Vegetarianism from the outside seems like a choice that only benefits the individual consumer. When that diet is a plant-based diet and not a diet of processed foods and sweets, it can offer lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of diabetes, strengthen bone density and improve asthma symptoms. The decision to become a vegetarian seems to be made solely based on a person's preference and benefit, but such a choice goes far beyond personal benefits. Everyone should choose to become a vegetarian because the meat industry is guilty of abusing livestock, negatively impacting human health by giving antibiotics to animals, and playing a major role in pollution emitted into the environment. In 2018, meat consumption in America reached a record 222 pounds per capita. That means the average American ate about 10 ounces of meat per day, while the government recommends adults eat only 5 to 6.5 ounces of protein per day. Not only do Americans consume double the recommended amount of protein, but the meat consumed can cause harmful effects to the body. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the 1940s, antibiotics such as penicillin were used during World War II to treat infections in wounded soldiers, which eventually led to the use of the drugs. commercial availability. In the 1950s, scientists discovered that these antibiotics could be used in animal feed to help them live longer and grow bigger. While this may be seen as a success from the farmer's perspective, these antibiotics are causing microbes, which are pathogenic bacteria that spread disease in the animal's body, to become immune to the drugs. When meat contaminated with pathogens is consumed, consumers become resistant and immune even to antibiotics. This is called AMR or antimicrobial resistance. This makes it impossible to treat sick patients with the necessary antibiotics if they have already been infected. Even non-meat eaters can be affected, as the microbes are sometimes not fully metabolized in the animal's body and are often excreted along with the manure. If manure enters a water supply, microbes will contaminate the water and infect consumers. One study found that 80% of surface water analyzed was contaminated with microbes. Not only are people affected by consuming drug-treated meat, but they are also affected by the enormous amount of antibiotics used in livestock production. In the United States, a staggering 80% of antibiotics sold are used in meat production alone. The Access to Medicine Foundation states that “antibiotic supply chains are on the brink of collapse,” making this finding even more shocking. According to Healthday News there was a shortage of 148 antibiotics between 2001 and 2013 and that "shortages of antibiotics, including those used to treat drug-resistant infections, could put patients at risk of illness and death." This is why the argument that meat only affects those who choose to eat it is false: mass production of meat harms everyone and will continue to do so as long as consumers continue to buy. The meat industry not only has a negative impact on humans, but also harms the environment. The environmental effects of meat production include pollution from fossil fuels, wastewater, animal methane, and land and water consumption. Secondthe Federal Agricultural Organization, approximately 18% of the world's greenhouse gases come from meat production (Olivier). In fact, ten times more fossil fuels are needed to produce animal proteins than it takes to produce plant proteins. Another pollution is that of animal excrement, which is thirteen times higher than that of the human population. Surface runoff carries these animal wastes along with all their antibiotics and hormones. Toxic gases such as ammonia are also released from the water, large quantities of manure are released. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 80% of the United States' ammonia was emitted from animal waste. These emissions represent a major part of air pollution and ozone smog. 18% of greenhouse gases come from the meat industry alone, more than all the world's cars, ships and planes combined. The climate is also affected, as livestock production is responsible for 9% of CO2, 40% of CH4 and 65% of NO2. Water and land use for meat production is also at an all-time high. Half of water consumption in the United States is used to raise animals for food, with 2,400 gallons of water needed to produce one pound of meat. This is almost 100 times more water than is needed to produce half a kilo of wheat. 