World Famous Comics: Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
By: Erik Marcus Publisher: Brio Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Brio Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 288 Publication Date: July 15, 2005
Product Description: Meat Market elevates the debate over animal agriculture. Erik Marcus exposes and clears away the exaggerated claims and counterclaims put forth by the meat industry and its opponents. In the process, Marcus presents a thorough examination of animal agricultureÕs cruelties and its far-reaching social costs. Marcus then considers the discouraging progress made by the animal protection movement. He evaluates where the movement has gone wrong, and how its shortcomings could best be remedied.
One of the best books for activists I've got a couple dozen vegan-oriented books and this is one of the best. Succinct, cogent, smart, well-researched. A lot of books don't give enough hard facts or go deeply enough into their information. This one does both. Particularly great guidance for activists--which I consider any ethical vegan to be just by virtue of being 'the vegan in the room.'
Fantastic! Meat Market should be evey animal activist's bible. I almost didn't read this book, and I am SO glad that I did! This is a great book for all those eager to make an impact on animal welfare. This book provides strong arguments for taking an active interest in animal welfare, especially the meat industry which lies at the root of an overwhelming majority of the animal suffering in this world. All arguments are supported with well documented facts. Most importantly, Meat Market inspires innovative ideas and directs readers to important resources for turning thoughts and beliefs into action. From evaluating leafleting and writing letters to editors to working with school lunch programs, Erik Marcus provides information about how to take action through many unexpected venues and careers.
I highly recommend this book as an innovative guide to activism!
Good read Liked it. Not as ground breaking as Marcus' previous work on "Vegan the new ethics of eating", but worth reading.
Dismantling Animal Agriculture "Just as slavery was once America's most pressing human rights violation, there can be no doubt that the effort to eliminate cruelty to animals should focus on agriculture. Animal agriculture accounts for more than 97 percent of animals killed by humans in the United States. Farmed animals therefore deserve priority, and arguments made on their behalf should not be weakened by lumping in rhetoric pertaining to hunting, medical research, or companion animals."
So argues Erik Marcus with impeccable logic in Meat Market: Animals, Ethics & Money. This concise, well-researched, and thoughtful book is divided into four sections:
Animal Agriculture -- The first part of the book covers some very familiar ground but does so succinctly and with the occasionally provocative perspective of someone who is willing to prioritize in an honest, objective way. This is no angry screed with unjustifiable or exaggerated claims. (In fact, the entire book embodies an admonishment against such counterproductive approaches.) Marcus is almost detached in his delivery thus making his presentation even more powerful.
Dismantlement -- The heart of the book covers Marcus' vision for how an activist's time, energy and money could best be spent. I won't go into detail here but this is great stuff.
Activist Essays -- I felt these were largely a waste of space and time. Perhaps other readers could find something useful or inspiring here but I did not.
Appendices -- The best appendices you will ever read in any book. Seriously. Marcus separated these essays from the main text in order not to distract from his message but there is some terrific stuff here especially Appendix B where he provides a rational counterargument to the popular beef production water use claims.
Some additional quotes from the book which I hope are provocative enough to arouse your interest:
Organic dairies and free-range egg farms never seem to volunteer the fact that they rely on killing every bit as much as their factory farm counterparts...
While suffering will always be part of animal agriculture, some of the worst cruelties can be removed at little cost. The industry could, if it chose, quickly enact the following five steps...
For many years to come, most of the dismantlement movement's efforts should be directed toward outreach. But it would be silly to neglect other attractive opportunities for action. Even with our current minimal resources, we can begin stripping away three of animal agriculture's most important assets...
[Militant activist Josh] Harper...explain[ed] why he believes that both outreach and property destruction should be used to protect animals. According to Harper, the animals benefit if the meat industry is forced to defend itself on as many fronts as possible--a coalition of militants and mainstream outreach activists would stretch the industry's resources and double its vulnerabilities. Harper's assertion seems reasonable, but a closer look reveals a flaw in its logic...
Overall, there have probably been thousands of instances in which animal testing helped diminish human suffering...
Unfortunately, the truth about water use is on the beef industry's side...
Outstanding book! Highly recommended.
The "Show-Me" State I thoroughly enjoyed reading Meat Market, not only as a refresher course on animal treatment and common farming practices, but also because I and others around me have recently engaged in discussions related to activism approaches and how to appeal to other people's nonviolent inclinations regarding their decision on what to eat. I agree with Marcus that the most prevailing concern with regard to use of animals is an ethical one and that animal protection advocates would be wise to focus their efforts and attention on eliminating an industry that kills billions per year. Due to Marcus's invaluable perspective, pensive mind, and incessant quest for facts, I believe that this book will give rise to many new ideas and collaboration within the animal rights movement. I cannot foresee any negatives of reading Meat Market, taking the information into consideration, and working towards becoming a millionaire just as Marcus; even causing others to choose not to kill one thousand animals will bring about a much-needed paradigm shift in our culture.
(As an aside, I saw mentioned that Marcus supports or believes that animal testing is justified in certain circumstances. I do not know if, outside of Meat Market, Marcus has suggested or stated the same; however, this is the location on Amazon for Meat Market book reviews. Marcus does not intimate in Meat Market any personal support for animal testing. He merely states that there probably have been instances wherein animal testing helped diminish human suffering, which is not a statement in favor or against vivisection.)
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