GOOD-centric Goodness for Animals
“I believe that the best way to create good living conditions for any animal, whether it's a captive animal living in a zoo, a farm animal or a pet, is to base animal welfare programs on the core emotion systems in the brain. My theory is that the environment animals live in should activate their positive emotions as much as possible, and not activate their negative emotions any more than necessary. If we get the animal's emotions rights, we will have fewer problem behaviors... All animals and people have the same core emotion systems in the brain.”
~ Temple Grandin, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals
Sir Paul McCartney and Daniel 1:12-16 agree that a vegetarian diet is best. Even though I am a longtime, diehard vegetarian who displays frequent bouts of veganism, I grew up watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom so I know the score: animals eat each other. I do not expect everyone to become vegetarian. I do hope that everyone will treat the animals who will eventually be eaten with kindness befitting the GOOD-centric heart. Yes, raising animals kindly would be less cost effective which means that most people would eat less meat if they don't wish to spend more money on food. Eating less meat would definitely be good for animal welfare; but, it would also be good for human welfare by encouraging a healthier diet.
To be good to animals, the environment, and ourselves, GOOD-centrics would support the abolition of factory farming:
We know, at least, that this decision (ending factory farming) will help prevent deforestation, curb global warming, reduce pollution, save oil reserves, lessen the burden on rural America, decrease human rights abuses, improve publish health, and help eliminate the most systematic animal abuse in history. (Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals)
Support for the good treatment of animals would extend to GOOD-centrics' wallets. Just as GOOD-centrics would be mindful to purchase products from companies that treat their employees well and minimize their negative environmental impact, they would also be mindful of companies' track records on animal welfare. The purse has proven its power by inspiring the reduction in animal cruelty by such heavy hitters as McDonald's, Aramark, and Nestle. Let’s use our wallets to bring about positive change for our fellow creatures.
