[Avodah] anti-meat rhetoric "according to Judaism"

[Shoshana L. Boublil]

During a discussion on another group, someone posted the following list of
reasons for vegetarianism "acc. To Judaism".  I was wondering if anyone
knows of a source, article that refutes this list, item-by-item, to simply
save me the time of having to do it myself <g>.
I consider this of some importance b/c too many people have bought into the
following information as though it is indeed "true according to Judaism". So
please, be patient and if you can - assist me:

The quoted material:


The production and consumption of animal products violate at least 6 basic
Jewish mandates.
 
There is a widely accepted aspect of modern life that contradicts many
Jewish teachings and harms people, communities, and the planet -- the mass
production and widespread consumption of meat. High meat consumption and the
ways in which meat is produced today conflict with Judaism in at least six
important areas:
 
1) While Judaism mandates that people should be very careful about
preserving their health and their lives, numerous scientific studies have
linked animal-based diets directly to heart disease, stroke, many forms of
cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases.
 
2) While Judaism forbids tsa'ar ba'alei chayim, inflicting unnecessary pain
on animals, most farm animals -- including those raised for kosher consumers
-- are raised on "factory farms" where they live in cramped, confined
spaces, and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight,
exercise, and any enjoyment of life, before they are slaughtered and eaten.
 
3) While Judaism teaches that "the earth is the Lord's" (Psalm 24:1) and
that we are to be God's partners and co-workers in preserving the world,
modern intensive livestock agriculture contributes substantially to soil
erosion and depletion, air and water pollution, overuse of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, the destruction of tropical rain forests and
other habitats, global warming, and other environmental damage.
 
4) While Judaism mandates bal tashchit, that we are not to waste or
unnecessarily destroy anything of value, and that we are not to use more
than is needed to accomplish a purpose, animal agriculture requires the
wasteful use of grain, land, water, energy, and other resources.
 
5) While Judaism stresses that we are to assist the poor and share our bread
with hungry people, over 70% of the grain grown in the United States is fed
to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million people
worldwide die because of hunger and its effects each year.
 
6) While Judaism stresses that we must seek and pursue peace and that
violence results from unjust conditions, animal-centered diets, by wasting
valuable resources, help to perpetuate the widespread hunger and poverty
that eventually lead to instability and war.





Thanks,

Shoshana L. Boublil