Jan 17, 2010

Economic Misery for Meat/Dairy Industry - Then and Now

I keep an eye on what happens in US economics. These are volatile times, for sure. And yes, I admit too - that what I pay attention to regarding the animal and "meat" industries, has special meaning for me... I suppose it's the 10 billion animals I'm keeping track of. Erik Marcus of Vegan.com did a comprehensive recap 2009 Year of Meat , citing the spills, trials and woes of the meat industry. Most were by their own demise... Some tweaked along by outside forces. It's a wonderful read that truly illustrates the waste and blunders this enterprise has been bailed out of. Mostly it was the dairy industry that lost 45% of it's profit... Could have been financial ruin... If not for the taxpayer hand outs. Funny thing though... Taxpayers "paid" dairies to stay in the black... Now, taxpayers are paying more for the dairy they oddly still wish to buy. What strange and corrupt symbiotic relationship! Consumers wish to exploit cows for their milk... The government sucks on consumers for money to pay to dairy folks. A fairy-milk godmother --- so to speak. But here's what one analyst has in view for the meat industry in 2010: In addition, American meat consumption is starting to trend downward, he said. Even chicken consumption, which has trended up or stayed consistent for years, is starting to drop. American per capita consumption of meat is 43 pounds. of chicken, 39 pounds. of beef, 27 pounds. of pork and 7 pounds. of turkey. Perhaps it's so, that more and more people are starting to get the message: The meat industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars lying to the public about their product. But no amount of false propaganda can sanitize meat. The facts are absolutely clear: Eating meat is bad for human health, catastrophic for the environment, and a living nightmare for animals. Go Vegan

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

milk is good for you and our government knows that our children need a healthy diet so that is why they want to insure asteady, nutritious source of food, if not you can alwys import food from China, but look what they did to their own children with the melamine added to the milk, oh yeah import our food.

Bea Elliott said...

Anonymous - I disagree that as a weaned adult secretions from another species is good for me...

There are dozens of alternatives to "cow's milk"... None need come from another country either.

Go Vegan! :)

Anonymous said...

no, it isn't milk that is not good for you, it is all the sugar,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM and the unbalanced diets that people are eating, resulting in obesity and ill health.

Bea Elliott said...

I can't think of anything more unnatural or more unhealthy than drinking the secretions from a nursing cow.

From personal experience I know that I feel much better after eliminating dairy from my diet. Just about everything that ailed me has subdued or has vanished completely.

There is absolutely nothing in cows milk that I can't get from a plant based alternative... Except the cruelty that is --- Dairy holds the rights to that claim.

Good day. ;)

Brett said...

Bea,

I have some honest questions for you.

1. How do you feel about animals who eat other animals? Do they need to stop?

2. If we stopped eating meat, what would we do with all the cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, etc?

Please don't think I'm being disrespectful. I'd really like to have an honest discussion.

Bea Elliott said...

Hi Brett... These are valid questions.

How do I feel towards non humans who eat animals? I feel they are doing exactly what they need to do in order to survive. They don't have the same options we do. Lions, wolves or bears can't "decide" what's for dinner - Nor can they pick and choose what to buy in a grocery store. Not only are they incapable intellectually but physiologically as well. So, I have no problem with surviving as they must.

Now, if we stopped eating meat "overnight" that would be a major situation. But of course, this isn't going to happen. What will happen however, is a process of less and less demand. Thereby decreasing the breeding of these animals. If we all stopped eating animals - the answer is simple - We would stop making more of them.

Cows, sheep, pigs, etc. are being artificially inseminated as fast as the industry can impregnate them again... Left to nature - this would never be so.

So, you see - there really is no "problem" at all.

Hope this answered your question. I know it's simply stated, but I'm sure you get the basic principle.

Thanks for the inquiry. :)

Anonymous said...

WHY ALL THE SUDDEN THIS NEED TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE, PEOPLE GET A LOT OF FOOD THAT IS NUTRITIOUS AND HEALTHLY FROM EATING MEAT AND DRINKING MILK, NO HARM DONE IN THE PAST AND NO HARM DONE IN THE FUTURE. When a dairy cow is in heat she will stand to be bred artificially, they actually don't seem to mind at all.

