The Economic Realization of PETA

For so long, PETA has complained that eating meat is bad. The claim is that it is bad to eat beef for any number of guilt ridden reasons.

I have heard all sorts of arguments as why it is bad.

"People shouldn't hurt animals."

"Cows emit too much CO2 and therefore are bad for the environment." (but killing them is bad ???)

"You aren't civilized."

All of them are aimed at the guilt.

The fact is that you can't guilt someone into doing what you want. They may feel guilty for a while, but if it is legal and generally accepted as ethical, guilt will never work. Guilt as a business model is never any good.

Finally, PETA understands that the way you change minds and hearts is by appealing to the financial sensibilities of people. It is the same problem that prevents me from recycling. So, PETA is putting their money where their mouth is.

They are offering a $1 million prize to the first scientist that can produce lab-grown meat in bulk.

While I think it is a waste of time and effort and will probably turn out like Tofurkey where only the people already interested in a vegetarian lifestyle will consider it as a viable food, at least they are trying something sensible to change behavior for a change. I don't think that you can honestly expect a meat lover to say, "I love meat, but this lab grown stuff is so much better!" There is as much a psychological reason to eat meat as anything.

I'll tell you this... nothing is going to prevent me from going to Goodwood BBQ and getting smoked chicken and ribs.

mmmmmm... BBQ.