For a long time I've known that regular meat consumption in our western diets causes inflation of world grain prices. Each pound of meat that we eat requires several pounds of grain to be put into the feeding of that animal. Consequently this puts a huge demand on the demand for grain in the world market causing prices to rise leaving the poorest people without access to necessary staples. While I don't know how much good having our family minimize our meat consumption that is what we have done in order to be an example and to stand out apart from our culture of waste.
Recently I read an article written by an alert-net blogger, Tim Large, on how meat production also takes many times more water then agricultural production. I hadn't thought about that before. For me I don't think that it's such a big deal since water is in abundance over here on the wet coast of Canada and is not very practical to ship to where it is needed. For other people who live where water is more scarce this should cause some thought. If we truly care about our fellow brothers and sisters around us shouldn't we be willing to sacrifice a little meat on their behalf? If you live in a wet climate please consider cutting back significantly on meat in order to do your part in lower world grain prices for the poor. Also consider fasting for awhile in solidarity with the world poor.
While Jesus' call was primarily evangelistic our transformation into godliness should make us more compassionate towards the poor and marginalized. True holiness is inseparable from active love and generosity on behalf of those that are suffering. Too often the western church turns a blind eye on poverty and gives a pittance if anything towards charity. Here is what God has to say: "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27 NET) Let us commit to do better.
Posted by rose at March 31, 2007 08:27 AM