David Sirota’s column of Dec. 10 touched a chord for me, as I’ve been struggling with how to encourage more of my friends and neighbors to go a bit easier on the consumption of meat.

As Sirota points out, there are many reasons to do that. He talks about two in particular — the impact of industrial livestock practices on the nation’s climate, and the vast amounts of antibiotics now used in the meat industry.

I’d add one more: The lives of the millions of creatures whose lives are spent penned into tiny, often filthy spaces.

Most of the people who read the Sun Journal are animal lovers who can look up from reading this and see a much-loved family animal right in front of them.

We live in an odd and troubling world, where we lavish affection and family funds on our pets and then pull plastic-wrapped meat from a grocery case, consciously or unconsciously supporting an industry that brings extraordinary suffering to our fellow creatures.

I am not suggesting stopping all consumption of meat (nor is Sirota). But it’s completely possible to eat a lot less —and to spend your family budget for meat which comes from closer to home, and what is humanely raised and slaughtered.

Developing a conscience begins with having the ability — and willingness — to see the consequences of our actions. There’s a lot to see and be horrified at inside those plastic-wrapped steaks in the meat case.

Jane Costlow, Auburn

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