Go Free-Range Organic Instead

You know how most vegetarian organizations and stuff try to urge people to go vegan? I guess some just urge vegetarianism... But either way, wouldn't it be easier and more successful if they just urged you to eat free-range organic meats, at least? I mean of course going vegan is the best thing to do but I'm sure most of you know its not easy and takes committment. This society is afraid of committment! And a lot of people don't want to go vegetarian. So why not urge people to buy free-range? It would be a step further in putting factory farms out of business and people can still eat meat like they want. I think its a good idea...
We gotta do something more to put those factory farms out of business!

 

Yay, I've been waiting for a chance to share the Gary Francione interview podcast I found recently. He talks in an interesting eloquent way about the issues around animal welfare vs. abolitionist philosophies, which amongst other things answers your question.
Here's the link to listen/download... http://podcast.veganfreak.com/index.php?id=82
(it's quite long, but I think the relevant section is near to start, and worth the listen thrrough anyway)

It's a wonderful day when you can find someone who can put words to what you've always suspected, but far better than you could hope to.

 

We gotta do something more to put those factory farms out of business!
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That is easier said than done. The reality is large food companies controll all powers at be in DC so they are de-regulating most of the laws for their benefit. Hense now Safe -Way and Wallmart are going "organic". It's a story of the big guy crushing the little guy once again.

 

One major problem with free range organic meats is that there is no where near enough land on earth to farm this way to feed even a small % of meat eaters.

from: http://www.cok.net/lit/freerange.php

"The U.S. animal agribusiness industry currently confines and slaughters more than ten billion land animals each year, the overwhelming majority of whom live intensively confined on factory farms where many cannot even turn around or fully stretch their limbs. Would it be possible to raise ten billion animals without intense confinement? Probably not.

If intense confinement operations were banned, it's highly unlikely producers could supply an entire nation of 280 million meat-, egg-, and dairy consumers with enough animal products to sustain the typical American diet. So, without even considering the ethical problems inherent in raising and slaughtering animals for food, from a practical perspective, completely humane farming and slaughtering methods aren't possible."

 

Although Free-Range animals are generally given slightly more space to live than animals kept in battery cages, there is no industry standard defining how Free-Range animals must be housed. Consumers generally presume that Free-Range animals spend most of there day outdoors, with access to sunlight, vegetation, and plenty of space to engage in normals social behavior. However, to most U.S. producers, Free-Range simply means uncaged, with the so called range consisting of a crowded floor of a warehouse style building. Profitability is usually the sole consideration; therefor, the majority of Free-Range producers try to cram as many animals as possible into the least amount of space.

All in all, the term "Free-Range" is used more as a marketing ploy to generate public approval and higher sales, than to convey any tangible level of compassion.

 

Just because something is labeled as free range doesn't mean the animals were actually treated any better - they just aren't in cages. They may be in huge warehouses and still be considered "free range." Free range chickens may also be debeaked, kept indoors in a "free range" shed, and any number of other abuses.

Also, just because something is raised organically doesn't have any implication of better animal welfare. In fact, when animals on organic farms get sick, they can't even be given antibiotics, so by denying them the medical attention they need, that could be considered cruelty.

So organic/free-range animal products may be a lesser evil than factory farmed animal products, but that doesn't mean that animal welfare is regulated at all, and it certainly isn't a guarantee that the animals were treated any better. I think this is why most animal rights/animal welfare organizations don't promote organic/free range animal products and focus on vegetarianism or veganism instead.

 

I see.. I still think the lesser evil is better if you must make a choice, but I definitely understand where everyone is coming from and why animal rights organizations urge people to go vegetarian and vegan. And so I will continue to do the same!

 

I have spoken to farmers in my local area and they tell me that feedlots are unnecessary.To finish off cattle for market they simply need to be grazed on irrigation pasture for a couple of weeks.

 

because freerange isnt always FREERANGE..it may say organic...but unless u have those chickens pigs cows etc yourself i wouldnt trust it...dont always believe what u hear

 

Well I'm not saying I eat that.. I'm just saying it would be better if it was the least someone could do.

 

good point..although most people think"whats the difference?" and wont..i dont get that because most people r smarter than that i would hope but they seem to always just go for meat period. like my dad hunts and kills his own deer*gag* but he also eats steriod injected animals and says theres no ifference between that and freerange...idiot..lol(as u can tell im not his biggest fan)

 

These issues go much deeper than "free ranger" or "Organic". These words have become buzz words for the factory food industry to make money and create a better "image". Farmers here in California are not even getting certified anymore because its not worth the money or the hasle to go through it and is not a true sigh oh helthier food growth and farms<thanx to the FDA>. Now anyone can buy "free range" food from every supermarket in the country there is no longer any market value for true farmers to become certified.

Now we can say, Why Does this matter? It matters because we have the highest rates of cancer, heart disease, and many other forms of ilness in the world that are connected directly to the foods that are being sold to us as "organic" and "free range".

 

I urge everyone to read a book called "the china study"

 

why r u pushing that book so hard??...give it a rest please i already saw you have a thread on it.

 

ooopppsss...

sorry wasn't trying to jam it down your throat