“but it’s just not natural…”

if i had a dollar for every time i've heard or read that about veganism…

having had that said to me yet again just the other day i thought it fortuitous that i had recently watched a presentation by social psychologist and professor of psychology and sociology melanie joy, author of ‘why we love dogs, eat pigs and wear cows : an introduction to carnism’ because her wonderfully articulate words were fresh in my mind...

“what we call natural is simply the dominant culture’s interpretation of history - it refers not to human history, but to carnistic history - it references not our fruit eating ancestors, but their flesh eating descendents… we only look as far back in history as we need to justify current carnistic practices…”

in her article "shattering the meat myth : humans are natural vegetarians" author kathy freston states

"I noticed the frequently stated notion that eating meat was an essential step in human evolution. While this notion may comfort the meat industry, it's simply not true, scientifically. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus at Cornell University and author of The China Study, explains that in fact, we only recently (historically speaking) began eating meat, and that the inclusion of meat in our diet came well after we became who we are today..."

alas, this fallacious argument is being 'redefined' by some to entrench carnism as the norm in the guise of "humane meat"...

“The new wave of pro-meat arguments is in part an attempt to defend the weakened meat-eating establishment against the very real threat posed by an increasingly powerful vegan movement. “Happy meat,” locavorism, and “paleo dieting” are signs of society’s willingness to examine the ethics of eating meat, eggs, and dairy, and they reflect people’s genuine concern for animals (and the environment and health). But they also reflect the resistance of the dominant, meat-eating culture to truly embracing a vegan ethic. The new pro-meat arguments are part of a carnistic backlash against the growing popularity of veganism, and vegans and non-vegans alike must understand and appreciate them in order to move toward a more humane and just society.” ... melanie joy (from understanding neocarnism)

graphic from "the blood shed from humane slaughter - was your food treated unkindly" on one of my favourite blogs - provoked... by the way we use animals

as an ethical vegan, totally eliminating any use and every abuse of our earthling kin is what’s important to me… so this notion of ‘humane meat’ is definitely something i find unbelievabe, let alone unbelievably frightening - a threat to real change in this world...

acccording to howard lyman, ex cattle rancher, now vegan, author and animal advocate

"My life experience has given me a better understanding of what is happening, and what a mistake it is to believe there is anything called "humane" slaughter. Animals have families and feelings, and to think that kindness before killing them is an answer is totally wrong. Humans have no need for animal products. And when we consume animal products, we're not just killing the animals. In the long run, we're killing the planet, and ourselves.

I'm sure that it will take many years before the majority of humans learn as I have that actions, and not words, are the true proof of our understanding of the term humane. Living my life as I do now, as a total vegan, gives me great joy in knowing that no animal has to die for me to live."

do you believe the myth? want more information? why not check out humanemyth.org - "deconstructing the myth of humane animal agriculture" - there are some 'well worth the read' articles...

and of course here's melanie joy's presentation - see if she gives you something to think about...