30% of the earth's surface is used for meat production, while 80% of agricultural land is used to grow fodder crops. Due to the growing livestock industry, water and air are being polluted, land and food are being overconsumed, and the climate is getting hotter. While vegetarianism cannot reverse these effects or stop them completely, diet is one of the simplest ways the average person can reduce their carbon footprint. Of course, the negative effects of mass meat production are not isolated to just the environment or humans. It is the livestock themselves that endure the most during production, through suffering and abuse. Factory farms, which are large buildings without windows, often house chickens, cattle and pigs. In the United States, approximately 9 billion chickens are slaughtered each year. On factory farms, chickens are placed in small cages with no room to move or spread their wings. The stress of this situation makes them frustrated and upset, which leads them to peck at each other. To avoid this, the tip of the beak is cut off, which is a painful process. In 1958, the Humane Slaughter Act was passed, which made it so animals had to be stunned before being slaughtered to prevent pain. However, chickens and other poultry are not protected by this law and are often killed while fully conscious. Approximately 41 million beef cattle are slaughtered in the United States each year. The cows begin their lives on a free-range farm, where their ears are pierced with identifying tags, their horns are removed, their testicles cut off and they are branded with a hot rod. All of these are performed without anesthesia. After about a year they are transferred to a CAFO, which is a concentrated animal feeding operation. While here they are overcrowded in small and unsanitary spaces, which increases the risk of contagion. For this reason they are injected with antibiotics and hormones to keep them healthy long enough for the slaughter. The European Union has actually banned the import of beef from America because it does not allow hormone injections. The cattle are fed mostly corn while here, although cows' stomachs are not meant to digest corn, but to eatgrass. They are fed corn because it makes them fatten up very quickly, so much so that they can be sent to slaughter in just over a year. For the nine million of these cattle raised as dairy cows, life can be even worse. Dairy cows are kept indoors where they are fed and watered. There urine and feces are removed mechanically, as they do not come out. To facilitate access to the breasts, their tales are removed. This is done without the use of anesthesia, making the process very painful. The cows are artificially inseminated, the calves are taken after birth and then milked by machines. When they can no longer produce milk, the process begins again. Their male calves are placed in cages where they sit in their own feces and urine and are slaughtered after about 4 months for veal. Once the mother cows are too old to give birth, they are sent to slaughter along with the beef cows. When cattle arrive at the slaughterhouse, many are sick or weak due to lack of exercise and are poked and prodded as they walk. Those who are unable to get up are left for dead. Pigs are often treated the same way, yet approximately 121 million pigs are killed in the United States each year, which is three times more than cows. The life of a pig on a farm is not far from that of cows. The pigs are confined in small wire cages called gestation cages, only half a meter wide, which give them no room to move or turn around. They are forced to lie in their own feces and urine on hard, concrete floors. When sows become pregnant they are moved to farrowing crates where they must lie on their sides for weeks until they are fertilized again. The average pig on an intensive farm gives birth to around 20 piglets per year. Due to lack of exercise, pigs' legs can become weak and paralyzed. The air they breathe is unhygienic and can cause the development of respiratory diseases and other infections. Once at the slaughterhouse, the pigs are hung upside down by their hind legs and then “stunned” to reduce pain. But because this process is sometimes done quickly and imprecisely, some pigs may still be conscious when moved to the cooking vat, which is used to soften the skin. Chickens, cattle and pigs do not deserve the terrible lives and brutal deaths they suffer. All people deserve the right to see and learn about the cruelty and abuse practiced on farms and slaughterhouses. In September 2018, the Chamber banned the slaughter of dogs and cats for food. “I am proud to have supported this effort, which sends a strong signal to the world that animal welfare must be taken seriously,” said Congressman Alcee Hastings. Why is the slaughter of dogs considered disgusting and immoral while the slaughter of livestock is not? Some may argue that dogs are more intuitive, intelligent and sensitive than animals used for livestock and therefore are more aware. However, many studies have shown that pigs are as intelligent and empathetic as dogs. Lori Marino, a neuroscientist at Emory University, says: "We have shown that pigs share a number of cognitive abilities with other highly intelligent species such as dogs, chimpanzees, elephants, dolphins and even humans." , and personality – An exploration of the cognitive complexity of Sus Domesticus, the domestic pig, pigs have been found to have long-term memory, sense of time, need for social interaction, empathic tendencies, ability to solve puzzles and mazes, sensitivity tactile deception and distinct personalities. Although this study.