SOUTH REWARSD--St. Dominic High School Film Club had an encounter with “Meat the Truth” on Friday, when it screened the movie that expounds on how livestock rearing and meat production affect the environment in ways most people have never given any thought to.   A sizable group of students gathered in the school’s auditorium to watch the movie that was part of the Film Club’s efforts to increase awareness about the treatment of animals and the damage to the environment caused by meat production.   After the movie, high school students Hazel Alberts and Vincent Ramsami spoke with their fellow students and other present about what they had learnt, were startled about and how this new perspective may result in a change of attitude. Tamika, a fellow student, found the movie “really good.” It made her think about how to make changes that would have less environmental impact and more animal friendly. She is considering not eating meat once a week now.  Swart, another movie goer, told Alberts and Ramsami, that the movie was an eye opener, because he hadn’t been aware of all the things shown in the movie. “It really had a message, unlike some commercial movies.”  Tamika and Swart pointed out that they did not know of the gravity or impact factory farming has on the environment.   Animal care activist Mercedes De Windt told the student interviewers that she thinks that everyone should know about this movie, because people are sort of brainwashed about meat production. De Windt, who saw the movie before, became a vegan last year.   Veganism is a diet and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans endeavour not to use or consume animal products of any kind.   De Windt was already a vegetarian before seeing the movie because of her great love for animals.   Swart, who also loves for animals, said that people should live more consciously. He added that he feels a lot better when he doesn’t eat meat.   Student Tamika questioned why these issues were not raised by Al Gore in his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”    People don’t need as much protein as they eat. The idea of everyone ceasing to eat meat and other animal products entirely is a bit far fetched. St. Dominic High School Film Club intends to increase awareness about
the way meat is produced.   “Meat the Truth” will be shown in St. Dominic High School classes, as well as more movies with similar messages.

-as featured in THE DAILY HERALD, January 19th, 2010.