Dear Editor:
I was not scared of all the witches, zombies, and assorted goblins wandering about on Halloween. What really scares me is the meat industry.
This is the industry that:
Mutilates, cages, and butchers billions of cows, pigs and other sentient animals. Feeds carcasses of cats and dogs killed in pounds to chickens. Exposes undocumented workers to chronic workplace injuries at slave wages. Exploits farmers and ranchers by dictating wholesale market prices. Punishes documentation of its abuses through unconstitutional “ag-gag” laws. Promotes world hunger by feeding nutritious corn and soybeans to animals. Generates more greenhouse gases than any other human activity. Generates more water pollution than any other human activity. Creates a permanent “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico that dwarfs the BP oil spill. Creates deadly antibiotic-resistant pathogens by feeding antibiotics to animals. Creates epidemics of Salmonella, Listeria, and other infectious diseases. Promotes mortality from diabetes, heart failure, stroke, cancer, and other diseases.
Now, that’s really scary. And this is why I am dropping animal products from my menu.
Sincerely,
Elmer Leighton