Anonymous said...

Almonds are costly so the actual amount of almonds used in the almond milk is small; it may not be enough to give you lots of nutrition. You also need to watch out for additives and sweeteners in the milk. And you think you are getting so much good nutrition???

Anonymous said...

The milk alternative you choose is up to you:

The health benefits of soy milk are highly debated. It may be good for you, or it may be harmful.

Almond milk may be healthful (but you're probably better off just eating the almonds).

Rice milk is largely a source of carbohydrates (but it can give you something to use with your meals and baking if you like the taste).

The final decision comes down to personal preference and taste. If you (can't drink milk), but miss it in your diet, check out the different varieties out there--and be sure you're eating a wide variety of healthy foods to go along with it. The best source of nutrients is milk.

Bea Elliott said...

Hello Anonymous - "WHY ALL THE SUDDEN THIS NEED TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE?" Well, it's called "progress". You see, the more information we have - the better choices we can make. Man is constanly seeking to improve his world - hence new products and new thinking that eliminate the need for the "old".

Certainly as a dairy person you recognize this cyle --- Out with the "old" in with the "new"... You don't mind it when it's cows your speaking of --- Why do you mind when it's ideas... or milk alternatives??? Oh yes, it's the economics... but even that is in constant flux -

And as far as the cows not minding the artificial insemination... The ordeal of being tied up, injected with drugs and then having a human arm penetrate her parts doesn't sound too enjoyable. Of course, you would think she does not mind at all because you see exactly what you need to see in order to continue the practice... In order to get economic benefit from her. True?

Actually, the price of my dairy alternatives are very small considering the benefits. I can testify my health has greatly improved since I eliminated dairy... I pay about a third more for my tasty and nutritious beverages - And do so gladly!

I do eat a wide variety of healthy plant based foods - No complaints on health, what so ever!
Thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

Cows are not injected with anything to be artificially inseminated, and most have them stand untied in stall, keeping them calm and willing, if they aren't willing you can't get your arm in there because they are to tight, shows how much you don't know.

Bea Elliott said...

Yeah... I once heard a rapist claim that if you could get the woman's legs apart... It meant she "wanted it".

Your ilk disgust me... Please stop trolling my blog or I will be forced to be rude and eventually tell you to bug off! :)

Anonymous said...

YOU DISGUST ME, THERE IS NO COMPARISON, JUST LIKE YOU TO SAY SOMETHING DUMB LIKE THAT

Bea Elliott said...

ding, ding, ding! There you go! You won the prize! BUG OFF!

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU MAKE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH

Bea Elliott said...

Anonymous... Sure it's not dairy making you ill?

Anonymous said...

no i only eat vegetABLES full of bacteria,lol

Bea Elliott said...

Ya know Anonymous... You do an awful lot of "lol" at your own jokes... Quite frankly - I don't even get them!

Now please, just go find yourself a nice little life somewhere and go live it!

Anonymous said...

DIDNT YOU SEE THE NEWS, ALL PACKAGED SALADS ARE FULL OF BACTERIA, OH MY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOD FOR YOU.

Bea Elliott said...

Yes, perhaps this is a good reason to buy local... buy organic... and keep animal "facilities" and "manure contamination" out of food.

In the meantime - You are obviously a frustrated person... You will NOT change my beliefs - You are wasting your time AND MINE! Now PLEASE! VAMOOSE!

Anonymous said...

Nope I ain't frustrated and come to find out it is human waste on the salads, You shouldn't defend something you don't understand.

Anonymous said...

The more I learn about Vegans, the more I hate them, they don't have a brain so they can't think right, don't you agree?? Kill the humans like they have pictured and save the animals, how sick is that.

Bea Elliott said...

Anonymous - "Hate" is such a hostile word... Are you sure it's the one you meant to use?

