The Moral Omnivore - Why I eat meat
- Jul 3, 2016
- 2 min read
I don’t feel guilty killing (some, and a very very few) chooks to eat. I do feel guilty eating a battery hen or other animals killed in a slaughterhouse.
I am a moral omnivore. I try to only eat meat that is an essential part of the ecosystem, like my backyard orchard fed chooks, or that are feral, like the goats that are turning the rainforest gullies here into orange eroded clay desert, and their numbers desperately need to be reduced. If they have to be killed- and there is too much meat for the foxes, goannas, eagles and other meat eaters that share this land with me- then I’ll eat some of the meat too, instead of letting it rot so badly it may pollute the ground or water system . In both cases, I only eat meat if animals have been killed instantly, with no fear beforehand. You need to be able to shoot a lemon off a tree by it’s stem ie have a most steady an accurate hand before I’ll let you use a firearm on my territory. (I also eat any food that has been cooked and served to me with love, no matter what it contains, unless it’s likely to kill me.)
I believe that eating backyard chooks is the best way of efficiently using the land to produce food. The chooks eat scraps and weeds and pests and I eat the chooks. No more land is taken up than if I only grew veg or fruit or cereal crops. Backyard animals don’t take up room; they simply occupy a niche in the ecosystem.
If I were to consume the calories in rice or wheat that I get from my chooks, my needs would take up even more of the world’s space. And while rice and wheat and vegetable monocultures don’t directly kill animals, they do take up space where animals might live and feed. This indirect destruction is just as cruel and reprehensible. I advocate three-tier growing: trees and climbers above, veg and small bushes below, and small animals to wander round and eat the residues. Small backyard animals – which eat scraps and pests, take up no extra room and need almost no extra feeding – are one of the ecologically most sound and most moral ways of eating.
Which is a long way around to say: here are two chicken soup recipes, suitable for making with surplus young roosters or every elderly chooks, or your own moral choice of meat.
I have been researching medical universities abroad and found that Caucasus University is often recommended for students looking for the best Caucasus University MBBS fees for international students with affordable tuition and modern medical facilities. Many students also discuss how the university provides good academic exposure and practical training for those planning to build a medical career abroad.
This was a really thought-provoking piece. I appreciate how the post explores the idea of being a “moral omnivore” and encourages readers to think more carefully about where their food comes from and how it is produced. The discussion around ecological balance and responsible consumption adds an interesting perspective to the broader conversation about ethical food choices.
As someone working through one of the Hardest Degrees, I enjoy reading articles that challenge readers to think critically about everyday decisions like diet and sustainability. Thoughtful discussions like this help people reflect on the relationship between food, environment, and personal responsibility. Thanks for sharing such an insightful perspective.
I’ve been reading about Fergana State Medical University as a destination for MBBS abroad, and it seems like a promising choice for students looking for affordable medical education. The university reportedly offers good practical training and a supportive environment for international students. I found some useful guidance through Education Vibes, which explains the admission process and helps students understand the benefits of studying at Fergana State Medical University.
This was a very thoughtful and honest perspective on food choices and ethics. The idea of being a “moral omnivore” is interesting because it focuses on the responsibility behind where our food comes from. In the article, the author explains that she chooses to eat meat only in situations where animals are raised within a balanced ecosystem or where population control is necessary, and she strongly rejects meat from industrial systems like battery farms.
I also found the discussion about ecosystems particularly meaningful. The point that backyard animals can be part of a sustainable food system—eating scraps, controlling pests, and fitting naturally into the land’s ecological balance—offers a different way to think about food production. It encourages readers to reflect…
When discussing what is the fees of MBBS in St Petersburg State University, it’s important to look beyond just the tuition cost. Generally, the annual tuition fee ranges between USD 6,000–8,000 depending on the program and intake year. Apart from tuition, students should also consider hostel charges, medical insurance, and living expenses in Russia. St. Petersburg is a major city, so the cost of living may be slightly higher compared to smaller regions. However, many students prefer this university because of its academic reputation, clinical exposure, and long-standing history in medical education.