Is Vegetarianism cruel?

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Gallotments, an interesting subject, like you I keep an open mind, I also seem to remember reading somewhere that when cuttings are taken the parent plant recognises the cutting as part of itself ... but I can't place where I got that from.

PS Just remembered BBC site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_ne ... 076875.stm

[WoodyLord]

My gut feel about the original question is that if plants can communicate and have higher abilities than we currently can measure then vegetarianism is still probably LESS cruel than meat eating. I don't think that the domesticated veg we grow is probably aware of it's wild past whereas most farm animals seem to like a run about outside their pen/field.

Driving into the unloading bay by mistake on the first day of a student job at the Buxted Chicken factory 26 years ago was the impetus for me despite previously telling my veggie mum and siblings that "I love meat and could never become a vegetarian".....I had to eat my words (and my chick peas...). I reckon most veggies have a range of reasons and cruelty is just one of them.

Interesting discussion - thanks.

[Colin Miles]

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/08/08/women-in-science-thinking-like-a-vegetable/

[Nature's Babe]

Thank you for that link Colin, I looked at the other women in science links and was pleased to see this one too.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/08/ ... do-for-us/

[peter]

NB, any particular reason?

[glallotments]

NB, any particular reason?

That's what I was wondering too Peter!

[Nature's Babe]

Just that I found it interesting, as the researcher said there is so much we don't know in that area and it would be interesting to see where the research concil funding leads to in five years time.