When I decided to become vegetarian at 15 years, it was hardly for health reasons. It did improve my health greatly, but I could have given two shits about my arteries.
I was that girl that sobbed when I saw road kill. Before I discovered the arts, my dream was to be a veterinarian. Our growing-up house always had a plethora of animals, including cats, dogs, newts, gerbils, hamsters, goldfish, you name it. We had funeral ceremonies for each and every creature, big and small. Animals were never less than me; they were my friends and allies.
Because my love for animals was deep and dear, it resulted in a two-year process of giving up anything that was Factory-farm tortured: First red meat... then chicken... then turkey... then fish. Although I haven't touched an ounce of injected inhumane meat since, I have gone back and forth with fish. I won't eat endangered species (such as Atlantic Salmon, swordfish, or Chilean Seabass), but occasionally I've slacked because it is easier to eat at restaurants if you eat something that's a main dish, and not just a side dish. (A selfish reason, surely.)
I was that girl that sobbed when I saw road kill. Before I discovered the arts, my dream was to be a veterinarian. Our growing-up house always had a plethora of animals, including cats, dogs, newts, gerbils, hamsters, goldfish, you name it. We had funeral ceremonies for each and every creature, big and small. Animals were never less than me; they were my friends and allies.
Because my love for animals was deep and dear, it resulted in a two-year process of giving up anything that was Factory-farm tortured: First red meat... then chicken... then turkey... then fish. Although I haven't touched an ounce of injected inhumane meat since, I have gone back and forth with fish. I won't eat endangered species (such as Atlantic Salmon, swordfish, or Chilean Seabass), but occasionally I've slacked because it is easier to eat at restaurants if you eat something that's a main dish, and not just a side dish. (A selfish reason, surely.)
But recently, I just can't make peace with it. The catalyst was reading The Whale Warriors, about Captain Paul Watson and his kick-@ss Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. (By the way, I saw Paul Watson speak when I lived in Sarasota, and he is, hands down, the most amazing and intelligent speaker I have EVER seen.) Now a show on Animal Planet, they are the people who get in between illegal Japanese whaling ships with their bloody harpoons, and endangered whales. The book was incredibly inspiring, and it left me with this thought:
"Many marine biologists believe that the oceans are on the verge of total ecosystem collapse. 90% of the large predatory fish, the tuna, swordfish, marlin, shark-- vital to the health of ocean ecosystems as we know them -- have vanished since 1950. The World Wildlife Fund recntly announced that the world's fish stocks are on the verge of extinction. All the world's fish."
Needless to say, I've not touched much fish since. And I'm sure I'll be fine in Costa Rica, despite the amazing helpings of freshly caught local fish. It's just not worth it. I'm just hoping it won't be beans, rice, and fruit the entire time!
Videos on the topic:
[Warning: Contains graphic scenes that are... well... the truth.]
[Warning: Contains graphic scenes that are... well... the truth.]
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