veggie lent

Those who pay attention to such things might have noticed the resolve of a handful of bishops to give up meat for Lent. Much has been said over the past few years about animal husbandry and there is, thankfully, a slow move away from factory farming methods and in consumer opinion. What is less often talked about is the world development issue which goes hand in hand with our high levels of meat consumption. Simply put, if meat eating is linked with economic status ( ie if we can afford it of course we have it every day), it becomes a powerful and sought after symbol of that status.
This, of course, is part of the fuel that led to the whole factory farming industry, everyone who is anyone wanted meat every day and in significantly larger portions than would have been normal for our forebears. But the devastating impact of our consumption most rears its ugly head when it is translated to developing countries. Whilst the sight of large fast food chains cutting down rainforest to graze cattle is sickening what is worse, in lands of scarce resoursces, is the adoption of a western mindset about meat consumption – ie. That eating it every day is the norm.
Meat production takes up about fifteen times more land per pound produced than grain production. In countries with deepening poverty and growing elites who have financial resources (these are not actually contraditory and the latter contributes to the former) the problem is not hard to fathom.
Over 20years ago I read an article which criticized meat production methods and also pointed out the link to poverty
and famine. I have been a vegetarian since.
It was the development issue which persuaded me. I am not particularly sentimental about animals and I would certainly never favour an animal life over a human one. If I was in the middle of nowhere and the only food whch presented itself was an animal I don’t think I would have much trouble eating it to survive.
But that isn’t relly the point. Globalfood policy is vital tothe survival of millions of people around the world and some of that has to come from a grassroots and personal examination of the issues and whether our consumption is necessary or even moral.
I hope this conversation can be held withot the often lunatic element which simply rages about this issue. I hope the bishops involved make it through, bacon it the hardest I seem to remember. What we eat is not only our business. Creation, al creation, is from the hand of God and we really do need to share a little better.