What motivates mankind into thinking that he is obliged into abusing and killing other animal species to ensure his basic existence? Why do we belittle our own mental capabilities by thinking that we wouldn't be able to survive if we don't ingest animalized juices or proteins?I've been trying to live a vegan lifestyle now for about 8 years. Trying, because living in Korea, and not being able to read and speak Korean, subjects you to all kinds of misunderstandings. For instance, 'gogi', may mean that meat is included in the dish, but not in all instances, as different types of meat are not always addressed as 'gogi'; and asking if a product includes milk, you might also get the reply that it doesn't contain milk, although that particular product may contain margarine that contains milk, etc. Maybe I should make a greater effort to study the local lingo!
Be that as it may, when we go grocery shopping, we try to the best of our ability to read the product labels, and if we're in doubt, call in some assistant's assistance. Of course, the best way of ensuring that there aren't any animal (derived) ingredients in the product or the dish that you want (although it requires a little more effort), is to obtain products/ingredients as close to their original form as possible, e.g., fresh produce, flours, basic spices, etc., and create the dish at home.
But, how about products where the manufacturer calculatingly hides the animal (derived) ingredients, in order to reach a bigger market, or maybe because it is assumed, as the product is not ingested, it is not deemed necessary to provide a complete list of ingredients?
A few days ago an article was published on www.treehugger.com, '9 Everyday Products You Didn't Know Had Animal Ingredients', in which plastic bags, car and bike tires, glue in wood work and musical instruments, biofuels, fireworks, fabric softener, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and also white and brown sugar contain animalized ingredients.
I'm amazed. Is this how far mankind has developed since the industrial revolution? Have we become so dimwitted that we have, with all our technological advances, not been able to circumvent (simple) problems by using chemical technology that is not based on animal ingredients? Are we as consumers so insensitive and coldhearted that we don't care to support industries that establish their profession on the use of animal body parts, AND on needless and callous cruelty? What motivates us?
* Image, Human Heart by Dream Designs, courtesy of Dream Designs, www.freedigitalphotos.net
