestyle.

I have lived very close to the Earth and in the past when I have been hungry in the middle of the winter when there are no apples or wild fruits to harvest... and animals have given themselves so that I may live and my family may live.

I won't judge your actions. I'm sure you did what you had to do at the time.

But I don't see how a particular incident in your life can be used to justify future actions. We cannot judge a person stranded in a snowstorm. But under normal circumstances, most of us don't encounter such dire conditions on a regular basis. Most of us are able to store carrots, potatoes, nuts and seeds for the winter. Seeds can be sprouted for live greens in the middle of winter. Nuts, seeds, and cooked grains can nourish a family just as well, even better, than animals.

Vegetarians can feed their families just fine in the winter, without shedding any blood. It just takes a bit of preparation.

Being an Omnivore does not mean I am any less Spiritual than you or that guy over there.

No one is judging you, Fairy! No one is saying you are any less spiritual.

Being an Omnivore and eating consciously is a middle path that I feel is in alignment with the Closed Loop system of the Earth.

What you consider the 'middle' and what I consider the 'middle' aren't the same.

Any farming that creates fields where forests once were is out of harmony with the Earth System. Meadows that are created by the Forest are in harmony.

OK. So, again, why increase that devastating impact by eating meat? When the meat industry is causing most of that deforestation? Or are you saying that you never buy meat from a grocery store? Do you only hunt wild animals in the forest?

Ironically, factory farm animals never get to enjoy the freedom a deer enjoys. Isn't the deer already living in balance with Nature, until humans enter the scene?

As far as medical costs are concerned I rarely go to the doctors. The last time I was in the care of a doctor was when I had my twins and they did not actually do anything to promote my health. It was the choices that I make to eat a natural diet with mostly regional foods that are as organic or naturally raised as possible that contribute to my health. The eshewing of additives such as MSG, Preservative, foods packaged in plastics, food colorants, and "vitamin enriched foods" as well as the genetically altered foods and the eshewing of salt and processed foods as much as I am able to and still live in a "modern" world is what contributes to my health.

I'm happy to hear that you and your family are healthy!

Nevertheless, I'm not referring to you personally when I claim that the consumption of meat increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity, stroke, diabetes, etc. These are statistical facts.

You aren't a statistic. You are a person. This isn't about you personally. I am speaking in generalities, about the general population.

What is better that Deer starve to death and then rot in the forest or for another to eat and be fed? What is better?

I would say neither is better. I would choose to let the deer live, and feed myself and my family another way. I'm not responsible for the deer's life or death. Deer are losing their natural habitat, just like other wildlife are also, precisely because of factory farming! To justify killing the deer, who has lost his habitat largely because of the meat industry perpetuated by humans, doesn't make sense to me. So I personally could not kill a deer based on that logic. What I do know is that if I buy a piece of cow carcass from the grocery store, I have just contributed to the cause of that cow's death.

Again, no one is judging you, Fairy. We are discussing ideas, concepts and ideals.