Mad about meat

Reading John Custodio’s interesting story about Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s new film Our Daily Bread [Cover, “Food for thought,” Nov. 9] should surely make many readers want to see this documentary film.

Today, less than five per cent of Canadians work on farms—most urban people are very disconnected from the origins of their food. Ignorance about fruit and vegetable farming as well as a lack of knowledge of how animal farms and slaughterhouses work is prevalent.

While many fruit and vegetable farms use an unacceptably high level of pesticides and insecticides, at least most people can freely visit fruit and vegetable farms if they want to. But when it comes to slaughterhouses and animal factory farms, their owners are very secretive—they almost always will allow only employees and public health officials to visit them. Owners of slaughterhouses and factory farms do not want the public to see the barbarity that goes on there 365 days a year because doing so could massively dent their profitability.

If slaughterhouses and animal factory farms have nothing to hide, most members of the public should be allowed to visit them openly on an appointment basis. By the way, did I mention that many, many meat inspectors in the U.S. become so revolted by the meat industry that they turn vegetarian themselves?

» Manish Patwari

“Where’s the Beef?” the Mirror’s Nov. 9–15 cover asks us, in large headlines, above a horrific scene from an abattoir. The “beef” can be found some pages later in the Mirror’s carnivorous restaurant review, which publicizes the tastiness of slaughtered birds, fish and mammals, including lamb (baby sheep), roe (fish eggs), Atlantic salmon and chickens.

Although the cover story contains a photo of slaughtered chickens on an assembly line, the resto review, with its promotion of “flame-broiled bird” reflects the norm of the Mirror’s food journalism. This article and others like it in many mags and papers are nothing but advocates for a food culture through which untold numbers of birds, mammals and fish are killled for profits and our palates. If people had to kill the animals they eat, many would quickly become vegetarians. And that in fact is the only answer if we want to separate ourselves from a killing industry so massive that it’s beyond our imagination.

» Shloime Perel

Palestinian protest disrespectful

It figures. On a day where all Canadians remember veterans in various wars and conflicts, the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights decides to hold a rally protesting (as usual) Israel’s incursions in Gaza and the West Bank. This is very disrespectful to the Canadian veterans—after all, they are also Canadians (or hopefully are).

May I remind the readers of the Mirror that, since last summer, there has been a truce between Israel and the Palestinian government. Israel won’t enter the Palestinian areas if the Palestinian government stops rockets from entering Israel.

Unfortunately, it has been the Hamas militants who have ignored the truce. In effect, it’s been the Hamas government—as they are after all the same group. International media has ignored the fact that rockets enter Israel daily.

It is unfortunate that lives were lost, but this would have not happened if the Hamas government had stopped the militants. But we know they won’t, as they are a terrorist government.

I still applaud the various world governments for withholding non-critical aid. It won’t make a difference if the head of Hamas steps down as leader—another one will take over. Until Hamas drops its arms, stops firing rockets and recognizes Israel, Israel will continue to enter the areas when fired upon.

Last week, Samer Elatrash wrote that “Israel... continued assassinations of Palestinian militants who fired rockets into Israeli towns.” [“Gaza crisis demo,” The Front, Nov. 9]. It is an admission that Palestinian militants have fired into Israel. The latest offensive had nothing to do with the kidnapped soldier from this summer (as there are ongoing negotiations), but the rockets that continue to be fired into Israel.

Not surprisingly, the rally was held on Saturday, the Sabbath, where most Jews would be unable to counter any rally because they can’t drive on the Sabbath.

A question. Why is The Mirror allowing SPHR to have free advertising (in the form of a letter)? They should advertise their rallies like everyone else.

» Buntha Bun

Indian Ocean SOS

Hello from the Indian Ocean. We love www.montrealmirror.com because we can’t get that quality newsprint here. Could you tell Montreal that we need volunteers to repair a 45-year-old ketch registered in Australia but shipwrecked in the middle of the Indian Ocean (like Montreal summer all year). Island known as “Île de la Réunion.”

» E. Evans, Le Port, Île de la Réunion, French territory

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