[Results] Prelims 2020 Over - Gearing for 2021

Even farming kills worms and rodents. Isn't it. 

Just keep the wastage minimum.

Now that we are discussing dietary patterns, I'd like to point out that livestock needs to be fed on foodgrains while they're being reared and ultimately end up providing just a day's meal(depending on size I guess). This puts extra pressure on land, and can be linked to deforestation as well as climate change by extension. Vegetarian lifestyle is more sustainable by comparison.

Another argument which is put forward by proponents of non-vegetarianism is that if human beings stop eating animals, there'll be an ecological imbalance which will increase man animal conflict as well as put pressure on cultivable lands. But we should also consider that in today's world, meat is not procured by hunting wild animals, animals are being raised in livestock farms and by use of artificial methods, their population are increased to meet human consumption needs. If we stop this process, it's not as if the same growth will be maintained in nature as well and increase burden on earth's resources.

I think people who blindly castigate the non-veg eating community for their unethical dietary practices speak from an echo chamber which has been soundproofed for their own privilege. Please understand that in India, non-veg food is consumed by an overwhelming majority of Indians. In most of India, it is a part of culture itself. And when I say culture, I mean culture that attaches to most of non-savarna Hindus and other minorities. So, you can go on and on about how vegetarian food is pure and act all holier-than-thou, but please understand that it also does come from a place of privilege, and has been used as a weapon to demonise millions; especially the Dalit community. So, when you say that it is "not natural", please understand the deeper connotations of what you are saying. 

I come from a place in Kerala where we love our beef. We grew up on it, in most of our communities, it's part of culture itself. It is served during festivals, and attaches to the vibe of the place. Now, you can lecture me all about how it is unethical to kill an animal, and I will agree with you. Yet, it is something that the human species chooses to do. If you've read Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, you would know the amount of destruction humans have caused just in order to be able to practice agriculture. And even now, when we practice agriculture, what of the emissions from agriculture? What of the deaths of rodents and vermin? What of the use of pesticides? What of the contamination of groundwater? What of the fundamental alterations to ocean ecosystems that we continue to cause knowingly due to our need to cultivate food? In other words, what of the negative externalities which we cause to the ecosystems which affect millions of animals, a lot of which can be linked to unsustainable farming practices?

People eat food to survive and people eat food for enjoyment. We have, from the beginning of the human race. There wasn't a point in time when we ever said that we must put our own self interest as a species alongside those of other species. The fundamental truth is that humans believe they are superior to other species, and work in self-interest. That is the fundamental law of nature. We have all developed a moral compass, while other animals mostly have not. Therefore, what happened to the elephant falls on the wrong side of whathuman society acceptsto be ethical and moral. In a world that is predominantly non-vegetarian, I doubt non-vegetarianism would be condemned as such. We wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the animals being culled, but I suppose, that is simply the way the world works.

If consuming meat is so unethical, what say about the schemes that have been launched and are going to be launched like the Matsya Sampada scheme to strengthen fisheries sector, the setting up of food processing units and like wise.

Bodies such as ICMR are issuing guidelines making people aware that there is no harm in consuming chicken/meat/eggs due to fear of COVID infection, a result of which was that livestock rearers and poultry farmers were incurring heavy losses, for example, TN farmers faced losses of a whopping ₹600 crore.

why is government moving towards in a particular direction of promoting meat industry/livestock industry then?

The thing is that dietary consumption should be a personal choice. One can debate about the pros and cons but there should be no extreme statements issued in the process in between, is what I believe.

I consume chicken because I am a gym loving person and the non vegetarian food is a good  source of protein. Agar Mai apni ungliya hi kaat ke khaa jaunga toh Dumble/weight kissey uthaunga? Third leg sey? :D

Also, if I’m consuming non veg food, then aint I permitted to show compassion to nature at all?  I mean I pet and feed stray dogs, cows and I’m a non-vegetarian too. Aisa nahi hai ki mai shotgun utha ke galli ke saare stray dogs ko head-shot de raha hu. Somebody else is killing the animal, I’m just cooking it and consuming it. Does that make me sinister too?

P.S.- For me, Chicken is True Love because :-

@agog i come from a family of non vegetarians both from my mothers and fathers side.. I am not saying  that people who consume meat are morally inferior in any way or form..and when did i talk about 100 percent non violence..we all are different shades of grey and exhibit violence in thoughts and sometimes in actions. violence is sometimes necessary for self defence.

my major area of concern  is with the systemic violence that has been institutionalised and legitimised against few communities and species..

we dont need to control, enslave, torture and slaughter these animals to live a healthy and enriched life, violence when in defensive is a necessity but when in offensive is wrong. when under attack by a wild animal u will do anything to defend urself(even violence), but when u feed pineapple laden with crackers to the animal that was doing no harm to you..its cruel

now lets talk about plants..well plant are not sentient ,animals are...plants don't have CNS, they dont feel pain joy fear like animals do...animals are conscious, plants are not.. they dont writhe in pain when attacked and killed...having said that i do believe every time we  rip a piece of plant away , some damage is done...but in the end its about minimising the suffering..to consciously choose how to be least violent.

and i believe you understand nuances because there is something holding us back from consuming human flesh. the logic trees are alive, humans are alive so if we can eat trees we can also eat humans doesnt work

i turned vegan 8 years ago..so there is nothing much to argue here.