The ethics of meat consumption is one of the most important social dilemmas of the last 20 years. The conversation around meat consumption is filled with complexity and nuance. The following critique comes from a powerlifter who needs to consume meat for powerlifting and bodybuilding goals. There are two main points of the anti-meat argument.
The first is that the meat industry is a capitalist industry that exploits animals and places them in living environments that are inherently harmful. This is a great argument against capitalism, however, this is a poor argument against meat consumption. The current meat industry is something that has existed for only around 300 or so years.
Sustainable Consumption
Humanity has been consuming meat since the first human was born in Africa. The point is that if unsustainable meat practices are possible then clearly the opposite are possible as well. In the modern era, some companies attempt to sustainably harvest meat by giving the animals full and healthy lives before being killed. While yes, there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, certain companies try to engage in ethical practices.
One can still eat meat, just don’t eat from companies like Tyson. “Among the most disturbing acts caught on camera is the inhumane killing of birds, including a Tyson supervisor suffocating animals by standing on their heads and instructing workers to do the same, while admitting it’s against company policy and is cruel,” according to Animal Outlook.
Life Preservation
The other argument is the argument of life. The anti-meat argument of life is the argument that animals are thinking and breathing creatures that don’t deserve death because a larger creature is hungry. In this case, most of the animal kingdom is the smaller creature in comparison to humanity’s “larger creature.” If all life is sacred, then why eat plants which are also alive? Is plant life worth less than animal life? Is animal life worth more because it has a face and makes noises?
Is life quantified by life points that are designated by how large, cute, or intelligent the creature is? Is the mere quantification and segregation of life forms into quantities of life inherently devaluing life forms in and of themselves? The argument of life falls apart when asked these questions. One answer as a meat-eating powerlifter is that it is everyone’s choice. If people can engage in sustainable farming practices for plant life, then people can engage in sustainable farming practices for animal life.
White Veganism
Finally, becoming a vegan simply isn’t feasible for a large section of the American population. In many sections of America, fruit and vegetables are really hard to come by. To suggest or imply that everyone should follow a vegan diet is to blatantly disregard the socioeconomic conditions that place people in food deserts. In Chicago alone, many neighborhoods truly struggle to get fruits and vegetables.
Many of these people tend to be people of color as a consequence of systemic racism. In fact, being able to follow a vegan diet is a sign of privilege. “Living in a food desert is also a barrier to following the vegan lifestyle. When people live miles from the nearest grocery store, it becomes difficult to make the trip to purchase healthy, fresh produce when there are cheaper options closer to home,” according to Yale News.
Meat Revolution
All in all, the question of meat consumption is no real question at all. The question of meat consumption is actually the question of whether or not one would rather the animals suffer or not. The clear answer is no. Human beings have been consuming meat ethically and sustainably in different economic setups all across time. The only question for humanity now is if people are going to consume meat ethically or not. Ultimately, it is a question of meat reform or meat revolution.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
Sources
Animal Outlook: Tyson Exposed: A Tradition of Exposure
Yale News: LOUDEN: Dear vegans, please check your privilege by ELAINE LOUDEN
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Chris-McKee’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Hubert Yu’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
