Mmmmm, Lab Meat

In response to a comment by Michelle..... Although I have not worked in the production side of the meat industryI knew college friends that studied nutritiondietary foods as part of a syllabus in sports and fitness. In recent years Meat has been regarded through studies as a major catalyst for a variety of health problems Heart Disease Obesity Even certain hormonalblood levelimbalances. Genetic modification on turkeys I feel can have in some ways certain effects even though there is now absolute way to prove this. Hormonal Injections are regarded as safe but it's impossible to determine side effects. Certain proceduresinjectionsare carried out by farmers to aid the turkey's development by gaining weight altering appearanceincrease fertility even crossbreeding. I suppose that by this assumption vegetables would be harmful because most are sprayed with pesticides but again no proof just speculation. The only thing I can say if people are unsure about what they eat or where it comes from DON'T eat it

Felicity You are right there are a huge amount of farmed animals on this earth and if everyone suddenly became vegetarian they would still be around. This is very unlikely though but if the demand for animal products was reduced then the amount of animals that are produced on these farms would also be reduced. Eventually the meat market would become a specialist market and it would cost a lot more to be a meat eatera bit like vegetarian food costs more now. Eventually the poor mishapen chickens the sheep with huge amounts of wool in 40 degree heat the calves in crates etc etc wouldn't be needed any more and probably would become extinct. You are right there would be some form of cruelty around for a long time but that isn't a reason for individuals not to start now becoming vegans. I personally am a vegan and feel that being a vegan isn't just about the meat industry it is a way of life effects everything you do from not using chemicals to not killing spides etc I also couldn't personally eat meat produced in a lab but if it stops others from eating animals then that is good as long as there is no cruelty involved in getting the initial cells to produce the lab meat.

Jessie dear I too am very southern and very happy about being so. HoweverI feel I must point out to you that your belief as to whether or not animals have souls is your own personal religious conviction and should not be imposed upon others. I too was raised in a Christian home and indoctrinated with the same mistaken and misguided beliefs under which you still labor. Fortunately for myself I was a reader and what I read was not confined to the Bible and "approvedor scriptuarally compatable literature". Therefore I was able to think...REALLY THINK...for MYSELF...not just mindlessly accept what was handed to me as a belief systemone that was created by human men thousands of years ago I might add.I became able to look at our existence the universe and how it all came to be. Now I can't PROVE to you that animals have souls anymore than you can prove to me that they don't. In factI personally DON'T believe that animals have souls and that includes human animals! No god "gave us animals". We all evolved on this planet together into what we are today. What we need to understand is that nonhuman animals are just as capable of feeling pain and fear as we human animals are. The fact that they cannot express themselves verbally not to mention the fact that they have precious few legal protections makes it even more incumbant upon us to be sensitive to the fact that they are as capable of suffering as we are! What it boils down to is what kind of person you want to be? A kind compassionate one who does everything possible to alleviate the suffering of others and make this world a better place or a cold cruel individual who only cares about his or her own selfish needs and desires and is indifferent to the horrors that our fellow earthlings endure for our comforts and pleasures. If lab created meat is possible it would certainly be a tremendous step in the direction of eliminating the exploitation of defenseless creatures by stronger ones. No one who didn't want to eat meat would have to and for those who do no one would have to be slaughtered for them to have it!

Too much discussion on this whole issue!!!!!! We could be doing something more productive e.g. fighting against animal cruelty like we intended in the first place! Don't let trite distractions stall you. Trust me there are those who would love to keep you busy and not aware of the very thing you are trying to achieve. Stay focused.

PS I am all for this lab thing and i can't wait til it happens!!!!!