Vegetarian Star

Treehugger posted a video from a talk given by Moby and Miyun Park, the two co-editors of the book about factory farming, Gristle, during one of their book promotion appearances.

Moby reiterated what he’s said before in interviews about how subsidies to big farms not only make it harder for people to buy healthier, organic, plant based food, but contribute to more destruction of the environment and more animals killed, as these subsidies are also used to start new farms.

Moby has previously estimated that beef would cost around $30 a pound if subsidies to the meat industry were removed.

Definitely no longer a value meal at McDonald’s, that’s for sure.

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Moby and co-editor of the book Gristle, Miyun Park, sat down with Grit TV to discuss all things food, factory farming and environment.

Moby’s “beef” is with the subsidization of animal products.

He says these subsidies make meat and dairy cheap, which is why so many of the poor are forced to consume these unhealthy items.

“You go to the inner city and people only have access to cheap, animal products. They don’t have access to fresh produce.”

“That’s why McDonald’s is cheap, why Burger King is cheap,” he continues.

He’d like to see the subsidies cut from these industries.

When you remove the “fat” padding (government subsidies) and price these products based on what it actually costs to produce them, what do you get?

A pound of beef, for example, “Would be roughly around $30 a pound.”

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Miyun Park and Moby

Together at last!

Well, not really, but the editors of Gristle, Moby and Miyun Park answered a few short questions via email and their publicist to Washington City Paper.

While many previous interviews in the media have been made with only Moby, Miyun offers an additional perspective, one that hints her goal is to get everyone thinking about factory farming but not necessarily going vegetarian.

Take for example, the creatively worded question of “Gustatory preferences aside, is there any good reason for wealthy urbanites in industrialized nations to eat meat?”

Moby’s Answer:
Objectively, I cannot think of a good reason to eat meat — wealthy urbanite or not. It is an inefficient use of resources and more often than not, it leads to obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Miyun’s Answer:
There is certainly no reason for anyone to support industrialized animal production and there is no reason for farmers themselves to support these intrusive systems. I encourage everyone to make informed choices at every meal.

Similarly, while Miyun applauds the work of Temple Grandin for easing the stress of slaughter animals, Moby considers the question “tricky” because although less suffering is desirable, a world where animals aren’t used for food period is his ultimate dream.

Read more at Washington City Paper.

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The book edited by Moby and Miyun Park on factory farming, Gristle, isn’t meant to be a vegetarian or vegan converting source.

As co-editor Park said, “This book isn’t about veganism, and it isn’t about bringing down the animal agriculture industry.”

In fact, some contributors are even part of the meat industry.

So why would Moby, a vegan for two decades, decide to partake in something that doesn’t outright condem using animals as food?

Moby answered to Philly.com:

“The book is about presenting people with the facts and ramifications of factory farming and large-scale industrial animal production. What people do with the information is up to them. There are so many different types of animal agriculture, from the pernicious to the relatively benign, so it’s hard for me to make any huge blanket statements.”

Bottom line is, Moby isn’t using Gristle to tell you if consuming or using animals to produce food is okay.

That’s a decision you’ll have to come to on your own.

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Chipotle founder, co-CEO and co-chair Steve Ells says the pork sourced for their products is obtained from Niman Ranch, a small network of family farms that raise their pigs on open pastures or deeply bedded barns, feed them vegetarian diets and give them no hormones or antibiotics.

After switching to this supplier, Ells found sales increased even after having to charge an extra dollar to cover the cost of the non factory farmed meat.

Paul Wills, manager of Niman Ranch Pork Company, is a contributor in Moby and Miyun Park‘s edited collection of essays, Gristle, where he discusses the strain big farms put on small family ones.

Although Wills may be a fish out of water in a book edited by a vegan with a vegetarian slant, the experience with Chipotle restaurant teaches us that the more humane way to raise an animal for food not only puts less stress on the organism and the environment, but results in more satisfaction for the consumer.

Niman Ranch’s “ethical meat” is not a vegetarian carnita, but it’s a step forward in taking better care of the world and every living thing, including part time vegetarians, that inhabits it.

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Gristle

Moby and co-editor of the newly released book on factory farming and its impact on the planet, Miyun Park, spoke to Planet Green recently.

Although Moby is a staunch vegan, some might be surprised to learn that some of the contributors to Gristle are in the meat industry.

Park insists that everyone educate themselves on factory farming, one of the biggest disturbances to human, animal and environment health.

This means including insight from Paul Willis, manager of Niman Ranch Pork Co, who discusses how large farms put a strain on rural communities.

“The differences between industrial agribusiness and more sustainable, more humane, more ethical production practices are stark, and all of animal ag can’t be painted with the same brush,” Park explains. “The book focuses on intensive factory farming, which, unfortunately has a much larger share of animal ag. And this isn’t to say that there can’t be steps taken even within industrial agribusiness, but that won’t happen until we all—omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans alike—speak out collectively.”

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Gristle, a book about factory farmed animals and the impact on people and the environment, has finally been released.

Moby and co-editor of the essay compilation, Miyun Park, have a few cities on their agenda to tour for discussion and book signing.

The first stop is Los Angeles tonight at 7:30 PM, at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Other cities on the list so far are Seattle, Portland, D.C. and Brooklyn.

Visit Moby’s blog for more information.

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Moby has accumulated a lot of titles in his forty something years, and he now has the pleasure of adding one more-book editor.

The vegan musician, singer, DJ and activist spoke to Oregon Live about his new book, Gristle, filled with essays by those with a passion for food, animals and the environment.

People know you primarily for your music. Why was it important for you to do a project like “Gristle”?

I was raised by activists. My parents and the people in my family brought me up with the idea that the only way to lead a good and productive life was to be a voice for causes and issues that you find important. I’ve been involved with animal rights movement for about 25 years, and I found that when I talked to people, most of my friends weren’t aware of the ramifications and consequences of animal production. The idea behind the book was to make it as factual and revealing as possible.

In reading the book, the environmental issues struck me hard. As a consumer, it makes me feel overwhelmed. Can the individual decisions we make every day really have any impact?

Clearly, one individual’s choices aren’t going to have that much impact, but it’s the cumulative weight of all of our choices. If you and I become vegans, the global consequences aren’t going to be that much. But if we can get a few hundred million people to become a little more aware and cut back on their animal consumption, the consequences will be great.

Read the entire interview with Moby at Oregon Live.

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