Creature Comforts

Last week I wrote about the effect of Nature on aligning our perspective, but I focused more on the flora than the fauna. This week I'd like us to reflect upon our role of food justice for animals. [See earlier post about food justice for people] This is not a post to convert anyone to vegetarianism (I love a burger!) but to gain an awareness and an opinion about the source of your food.

We've all heard the expression, "there's no such thing as a free lunch." An opinion article by Nicholas Kristof contends there is no such thing as a free breakfast either. I'm referring to the true cost of producing your food, not just consuming it. Mr. Kristof writes about an investigation into the atrocious and inhumane conditions of egg-producing hens. The results speak to the larger issue of treatment of the creatures we eat and our sense of entitlement when it comes to meeting our needs. Are we willing to pay the price as perpetrators of cruelty for a few dollars saved on a grocery bill?


Here is a very short clip of a farm featured in the documentaries Fresh and Food, Inc. This farmer is FU3Led by stewardship to love his animals and farm sustainably. If you want to learn more, there are longer videos on YouTube and I highly recommend watching either movie.



When we were given dominion over the earth, it was not intended as license for thoughtless plunder but rather to impart responsibility and ownership. How do we take steps toward this end? It starts with asking questions of our food sources and re-evaluating the cost vs. worth of poor quality food. Then make minor adjustments in your shopping list that reflect your values.

Living a FU3Led life is never a one-size-fits-all model or an instant fix, but I believe commitment to the small-scale (ie your own life) has a lasting impact on the big scale.