2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 6/26/08 Section: Opinion
Your Voice | Letters
Letters to the Editor
Gas prices and urban health
To the Editor:
Lara Seligman's article, "With rising gas prices, SEPTA ridership up," highlights how high gas prices have created a strong economic incentive that has compelled many to choose SEPTA over driving for their daily commute to work.
It is important to mention another economic benefit of taking public transportation that we don't often think about - environmental health.
Auto emissions are largely responsible for the poor air quality that can greatly affect our health, particularly during these hot summer days when ground level ozone and other air pollutants are at their highest.
In a city with very high rates of child asthma, choosing alternatives to driving such as public transportation, bicycling, and walking could help lower heath care costs for many people, in addition to saving you from the $4.15 per gallon at the pump.
Cara Lampton
Seeking meatless alternatives
To the Editor:
In response to your opinion piece "Meat-free in a city of vegetarian delights" (6/12/08), it's important to note that Ms. Stull's positive experiences being vegetarian in Philly are part of a larger trend in society.
In fact, a recent study by Aramark, a leading food service provider, concluded that nearly a quarter of college students are actively seeking vegan options when they sit down to eat, for reasons ranging from their own health, to environmental concerns, and of course, cruelty to animals.
Students are becoming more aware of where their food comes from, and the cruelty animals face when raised and killed for meat.
They know that if these kinds of abuses were inflicted upon cats or dogs, it would result in felony cruelty to animals charges.
Thankfully, with a wide variety of meat-free dishes like veggie BBQ "riblets" and vegan pizza available at every grocery store, and restaurants all over town expanding their veggie selections, it's never been easier to give meat the boot.
Ryan Huling
College Campaign Coordinator, peta2.com
To the Editor:
Lara Seligman's article, "With rising gas prices, SEPTA ridership up," highlights how high gas prices have created a strong economic incentive that has compelled many to choose SEPTA over driving for their daily commute to work.
It is important to mention another economic benefit of taking public transportation that we don't often think about - environmental health.
Auto emissions are largely responsible for the poor air quality that can greatly affect our health, particularly during these hot summer days when ground level ozone and other air pollutants are at their highest.
In a city with very high rates of child asthma, choosing alternatives to driving such as public transportation, bicycling, and walking could help lower heath care costs for many people, in addition to saving you from the $4.15 per gallon at the pump.
Cara Lampton
Seeking meatless alternatives
To the Editor:
In response to your opinion piece "Meat-free in a city of vegetarian delights" (6/12/08), it's important to note that Ms. Stull's positive experiences being vegetarian in Philly are part of a larger trend in society.
In fact, a recent study by Aramark, a leading food service provider, concluded that nearly a quarter of college students are actively seeking vegan options when they sit down to eat, for reasons ranging from their own health, to environmental concerns, and of course, cruelty to animals.
Students are becoming more aware of where their food comes from, and the cruelty animals face when raised and killed for meat.
They know that if these kinds of abuses were inflicted upon cats or dogs, it would result in felony cruelty to animals charges.
Thankfully, with a wide variety of meat-free dishes like veggie BBQ "riblets" and vegan pizza available at every grocery store, and restaurants all over town expanding their veggie selections, it's never been easier to give meat the boot.
Ryan Huling
College Campaign Coordinator, peta2.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 11
Puritanical Rightwing Nutjob
posted 6/26/08 @ 10:34 PM EST
"Students are becoming more aware of where their food comes from, and the cruelty animals face when raised and killed for meat."
Philosophically, you'd have to be an absolute moron to believe there's any moral consequence to eating an animal. (Continued…)
Puritanical Rightwing Nutjob
posted 6/30/08 @ 12:26 AM EST
My original point was that the moral consequences of assigning animal life the same moral worth, or to reframe that statement in the terms of our ensuing discussion, having a moral system where the possibility exists that the answer to the question "is it categorically wrong to kill this animal" is Yes in all applicable situations (ie in situations where it would not be a crime against property or other humans), makes it very difficult, within the same moral system, to answer the question "are men better than animals" in the affirmative, where "better" connotes intrinsic worth, right to have dominion over, AND, a hint to the correct answer when the animal's life and a human's purposes come into conflict. (Continued…)
procrastinating
posted 7/03/08 @ 4:53 PM EST
I have absolutely no intention of interrupting this lovely conversation but I will say this: even Chimps, the closest species to humans, eat meat. Why? Not only is meat easier to digest, it also meat provides an unparalleled amount of protein and sugars, essential to the proper functioning of the brain and other organs. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 7/05/08 @ 5:30 PM EST
In Genesis 3:21 God killed the first animals to make clothes for Adam and Eve. Until then, they were vegetarians, as no animnals were killed. In Genesis 1:26-31, God gave man dominion over all of the plants and the animals. (Continued…)
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