1. This Week’s Sermon by Rev. Frank Hoffman
2. Re: Animal Welfare Reforms
3. Last Week’s Question
4. New Humane Education Blog
1. This Week’s Sermon by Rev. Frank Hoffman
Being in a Constant State of Mourning
http://www.all-creatures.org/sermons98/s20080518.html
2. Re: Animal Welfare Reforms [Reply to
Carolyn Yane’s Editorial, edited for length)
RE: Carolyn Yane Editoral, Christian Vegetarian Newsletter 18 May,
2008
While on the path to abstinence, we should affirm progress. None of
this is condoning the habit or the industry and we must also make that
clear. I affirm:
- The smoker who decreases from two packs to one.
- The drinker who decreases from a case of beer to a 6-pack.
- The over-eater or over-weight person who cuts calories and
exercises.
- The gradual vegetarian (see book by same name) who cuts by half
their meat intake.
- The dairy and cattle farmer who stops its use of hormones,
antibiotics and goes to free-range grazing.
- The grocer who increases vegetarian alternatives and free-range
non-GMO products
From a holistic stance, population, cans, bottles, refrigeration,
transportation, importation, packaging (size and chemicals and
recycling) ALL must be addressed.
While I affirm incremental change, I also re-affirm our stance on the
issues; environment; health; energy; waste or inefficiency of precious
food and water supplies; bad use of farmland for tobacco or grains or
potatoes used for alcohol etc.; sugars used for sweeteners and
confectionery items; and corn for almost any purpose. We must address
the high caloric intake of America (the U.N. says over 4000 per day per
capita) and encourage towards 1500-1800 depending on age, health,
activity, etc.
Kind Regards,
John K. Meunier
3. Last Week’s Question
When Europeans came to the Americas, they rapidly conquered the
native peoples. Their most effective weapon was the inadvertent spread
of infectious diseases. Throughout the Americas, when native peoples
came in contact with the Europeans, 90-95% of the native peoples died
within 10-20 years from infectious diseases, such as smallpox, measles,
and influenza. Europeans had build up resistance to these diseases, but
the previously unexposed native peoples had no such resistance and died
in massive numbers. The question: Why did Europeans not similarly get
diseases from the native peoples? In other words, why were there not
diseases toward which the native peoples had developed resistance but
toward which the Europeans were not resistant? A prize will be given for
what I regard as the best answer.
Answer: There are likely many factors for high mortality from
infectious diseases among Native Americans and the relative health of
the invading Europeans. My studies have indicated that animal
agriculture played a crucial role. Most epidemics begin when an
infectious organism in an animal mutates and crosses the species barrier
to humans. Living in close proximity to domesticated animals
substantially increases the risk of such events. Over the centuries, the
Europeans had developed high degrees of immunity to these diseases,
while the Native Americans had no such immunity. Meanwhile, Native
Americans generally did not keep herds of domesticated animals and did
not harbor many infectious diseases to which the Europeans might have
been vulnerable.
Another factor was that Native Americans generally lived in smaller,
relatively isolated villages, reducing the spread of diseases.
Meanwhile, Europe had tradesmen and entertainers who traveled from city
to city, helping to spread diseases and making it easier for new
infectious organisms to stay alive rather than die out by virtue of the
vulnerable populace becoming immune or dying off. Another likely
contributing factor was that Native Americans were descendents of a
small group of people from Asia, while the Europeans had a broader gene
pool. Diseases that were lethal for one Native American were therefore
inclined to be lethal for many. Finally, the Europeans had learned how
to isolate infected people. The Native Americans tended to gather at the
bedside of a sick person, facilitating spread of disease.
Congratulations to Sandra for the best answer! Carolyn, Amy, and
Lorena also had excellent answers.
Next week’s question: Why was there extensive animal agriculture in
Europe but not in the Americas?
4. New Humane Education Blog
I am a graduate of the Institute for Humane Education, with an M.Ed.
in Humane Education. I have started a blog entitled "Everyday Synergy,"
which addresses ways in which we can make choices in our everyday life
to help manifest a more compassionate world. As a Christian myself, I am
approaching all kinds of humane education issues from a Christian
perspective.
Here is a link to visit the site: http://www.everydaysynergy.blogspot.com
Thank you,
Stephanie Muzekari.