Everyday people commit murder by consuming large portions of meat. They fail to acknowledge the pain animals undergo and the effects it has on their health and health of the environment.
Arts and Ideas held a lecture sponsored by People to End Animal Cruelty and Endangerment (P.E.A.C.E.) entitled, “Nonviolence towards Environment, Animals and Self,” as part of its first animal rights conference, Thursday, Feb. 4 in the University Dining Room. Prof. Barbara Nichols and a student panel presented to a diverse audience of student vegetarians and meat- eaters.
Nichols began with a personal story about her journey becoming a vegetarian. She explained how important meat was to her family growing up.
“I grew up in a Polish-German family,” she said. “Meat was a large part of the culture… [and] my dad was proud to provide meat for the family.”
Even though meat was important to her family and culture, Nichols never felt right eating meat, and it made her feel sick when she would help her mother prepare and cook it.
Nichols continued to elaborate how her disgust for meat evolved as she went to college and began to educate herself about meat packing companies and being a vegetarian.
Two books that helped her change her eating choices were “The Jungle” and “Diet for a Small Planet.” After reading these books, she began to see that “living a simple life less harmful to ourselves and the environment” was the more ethical way to live. She stopped eating meat and began to feel better about herself. Her body began to save energy and she embarked on living a healthier life.
Nichols summed up her path to becoming a vegetarian by leaving the audience with some food for thought. Being a vegetarian contributes to her own satisfaction and peace of mind. She explained how a vegetarian diet is a framework for health and helps save lives.
Senior Candice Saganiuk reflected on Nichols lecture. “I did not think that eating meat affected my life until I heard Professor Nichols presentation,” she said. “After this information, I feel that it is most likely unhealthy and unnecessary to eat meat.”
The student panel following Nichols consisted of Summer Hallaj, John Catalano, Andrew Knobbe and Chad Naumann. Each chose their positions and gave their viewpoints on eating meat, using elaborate examples to support their arguments.
Hallaj, president of P.E.A.C.E., helped support and follow up Nichols’ lecture about animal rights. She argued that animals have the right to be respected and the right to life. She also highlighted the double- standard people follow when it comes to animals.
Hallaj questioned how a dog is different than a farm animal and why dogs are treated with more respect than other animals. “Animal rights is logic…Why is one animal man’s best friend, and the other an entree?” she said. “There is no logic to the way that we view animal life; we give some animals rights, but not equally.”
Catalano and Knobbe, who supported animal welfare, suggested that it is ok to eat meat, but there should be a more humane way of treating these animals. They argued that animals can be used as food, but we should use every part of the animal like the Native Americans did. They also suggested that animals should be treated with dignity and respect.
Junior Bridget Doveatt agreed with the animal welfare position. “I’m all about treating the animals we eat properly,” she said. “I believe that you can love animals and love eating them, too. I don’t believe they need to suffer before they die. They deserve to be treated humanely and I would be happy to see laws go in to effect to accomplish that.”
Another point Catalano and Knobbe focused on was that it is morally acceptable for humans to eat meat, but they should minimize how much meat they consume because it can cause cancer, heart disease and waste Earth’s resources, such as grain and water.
Finally, Naumann argued that he is anti- animal rights and animal- welfare. He proposed that animal rights affect more then just the animals, and there is a need for more food with growing populations.
Doveatt said, “I don’t think we need to stop eating meat. It’s about portion control, a diverse diet and everything in moderation.”
The presentation’s goal was not to convert the audience’s mindset and become vegetarians. It was to educate the audience about the rights of animals and their welfare. The audience was exposed to different perspectives involving eating meat.
Hallaj explained, “I think that simply putting the information out there is enough. Industries have invested millions of dollars to make sure that people are kept ignorant about these issues.”
By making conscious
decisions and limiting meat consumption, people can better their lives, as well as the life of the environment.
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