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PETA disputes Rome Jorge
I am writing in response to Rome Jorge’s
commentary about animal rights and vegetarianism (“A Skeptical Eye
for the Vegan Guy,” July 3). Several of Mr. Jorge’s points were
inaccurate at best.
First, animal rights activists do not believe
that helping animals is any more or less important than helping
human beings—both are important. Animal suffering and human
suffering are interconnected, and we should all try to alleviate
suffering wherever we can. Each one of us can help stop suffering
simply by choosing healthy, humane vegetarian foods.
Many biologists believe that the human body is
better suited for a vegetarian diet than a meat-based diet.
Carnivorous animals have claws; a short digestive tract; long,
curved fangs; and extremely acidic stomach juices to break down
animal flesh and kill bacteria. By contrast, humans have flat,
flexible nails; a long digestive tract; flat molars; and two tiny
canine teeth that are better suited for biting into fruits than
tearing through tough hides. Our stomach acids are much weaker
because strong acids aren’t necessary to digest fruits and
vegetables.
Most meat-eaters consume much more protein than
they need, which can lead to osteoporosis and kidney stones.
According to the editor of the American Journal of Cardiology,
“[A]lthough we think we are one and we act as if we are one, human
beings are not natural carnivores. When we kill animals to eat them,
they end up killing us because their flesh, which contains
cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings,
who are natural herbivores.”
Some animals kill for food because they could
not survive if they didn’t, but humans do not need to eat meat. In
fact, we’d be much better off if didn’t eat animal products. We
should look to our primate relatives—who are vegetarians—as
models of healthy eating.
Renowned health experts agree that humans
benefit from a vegetarian diet. The American Dietetic Association
and Dietitians of Canada state, “Vegetarians have been reported to
have lower body mass indices than non-vegetarians, as well as lower
rates of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol
levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type
2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.”
We aren’t doing animals any favors by breeding
them, confining them, mutilating them, and slaughtering them. Each
vegetarian spares more than 100 animals from pain, suffering, and
death every year.
Adopting a vegetarian diet can also help save
the environment and alleviate world hunger. The Live Earth Global
Warming Survival Handbook states that “refusing meat” is “the
single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon
footprint.”
It is more efficient and economical to feed
grains and soy directly to hungry people than funneling these crops
through farmed animals. It would take about 40 million tons of food
to eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger, but 760 million
tons of grain will be used to feed farmed animals this year. This is
wastefulness at its worst.
It takes 3 1/4 acres of land to produce food for
a meat-eater, but food for a vegan can be produced on just 1/6 acre.
Vegfam, a charity that funds sustainable plant-food projects,
estimates that a 10-acre farm can support 60 people by growing soy,
24 people by growing wheat, or 10 people by growing corn—but only
two by raising cattle.
Whether or not you are concerned about animal
welfare, there is no doubt that a vegetarian diet is the best option
for humans. I urge everyone to learn more about what happens to
animals who are used for food (as well as clothing, entertainment,
and experimentation) by visiting PETA.org.
Rochelle Regodon
Campaigns Manager
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific (PETA)
RochelleR@PETAAsiaPacific.com
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