Vegetarianism and Beyond: Some Thoughts on Animals (WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES)

I am overwhelmed with sadness when I see the abuse animals are put through just to satisfy humans. I have been a vegetarian for five or so years and it dawns on me pretty regularly how strange it is that prior to those five or so years, I didn't really think about these things. But now I think about it all the time. It has come down to my thinking it is morally, ethically, and perhaps Biblically wrong to consume animal flesh or use their skin or any other part of them as a resource to benefit the human race. When people say "animals were put on Earth to feed us," I want to punch that person in the face. I want them to know how moronic that ideology is. If we were cave people, I'd buy it, but there are plenty of resources where we can get protein without slaughtering innocent animals who have a face and parents and the right to live in peace. And hunting? How barbaric is hunting? It absolutely flabbergasts me that someone can prey upon one of God's creatures, just minding his business, nibbling on grass, living on the land that God put there for him, and put a bullet in his brain.  Maybe it's a deer whose mother is nearby, or is frolicking with his brothers. Who are you to put an end to that life just because you like to play with guns? And these rednecks who post the heads of their kill on their walls like trophies, and teach the practice to their young children...I simply can't take it anymore. I must note that I do not condemn all non-vegetarians. I was once a meat eater (albeit not red meat) and I had to educate myself to be how I am now. I only hope people will think about it. Plus, as everyone knows - it's healthier! But that really isn't even the real reason I have developed this way of thinking. It's about being a compassionate person. It's about not wanting the innocent to suffer. The next time you cook a lobster, pay close attention to it screaming as it's boiled alive. And the next time you eat Jell-O, think about the ground up horse hooves used to manufacture it.

Eating animals is just one of the many abuse issues that exists. Animals in zoos and circuses are often abused during training exercises. They should be in the wild, not a cage, and were not put on this earth to be whipped and electrically pronged so they can do tricks for humans.

You probably don't even know what some poor bunny rabbit, cat, or monkey (and more) went through to get your mascara and detergent on the shelves at your local grocery store.

These bunnies try to escape by pulling their heads out of the guillotine style torture chamber. Their necks break and they die instantly. Perhaps sudden death is better that what happens in the pic below:

India and the UK have recently banned animal testing for cosmetics. Supposedly, we are the most civilized country on the planet, but the United States has yet to follow suit. I only use products that have NOT been tested on animals, and there are quite a few. If people would boycott animal tested products and their sales plummeted, perhaps the government would notice. Animal testing is required in China and many companies conduct animal testing so they can sell their products there.

If you have a hard time watching this video, how could you possibly use animal tested products?

If you would like to know which products do NOT test on animals, click here:
http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/search.aspx?Testing=0&Range=0

Here are some recommendations for some products that can be found at most grocery stores. For household cleaning supplies, Seventh Generation is top notch. They also make baby supplies and some beauty products. Method is a good brand, too. As far as make-up, pretty much all the top drug store brands test. Easy ones to find that do not test are Physician's Formula, Wet and Wild, Hard Candy, NYX, Milani, Burt's Bees, Too Faced, Tarte, and Urban Decay. (I find it strange that Ellen Degeneres and Pink speak out about animal abuse, but both do ads for Cover Girl, who torture animals.) There are lots of higher end cosmetics at Sephora and Ulta that do not test, so just check the list. I keep a list with me in my purse so I can always double check if I am not sure about something.

I hope to someday live in a world where it is illegal to test products on animals, the majority of the population is Vegetarian, factory farming is illegal, and people don't think it's fashionable to adorn animal skin on their bodies.

Please check out a series of articles about factory farming in the Ian Somerhalder Foundation newsletter, written by my good friend  and writer, Traci Hobson.
http://www.isfoundation.com/campaign/factory-farming-america-introduction