solemama.freeforums.org

I am just reading the book, by Peter Singer and Jim Mason (2006), and wondered if anyone else has read it?

What did you think?

I am almost finished... and I want to find some other books to read next, maybe "The Omnivore's Dilemma" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Omnivore's_Dilemma

Has anyone else read this book? Or any other similiar one?

This is form another forum, where I put forth some of my opinions about it, to someone only part way through reading it:

so, each evening I read a section or two of the book, and the next morning would say to my DH before breakfast "OK, chicken is out now." or "Just reading the section on pigs, nope don't think we'll be eating bacon again!". It made me disgusted, appalled, ashamed, aware, and also develop an (albeit temporary) aversion to eating any meat/ eggs and dairy.

I have settled down a little with it all now, but we are only eating eco-meat and very little of it (we were always Eat Less Meat people anyways, but the cost means we cannot afford to buy alot anyways), were eating organic f/v already, and free range eggs, but now buying organic, local, FR eggs. Dairy has been cut down, but we can't afford to buy organic milk/ yoghurt at the moment, though did buy some organic cheese.

I still think about food awareness alot, and have extended my eco-eating concerns to now include ethical standpoints too. I know we are not perfect, but I am dedicated to educating myself and doing what I can for my family, other people and of course, the animals. I have decided that I can still consume meat and animal products. That may upset some who believe that is not ethical, but that is the choices we feel are right for us at this moment.

It has lead me to discover Ethicurean and SOLE food (Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical). I have always been into food and nutrition, and cooking is a passion of mine, so it is natural for me to want to learn particularly about this one aspect of environmental issues anyway. I have been very keen to find other books, to help me try to understand it all. The Ethics of What We Eat had some hard sections to get a grasp on at times, and I think it would be useful for me to read it again!

It was easy to read, though, in many parts, as I was fascinated by the lives, and the awareness, and the compromises and the beliefs the 3 different families had. It was also confusing.... and makes everyday choices about food rather less than simple! Like you say, the local aspect has many 'grey areas'.