Factory farming isn’t just about eating animals
January 3rd, 2011
Photo via Flickr: InExtremiss
I was never an American-style meat-eater. I distinctly remember special-occasion family dinners as a child at a famous-but-now-defunct steakhouse; I always ordered the spaghetti marinara.
It was the Meatless Monday campaign, though, that really opened my eyes to the environmental impact of eating animals. Since then, I’ve written 61 Meatless Monday posts on this blog. But not one has been about wearing animals.
An oversight, I know, since factory farming applies as much to leather as it does to London broil. But I’ve got to be honest: I haven’t thought a whole lot about this, probably because I rarely buy clothing or shoes (yay, anti-consumption).
Obviously, I’m not the only one: A green-minded friend contacted me after reading my Eco Etiquette column on the environmental impact of fur to ask whether Uggs are made from actual sheep skin or just the wool (the former, sorry to say).
So here’s my New Year’s resolution: Before I buy my next pair of shoes or a piece of clothing, I’m going to think about these things. And I’m going to look for viable eco alternatives. Stay tuned.
–Jennifer Grayson
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