The Observer this week carried a small piece on the ethics
of food production which managed to point out two anomalies in our collective
thinking about what we are prepared to eat.
The first is the familiar but nevertheless extraordinary inconsistency
which allows the slaughter and consumption of some animals but which extends a sentimental
protective shield over others. Often the differentiation is one of age rather
than species. The genetic nurturing instinct towards the very young of any
species seems to extend to a prospective meal too.
The second is the notion that meat-based agriculture is an
environmental disaster whilst vegetarian agriculture is sustainable. The author, Lucy Siegle, very sensibly observes that any large scale monoculture is environmentally disastrous –
and not least the production of soya (ref). Sorry, tofu-eaters.
The issue is another version of the energy question - not only should the "developed" world consume a lot less, but we have to become a lot more discerning about where it comes from, and do what we can to generate our own.
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