This post isn’t actually related to the first Post About Poop, except that they both do happen to be about, well, poop. In the past 40 years, the US has effectively reduced the manmade pollutants that left our waterways dead, discolored, and occasionally flammable. But sadly, we’ve managed to smother the same waters with the most natural stuff in …
Mar
02
This Is Why
This March marks the two year anniversary of my decision to go meat-free. I immediately made the decision after reading first-hand accounts from slaughterhouse workers about the abuse that occurs in the meat industry. It broke my heart, not only to realize the immense suffering that these animals endure, but also to realize how horribly …
Feb
18
The Dairy Disaster
A recent Mercy For Animals undercover investigation of the dairy industry made huge headlines. In case you missed the buzz, here’s the bottom line: The vast majority of dairy cows live a life of abuse, neglect, and painful mutilation. The investigation revealed: Cows with bloody open wounds, prolapsed uteruses, pus-filled infections, and swollen joints, apparently …
Feb
10
It’s Personal (or is it?)
From the Washington Post, by James E. McWilliams I gave a talk in South Texas recently on the environmental virtues of a vegetarian diet. As you might imagine, the reception was chilly. In fact, the only applause came during the Q&A period when a member of the audience said that my lecture made him want …
Jan
15
Oily Food
From Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: Americans put almost as much fossil fuel into our refrigerators as our cars. We’re consuming about 400 gallons of oil a year per citizen – about 17 percent of our nation’s energy use – for agriculture, a close second to our vehicular use. Tractors, combines, harvesters, irrigation, sprayers, tillers, balers, and …
Jan
05
Intro To GMOs
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose DNA has been altered by genetic engineering. Foreign genes have been inserted into the genome of these organisms. GMOs have widespread applications, such as biological and medical research, production of pharmaceutical drugs, experimental medicine, and (yep) food. Today the broadest, and most controversial, use of GMOs is …
Dec
11
Downed Pigs
“Downed” animals are animals that can not stand on their own. One of the most rampant forms of animal abuse is trying to force downed animals to stand by jabbing, kicking, shooting with high powered hoses, prodding with electric rods, poking in the eyes, and ramming them with forklifts. Many of these animals are brutally …
Dec
10
A Tale of Two Cattle
From Time Magazine: How did your hamburger get to your plate — and what did it eat along the way? The journey of beef illustrates the great American food chain ORGANIC (1% of all cattle) This is the way all beef used to be raised — and how some people still imagine it is. Bill …
Nov
25
Thanksgiving Day (dis)Grace
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is known for pushing the limits. PETA created this TV ad to be aired during this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but NBC will not allow it to air. According to PETA’s blog, “When we first submitted our newest commercial to NBC in the hopes of running …
Oct
27
Ending World Hunger
Food expert Francis Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet, once said that we should look at a piece of steak like it is a Cadillac. “What I mean,” she explains, “is that we in America are hooked on gas-guzzling automobiles because of the illusion of cheap petroleum. Likewise,we got hooked on a …
