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4 Ns of Carnism

Carnism was a new term for me when I first read an article by ManekaGandhi. http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/columns/fauna-forum/know-more-about-the-word-carnism-162381.html
My interest developed and I read more about Ms. Joy who coined this idea of No-to-Carnism in west.

Carnism is a combination of 2 words. ‘Carn’ means “flesh” or “of the flesh” and ‘ism’ means belief. Carnism is not only against meat but against all animal products. People who believe that killing animals and eating meat is normal, natural, necessity and nice for taste; they fall in this category. Carnism is opposite of vegan/vegetarianism and few Asian philosophies such as Jainism, Buddhism etc. who believe that animals and plants are also part of this universe having equal right as human beings to live in peace.

Normal: Carnism believes that it is normal to kill the animal and eat it where as Jainism etc. believe that every animal has equal right to live on this planet. An animal may not understand this principle that is dependent on other weak animals for its survival but a human being who has developed so many other alternatives for survival needs to understand principle of oneness and universality.

Natural: Carnism believes that all living beings are part of food chain on this planet. Buddhism etc thinks that human being is being bestowed with a quality to have compassion with another being so one shall not kill anyone if one has alternate source of survival. It shall be the last resource. For example you are on an island where there is no vegetation and survival is dependent only on sea food.

Necessary: Carnism believes that our body needs necessary vitamins and proteins and that are available in animal’s flesh. But millions of people who follow vegetarianism have proved that they get enough protein and vitamins from vegetarian diet. Human body and mind is not conditioned to have non-vegetarian food. It’s not at all necessary for survival.

Nice Taste: Carnism believes that non-vegetarian food is tastier than vegan food. Taste is individual’s preference. However vegetarian food can also be delicious, if one can develop. Taking life of someone just for the sake of taste cannot be the justified logic to kill and eat animals.

All followers of Carnism must note that killing precedes cooking of non-veg food. Most of the non-vegetarians have never seen killing of animals and their packaging. In U.S. and other western counties there are facilities where animals are cultured, killed and packed in complete closed plants. Human logic is amazing. They love dogs and eat pigs and worship cows.

Hemant Lodha

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