You have to open your eyes in order to see

I have to to write about it because a vegan lifestyle is closely connected to protest against animal cruelty in the public. Coming from a  dairy area high up in the Bavarian Alps and now living in the rural South County of Silicon Valley, I have my own thoughts about this subject.


I have lots of friends in California and family in Germany who are trying to do the right thing, producing gmo-free, organic products and raising farm animals free range and humane. We all hate to see the pictures of farm animal cruelty. The hunters, farmers, and ranchers I know, have respect for nature and animals. Most of them are struggling to make ends "meat" because their products are higher priced than the cheap stuff in supermarkets or most of the fast food burgers. These farmers and ranchers do not deserve the violent attacks of radical animal lovers. It is the consumers who need to make the choice to invest more money in their groceries and health or buy the cheap meat and poultry that comes from giant inhumane meat and poultry production plants and gmo modified vegetable factories - I don't even want to call them farms and ranches because they are not.

Not eating animals or animal products does give me a good feeling not being part of farm animal cruelty but not matter if we eat Vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore, we all can help farm animals by supporting new improved laws, and by spending the money necessary to support those farmers and ranchers who do the right thing. The fact that Walmart is now offering a wide variety of organic, gmo-free. free-range product is the proof that something has changed during the last few years. More consumers are asking for this kind of products. Even the fast food joints here in Silicon Valley have changed. We see the Five Guys, The Habit and In and Out becoming more popular because they are promoting grass-fed burgers and a personal connection to the ranchers who deliver the meat. Consumers are willing to pay $6 for a burger instead of chowing down on pink slime under the yellow arches. We are moving into a healthier direction and the farm animals will benefit from it.