Introduction
There are different views that have emerged based on whether eating meat is illegal or not. The argument about eating meat has brought about division within society. Individuals who do not consume meat are referred to as the vegetarians.
Vegetarianism can be defined as non-consumption of animal products or flesh.
This paper shall mainly focus on the argument about why meat should be banned. However, the paper shall also briefly focus on why Eating meat should be legalized so as to highlight the views in general in order to get some sense of comparison.
A section of people in the world are of the opinion that eating meat should not be banned. This is because they think that banning consumption of meat will interfere with people’s freedom of choice on what to eat and what not to eat.
This section of people is also of the view that, meat has been consumed since the origin of man. Therefore, if eating meat was harmful then the human race would have perished (Roberts, 1922).
Meat should not be banned because a section of people in society make a living out of it through trade. Banning meat would lead to unemployment whereby meat processing companies could be forced to shut down.
Another view on why meat should not be banned is that, meat is healthy and provides proteins together with other nutrients that are necessary for the human body.
This presentation will focus on the reasons why meat should be banned. It will allow us to have a clear comparison between those who support the ban of meat consumption and those who do not.
Why Eating Meat should be Banned
Quite a number of vegetarians suggest that meat should be banned. This section of people are of the view that the world is entangled in a misconception that people should eat meat in order to be healthy. Scientific study has shown that the frequent consumption of meat in large quantities could be unhealthy. Therefore, the adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle is preferred and has more health benefits.
Consumption of meat could cause obesity to individuals and many other health complications which could then increase the cost of dealing with such complications to the state and also the individuals themselves.
Scientific research has shown that digestion of vegetables is easier than that of animal products. It is suggested that vegetarians have a stronger immune system with fewer impurities.
Vegetarians also argue that individuals who consume flesh are more susceptible to cancer compared to their vegetarian counterparts. A person who consumes meat has a higher chance of contracting diseases like ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and also breast cancer.
Most vegetarians are of the thought that making meat illegal is within common sense. Vegetarians believe that meat is one of the major contributors of climate change (Egendorf, 2000). Meat contributes greatly to water pollution. Slaughter houses dump their waste into fresh water rivers and lakes hence causing pollution.
It is also important to note that there are very numerous benefits related to being a vegetarian. One of the benefits lays with the health of the individual whereby the vegetarian is less susceptible to acquiring diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate and many other diseases. To avoid such related diseases, vegetarians’ support the ban of meat consumption.
It is common sense that avoiding such epidemics can save the society numerous resources and money. Individuals will live long and healthy lives.
The vegetarians are also of the view that banning meat would minimize wasting resources. For instance, in order for an individual to sustain livestock, he or she will require huge quantities of water as a resource. Growing the food supplies for these animals will also require water hence limiting this resource.
Research has shown that the increased consumption of fish in the world today could pose a seriously affect the existence of various fish species.
Society should adequately address the issues that endanger species of fish and the whole ecosystem that relies on the existence of this fish.
Banning the consumption of meat could in a way promote the interest of national security. Estimation by experts has indicated that the single production of an animal calorie would require ten times as much to produce fossil fuel. On the other hand, it would only require one plant calorie to produce the same amount of fossil fuel.
A large number of vegetarians also have the thought the Meat should be banned because they consider killing animals an immoral act. They argue out that, just like human being, animals deserve to live and that society should value them.
All animals according to vegetarians should be treated with respect. Killing animals is considered ruthless. A visit to a slaughter house would leave an individual traumatized because of the experience one encounters they witnesses how the animals are handled.
For some religions, animals are considered sacred hence the groups advocate for banning of meat consumption. The Hindu religion is widely related to this assumption whereby the sanctity of life is strongly upheld.
In addition, meat should be banned because livestock keeping contributes largely to the famine encountered in most of the parts of the world today. Land set aside for pasture ends up being overwhelmed hence soil erosion. This land could otherwise be used for food farming.
Most of the environmental problems faced today could be resolved easily through the elimination of meat consumption. For instance, diseases that affect animals have become immune to vaccination. There is a risk of human beings contracting such diseases through meat consumption.
There are very few people in society today who have adequate knowledge to handle animal diseases. They are also prone to risk of consuming the infected animals.
Human beings are also exposed to the risk of consuming chemicals through meat consumption whereby the animals consumed are diagnosed with medication that is meant for the animal disease.
Conclusion
In conclusion, human beings today live in a rational world. Each and everyone have the right to choose what to eat and what not to eat. The health of individuals is a personal responsibility based on diet decisions. However, we cannot ignore the fact that personal choices have consequences and for that we as human beings should be very careful to evaluate the choices we make. Meat consumption will always remain a personal choice that should be respected.
Works Cited
Egendorf, Laura K. Food Safety. San Diego, Calif: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Print.
Roberts, John. Food Animals and Meat Consumption in the United States. Washington, D.C: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1922. Print.
