Oh my gosh, meeting my meat was not a fun experience...

Wow...all I have to say is..if you weren't a vegetarian or a vegan before watching that video, you certainly are now. I had absolutely no idea chickens, cattle and pigs were treated in such cruel, sinister ways. I almost threw-up halfway through the video and then by the end of the article, I was in tears. You're talking to a girl right here that would die for a medium rare steak from the Keg. So, I'll be honest...I'm definitely torn. How does one thoroughly enjoy a rare steak, and guarantee that the cow it came from was not tortured for it's entire short life. I mean, how do we REALLY know where our meet comes from. That's just it...we don't know where it comes from. Seeing them castrate the baby pigs and cut off the beaks of the chickens was just plain sickening and completely inhumane. Honestly, HOW do those people who work in those animal factories manage to treat those poor creates with such cruelty and not have it lay on their conscience???? Honestly!

What do I say about the article, "Hidden Costs of Cheap Chicken?" Not only do the animals suffer, but so do the workers, the environment and the people who buy the meat!!! No one wins in any situation, accept for the people who own the factories. It's all about profit and making the most money that you possibly can and doing it in the cheapest way! And by golly, it doesn't matter who or what suffers as long as the money is made in the cheapest and quickest way. I really don't know what to do now. I love meat so much and I want to make sure the meat that I'm eating comes from animals that are not tortured, hurt, abused, neglected, starved or caged. Is that even a possibility in this day and age? I tip my hat to vegetarians. They're doing the right thing and they are thinking of all the animals that suffer in order for us to go to Haggen and buy chicken breast or a pack of bacon.

IF anyone has suggestions about how to still be able to eat meat, and somehow make sure that it's legit, PLEASE let me know. I don't want to support anymore animal abuse ever again.

Good reads:

Summit:

United States Government Accountability Office. "Workplace Safety and Health." Safety in the meat and poultry industry. Washington DC: United States Government Accountability Office, 2005.

WWU Library:

Nierenberg, Danielle. "Happier Meals: Rethinking The Global Meat Industry." Washington, D.C Worldwatch Institute, 2005.

(Location: Wilson 4W books   Call number: TS1955.N54 2005)