to the editor: As a vegan, my heart hurts when meat swapping is promoted as a way to reduce climate impact (“What would happen if only 1 in 10 people changed the way they eat, drive, stay warm or shop?” February 18).
Without a doubt, raising chickens requires less land and water than beef. But Americans already consume more than 9 billion chickens every year, a truly astonishing figure. And free-range chickens or not. They are not protected under federal animal welfare laws. The rate at which chickens must be slaughtered to meet demand is a nightmare for them, not to mention slaughterhouse workers, who sometimes I can't even take bathroom breaks..
How about an alternative solution? Reducing meat consumption across the board helps animals and the planet. Just one or two meals a week that do not contain animals makes a difference. With simple adjustments, we can help the planet and reduce the suffering of farm animals.
Kristen Kessler, Ventura
