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GLOBAL NEWS
Meat is Dying
JAIN SPIRIT
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Email officeinspirit.org . Web: www.jainspirit.org IV. Tony Diar Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SWIA 2AA 22nd March 01
For a long time people were complaining about the horrors of communism and one day the Berlin Wall came crashing down and Russia gave up on socialism. The mass murder that is perpetuated by the meat industry has for a long time been kept hidden and quietly endorsed by politicians and the media. Children have been misinformed and lied about the nature of meat. Many today still do not know that meat is a dead animal. However, truth ultimately prevails. The foot and mouth epidemic in the UK brought the meat industry into public view and the people were horrified. In North America the publication of Fast Food Nation has taken the country by storm and opened the curtains on the meat industry. The Washington Post did a cover story on the lack of hygiene and regulation and outright cruelty in the meat industry. In Jain Spirit Issue 3 we predicted that in this century the world will have no choice but to become vegetarian. It looks as if it would take even less time. Jainism had said thousands of years ago that was wrong to kill for food and it seems that the world is waking up to this reality. For far too long have we kept this secret formula in our pocket. With Jain Spirit we have a unique vehicle for taking Jain culture to the world. Have you shared your copy with your neighbours and colleagues and encouraged them to subscribe? As a community we have a unique formula for cooking delicious vegetarian food and we should openly share this with the rest of the world.
Dear Prime Minister,
FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK
We hope this letter reaches you and your family in good health.
At this time of national crisis, the Jains of the United Kingdom would like to offer their prayers and support that the government may adopta strategy that involves the least suffering for all souls affected by the disease, directly or indirectly. The Jains have for thousands of years believed that animals are sentient beings who suffer pain and experience similar emotions to humans such as love, sharing and caring. The slaughter of any animal has always been seen as the last resort, and throughout India we have animal and bird sanctuaries alongside our temples and cultural institutions. It is our wish that the current slaughter policy be carefully reconsidered and the respect for the lives of these sentient souls also be taken into account even though they may not be able to speak up for themselves. We are trustees of all living beings, and it is our duty and responsibility to minimise harm to them.
Saurabh Dalal has been a strict vegetarian his whole life. Ten years ago he turned vegan stating, "My basis had always been ethical... there's so much that happens in this world we're not aware of." Suarabh not only avoids all animal, dairy and egg products but also refuses to buy anything made from wool and leather.
As President of the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia, Suarabh knows how to eat well. With the awareness of vegetarianism and veganism spreading, so too are the options available for such a choice of diet. "The products on the market today are pretty amazing", he says of the ever growing choice of vegan products available.
We enclose the latest issue of our magazine for your information and are happy to provide representatives for any multi-faith consultation on this issue.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Atul K. Shah Editor and Director Founder President, Young Jains
People Towards Vegetarianism
Tast Tood NATION
Book Attacks Fast Food Industry
A new book entitled "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser, has attacked the fast food giant McDonalds, "People should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction," protests Schlosser. The book provides an interesting insight into the processes involved in food production of their global chain of restaurants. The French Fries that McDonalds produced were initially fried in beef tallow. Then, from external pressure, they were forced to cook their fries in vegetable oil. Due to a change in taste of their fries, McDonalds had to find a substitute flavour source which, they say, comes from a "natural flavour" that is based on an "animal product".
The Vegetarian Society of the UK have reported a 100% increase in telephone calls in March compared to January. A spokes woman for The Vegetarian Society said of the people ringing in: "It is mainly people who have made the decision to become vegetarian on the back of the foot-and-mouth crisis. People have seen the images of animals being killed, thrown around, left dead on farms and put on to fires. Other people just have a strong feeling of distrust with meat." Local radio stations all over the country have also been bombarded with calls from people wishing to switch to a vegetarian diet.
Ero
Schlona
WILAT THE ALL-AMERICAN MEAL IS DOING TO THE WORLD
Cover of Fast Food Nation
by Eric Schlosser
12
Jain Spirit . June - August 2001
in international 2010 03
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