Let's first consider his statement that because animals rights activists refuse to use animals - a renewable resource - for food or clothing, they are not environmentalists. Well, human beings are a renewable resource, and I know of no one who advocates using them for food or clothing; does this mean that there are no environmentalists? Clearly not.
In fact, as a natural resources management major, Mr. Whitt should be quite familiar with the environmental damage caused by America's meat-centered diet. The U.S. Soil Conservation service reports that over 4 million acres of cropland are lost in the U.S. every year; most of this is due to the intensive crop-growing needed to feed livestock. Over half of the total amount of water consumed in the U.S. goes to irrigate land growing feed and fodder for livestock. And most of the calories and nutrients in this feed is wasted, as far as the end food product in concerned, by cycling it through the animals. The production of animal products also wastes a large amount of fossil fuels, thus contributing to air pollution. So, Mr. Whitt, by working for an end to the meat-centered diet, we are working for clean air and water.
I was present at the rally against Perdue's appointment to the Board of Regents. I was too busy freezing to count heads, or to see if anyone was wearing a down coat or leather boots. However, even if there were people there wearing animal products, Mr. Whitt seems to forget that the Purdue appointment is being opposed by pro-labor and anti-racism activists, and by anyone concerned with Mr. Purdue's admitted involvement with organized crime, as well as animal-rights activists.
Mr. Whitt puts forth a quote from Benjamin Franklin in an attempt to defend his belief in the rightness of the killing and eating of animals. I would like to counter with some words from Leonardo da Vinci: "The time will come when men such as I will look on the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men." But, as Voltaire once said, a clever saying proves nothing. So let's continue to look at the facts.
I'm not quite sure what Mr. Whitt means when he say that certain minerals such as zinc and iron and vitamins such as B-12 and B-6 are largely derived from animal products. If he means that these nutrients are largely derived from animal sources in the average American diet, I will not argue. But there are many non-animal sources for these nutrients; if there weren't, my fellow vegetarians and I would be very ill.
It seems that Mr. Whitt may have fallen prey to the meat industry's myth that meat is necessary for health and strength - a myth belied by such vegetarian athletes as Dave Scott (the only man to win the Ironman Triathlon four times), Roy Hilligan (a former Mr. America), and Edwin Moses (Olympic Gold Medalist). There is no dietary need for animal products, and the consumption of such products has been strongly linked with heart disease (only animal products contain cholesterol), cancer, and osteoporosis. Animal products also have a much higher concentration of pesticide contamination than grains and vegetables.
Mr. Whitt states that the children of immigrants to this country "tower over their parents because of their improved American diet, which includes animal products;" he neglects to mention the increased rates of heart disease and cancer among these children. I don't consider that an improvement.
Mr. Whitt asks, "Why provide two trucks to take... chickens to slaughter because it offends some naive activist? This unnecessarily doubles the transportation costs." I can imagine slave traders of the early 1800's making a similar argument for packing more slaves into each ship to save money. This is not a matter of economics. This is a matter of compassion.
Compassion is the basis of all animal rights activism. And because we have compassion for animals, Mr. Whitt, we will continue to try to change the way you think and the way you eat. Because, despite what you think, this is something that matters.
Tom Swiss
senior
computer science
March 19, 1991