The Beheadings No One Is Talking About
Atrocities in faraway places—such as terrorism in the Middle East—can make us feel powerless to do anything about them. After all, what can someone in Brooklyn or Tampa do to help stop horrors that are happening halfway around the world? But there actually are ways that we can help stop the violence and bloodshed—and even beheadings.
Think about it: At this very moment, millions of living beings who experience feelings of pain and fear, just like humans, are being violently killed—they’re scalded, dismembered, skinned alive, and yes, beheaded. Animals who are used for food—including gentle lambs, scared chickens, innocent cows and calves, and screaming piglets—often get their heads lopped off when sent to slaughter. But everyone who consumes meat can choose to take a stand today and say, “Not in my name.”
By choosing to eat foods that don’t come from animals, we can not only save animals’ lives— which is worthy in itself—but also help save our own lives. Studies show that vegetarians and vegans slash their risk of heart attack and strokes and are less likely to develop cancer and diabetes.
A nonviolent diet also helps people all over the world by reducing climate change (animal agriculture is a top producer of greenhouse gasses), saving water (animal agriculture is also a major consumer—and polluter—of water), and fighting hunger (eating plants directly is far more economical than funneling them through animals first).
Nonviolence can begin at breakfast. PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help you start doing your part to promote peace today.