And perhaps it is, because I "hate" people who would kill too. But I assure you, no vegan I know has an intention of harming others... Indeed it's what we are advocating against.

It isn't the "either/or" situation you make it out to be... If a mountain lion or bear is attacking you, by all means - defend yourself! But if you hold an innocent life in your hands... Please do otherwise.

All beings tremble before violence. All fear death, all love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? -Buddha

Anonymous said...

Shouldn't you worry about the use of genetically-modified soybeans in faux-meats, reliance on foods transported thousands of miles, and the extinction of orangutans because Earth Balance is harvesting non-renewable palm oil from their habitats. The modern-day vegan movement, has allowed the Philip-Morris company (the animal testing, tobacco-growing giant behind the BOCA brand) to produce vegetarian foods that vegans rave about and permits groups ostensibly working toward animal welfare to celebrate and partner with people who otherwise commit racist, sexist, and other oppressive acts when not speaking “on behalf” of animals.

Bea Elliott said...

Hi there... again.

I probably eat a "faux meat" once a month... maybe?

I don't use Earth Balance... at all.

And Philip-Morris... You mean the conglom that helps pay the salary of Rick Berman... who works for CCF?

Gottcha! ;)

Anonymous said...

Dear PETA
-- Plants are living creatures too ... Bacon had a mother, but so did
Pickle. It takes life to support life -- welcome to the planet" Zac
Brown Band

Anonymous said...

It is really funny, the cow nutritionist was here today and we were talking about the stupid vegan garbage and he said his neighbor used to live in california and they invited her to dinner. She told them she was a vegan, but she ate eggs and when he was cutting up the meat she said oh put some on my plate, I really miss having some meat in my diet, so is that what miss bea does too when no one is looking??

Bea Elliott said...

Anonymous... Do you even know what a "creature" is? A living organism characterized by voluntary movement --- You see any walking cukes lately?

The "other" Anonymous... Nope - Sorry my body is not a graveyard for corpses --- Not in public, private or in any fashion.

Regarding "stupid vegan garbage"... You have no idea how much fun it is to serve a meal to omnivores --- Who don't know about the "faux" chicken on their plates. Have them rave about how delicious it is... Then reveal that it was a vegan dish! The reaction is priceless - I assure you!

Good day. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi thr, thanx a lotg for thisd blog ....... This is exactly what I was looking for.

Bea Elliott said...

You're very welcome Anonymous. Thanks for being concerned with the issues. :)

Kelley said...

Anybody who eats meat and dairy needs to see the documentary Earthlings.The animals have suffered horrific atrocities to get to your plates.They are not even treated even a little bit humane! They get burned (branded),beat,they are alive when people start cutting them,they feel everything as people hang them by their feet,slit their throats,and cut them piece by piece.How can you eat after you know how much pain and suffering went into your food? As for the dairy industry chickens are abused their beaks mutilated with no anesthesia to the point where they can no longer eat properly it cause them pain to eat.They are mutilated so they don't peck the other chickens.The babies they lay are killed if they are male as males are "useless" because they cannot lay eggs they get thrown in a grinder alive.The dairy cows need to have babies to produce milk so they are constantly hooked on machines that cause them pain and infections (by the way your drinking pus that is why it needs to be pasturized) they cannot move they are constantly pregnant.After the baby is born it is taken away immeditetly it is not allowed to eat before it is horrificly slaughtered after all greedy people "need" the baby's milk even though it is really for the baby calf.The baby waits to be slaughtered with no food for more than a day and the mother cows screams and cries for her baby looking for it for weeks.The things that go in the meat and dairy industry should be illegal.The animals are tortured and brutally murdered.They are not really any different from our companion animals such as dog's and cats.Watch Earthlings documentary for free online this is the real truth.http://veg-tv.info/Earthlings

Bea Elliott said...

Thanks Kelly! I have a link to Earthlings on my side bar. I too highly recommend it to anyone who thinks that animals are here for humans to "use." They have a responsibility to know full well what that "privilege" entails.

Appreciate your passionate advocacy on their behalf.