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Nitin Mehta President Y.I.V 33 Goldwell Road THORNTON HEATH Surrey England
The Vegetarian Society of South Africa
PO Box 23567
JOUBERT PARK 2044
9 July 1984
Dear Friend
We beg to acknowledge your letter.
The increase of meat-eating in India is probably due to two factors: a) a higher standard of living, and b) a lowering of moral standards.
We are ofcourse pleased that poverty is on the decrease, but we have also noticed that a higher standard of living often results in a lowering of moral standards. Drinking, smoking and meat-eating are apparently status symbols in the eyes of some people.
The fact that we are living in a world where the emphasis is more on the importance of technical miracles than on spiritual development, one can only hope that wiser council will prevail in the not too distant future, and we wish you success with your next publication.
Although there is here undoubtedly a growing awareness that the killing of animals for food is unethical and unnecessary, we do not underestimate vested interests and a long tradition that meat is the best source of protein and essential for one's health.
However, as heart disease and cancer are most prevalent in those countries (and Sough Africa is one of them) where the intake of animal protein is highest, we do get reports that some doctors advise their patients to cut out red meat". Although this does not mean that the road to our way of living is now open, it could be the stepping stone in the right direction.
Yours sincerely
Steward
J Beeldman
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