Yesterday a friend of mine shared a link with me that caused a full-blown emotional response from me. I’m known to fly by the seat of my emotional pants, so this was no exception.

The documentary was about how humans depend on animals for food, companionship, clothing, etc. Mind you, it’s very graphic and I’ve seen slaughterhouse videos and such things before. What really got me is that we tend to turn a blind eye to where our food comes from. There is no such thing as humane killing of an animal, but I do believe that people who choose to eat any product that comes from an animal have a responsibility. That responsibility is making sure that food comes from places that don’t cram animals in ridiculous living conditions or “engineer” them just for the sole purpose of becoming food and have no quality of life.

Really, something always dies when we eat. Whether it be plant or animal based. That is unavoidable. Just because we don’t hear spinach screaming doesn’t mean that it didn’t give their life to help ours. I’m a big believer of buying locally and from organic sources. I have practiced that as much as I could my whole life and I’m quite lucky to have lived in Wiesbaden, Germany where there is a wonderful organic working farm. I have been a big supporter of that farm for the last 3.5 years that we’ve lived here. Plus the farmers’ markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are also many natural food stores that I buy my things from and granted I will not say that I have not bought things that are perhaps questionable, I have decided to change certain habits. Read the rest of this entry »