THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300020
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
On Oct. 2, the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, World Farm Animals Day will be observed by thousands of Americans to increase the awareness of consumers to the plight of animals in factory farms.
As children, we are desensitized to the fact that we eat the cute farm animals that live in the cheerful barnyards pictured in books. In reality, billions of chickens, pigs, calves, cows and sheep are confined in crowded, unnatural environments, deprived of many basic needs, manhandled and often mutilated. From birth to death, they live in misery.
These animals experience many of the same feelings we do, such as joy, fear, sadness and pain. We were never taught this in grade school.
But farm animals are not the only victims of a meat-based diet. Millions of Americans suffer and die from chronic diseases linked to the consumption of animal products. The environmental degradation that results from raising billions of animals for food affects our wildlife, their habitats and our limited resources. The growing violence we read about daily has many complex causes, but there is little hope for change in a society that tolerates senseless violence toward sentient animals.
Those who care about animals, the planet and their health may want to learn more about vegetarianism. Animal agriculture as it is practiced today needs to be drastically overhauled, and we as informed consumers can make this happen with responsible choices.
V. A. KURTZHALTS, R.N.
Norfolk, Sept. 21, 1994 by CNB