Way to go Bryan, Its a good letter. I dont know how the CEO and other KFC workers can sleep at night knowing how these wonderful birds are treated, as a direct result of their not caring. I do hope your letter brings change.
Thank You for writing, and your great care of these birds who cant speak except through there great pain, and suffering.
Holly

Posted by: Holly | December 4, 2007 10:34 AM

Way to go, Bryan. Bryan's oh-so-tasteful lead guitarist, Keith Scott, is a veg too.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 4, 2007 11:08 AM

My admiration and thanks to Bryan Adams who dedicated a good part of his life to animal protection! His outstanding personality is allowing him to be present in every important situation: animal cause, as an artist and as a marvellous photographer - when we all admired the beautiful picture he shot from Sady Frost who preferred rather going naked than in fur! Great job - Great personality and strong presence at PETA!!!

Grazie Bryan per il tuo aiuto per gli animali maltrattati in questo mondo si crudele ed indifferente - sei un gigante nel firmamento degli star!

Posted by: Franceso Valle | December 4, 2007 11:19 AM

Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you, Bryan! But what took so long! All the letters here in Canada will help the cause especially coming from a celebrity, lets hope!!

Posted by: Carla | December 4, 2007 11:35 AM

We are herbivores! No one should even eat chicken! I hate that people in our country consider themselves so intelligent with new technology then chew on flesh. I hate that other countries view American dining as fast food like KFC and Taco Hell and I hate that these places have spread into the world.

Posted by: Lancelot | December 4, 2007 11:48 AM

Lancelot

I agree with your comments.

I spend my time promoting a vegan diet, not on "happy meals" where the animals did not die happy deaths no matter in what manner they were killed.

Posted by: Ana | December 4, 2007 12:23 PM

Thank you Bryan!

Posted by: Michele | December 4, 2007 12:31 PM

I don't understand what is so wrong about eating chickens. Seems to me that we as humans have domain over them to do what we will with them. I'm not trying to upset anybody, I just feel that people who are omnivours are getting sneered at by vegitarians. Thanks for listening.

Posted by: Kurt K | December 4, 2007 01:07 PM

I sent KFC a letter, this was their responce to me:

December 4, 2007
Dear Holly
Thank you for expressing your point of view on animal welfare.

KFC is committed to the well being and humane treatment of chickens and
we
require all of our suppliers to follow guidelines developed by us with
leading experts on our Animal Welfare Advisory Council. Our suppliers
receive audits at their poultry facilities to ensure they are in
compliance. Failure to comply with our strict guidelines could result
in
termination of our supplier agreement if remedial action is not taken.

Additionally, we have taken a leadership role with our trade
associations
to establish standardized guidelines for the entire poultry industry,
including quick service restaurants. Our company also adheres to the
American Meat Institute's Animal Welfare guidelines for the humane
treatment of other animals bred for consumption.

We recognize that the breeding of any animal for human consumption may
not
be palatable to you, and we respect the choice you have made. However,
we
also respect the choice of millions of our consumers who frequent our
restaurants for the high quality, delicious food we offer.

We would like to assure you that we will continue to take the matter of

animal welfare very seriously. For further information about our
position, or the guidelines we follow, please feel free to view our
websites at www.kfc.com or www.yum.com. Thank you again for taking
the
time to share your perspective.

Sincerely,

KFC Consumer Affairs
Request: 3406015

Posted by: Holly | December 4, 2007 02:00 PM

Thank you, Bryan, for once again speaking up for the animals.

Posted by: kathleen wissenz | December 4, 2007 02:42 PM

There is no doubt in my mind that the blossoming of the fast food industry is one of the downfalls of healthy America. I don't completely blame meat, however, rather the whole unhealthy gamut of crap they serve. I am pleased that peta et al. do work to keep the chicken farmers minding their p's and q's. I am willing to pay extra to know that my meat is treated more humanely. I am trying to be polite, Jack. Please don't blackball me.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 4, 2007 03:09 PM

Okay, so i really think that everyone is over-reacting to KFC. KFC would be closed without a doubt if they did were inhumane to the chickens. PETA seems to over exagerate some of the things, but some topics they dont. Ofcourse nobody wants to take fur away from animals, or their lives for meat, but that is why God put them on Earth. They were put on Earth for us to eat, but not to be treating inhumane. I think eating meat and wearing fur is fine if we do not make them suffer what they dont need to be suffering. With the expirements i think that is HORRIBLE and i think that is inhumane and that needs to be stopped. So that is why i come on to PETA to read updates and things on the science part of it. I think everyone needs to open their eyes and realize eating meat will happen, and ONE person cannot help it, one thousand people cannot help it, it will be a growing thing forever. Eating meat is a tradition, it has been forever. We can however stop expirementation because that is a matter that everyone can riot against, and it is unneeded. Animals suffer from expirements and it is CRUEL. You need to realize that tortue in most countrys are not allowed and there is laws against it.

Posted by: Kim | December 4, 2007 04:00 PM

Thank You so much Bryan.
When I recieved an alert text message from PETA last week asking to call and tell KFC to stop the horrific abuse to these poor babies, when I called it was as if these brainwashed people were reading from a script.
They went on to say that these chickens are treated so well.
I sent this text to many friends and they told me the same thing.
These people at KFC said this ended in 2002 and PETA just won't let it go, I told this lady that she needed to watch the news on many channels to view what many of us did, I told her that the stations showed your people SLAMING these poor birds up against walls etc, just like Butterball.
For those of you who would like to call KFC here is their #, 502-874-8300
Judith

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | December 4, 2007 04:34 PM

Lancelot

NO, we are OMNIVORES(Unless u have filed down ur incisors). How do u think our bodies are able to accept meats?

Posted by: Caboose | December 4, 2007 07:03 PM

Kim, you obviously have some compassion for animals, as indicated by your concerns about animal experimentation. Please extend that compassion for ALL of the animals on this earth that are tortured and/or killed for human entertainment, consumption and clothing. Please do not be critical of PETA and its supporters for wanting to spare animals from abuse and death. Please do not use the old "it's tradition" excuse - otherwise you can apply that to slavery, child labour, etc. Please take the time to go through PETA's websites or read "Animal Liberation" by Peter Singer, and open your eyes to what is really happening to your fellow earthlings - the animals.

Posted by: Michele | December 4, 2007 09:17 PM

Michele
I think its a little farfetched saying that eating meat as a tradition is comparable to slavery and child labor. Being inhumane towards humans is far beyond more deplorable than eating a cow for food. They don't even compare! I do understand the point you are trying to make however. I just don't think it is fair to associate us meat eaters with slave owners and child labor abusers.

Posted by: Kurt K | December 5, 2007 11:42 AM

Caboose,

Other than the fact that carnivores and omnivores don't enslave their prey, deny them sun and light, or feed their prey ground up parts of themselves (research mad cow disease)...

Let's clear this up so there does not have to be any further discussion on whether or not we are herbivores.

You should research the matter for yourself. I did when I was skeptical at first, but after hearing excellent source after source stating humans are natural herbivores (including American Journal of Cardiology), the conclusion makes so much sense. I'll give you a head start, though:

1. Primates are our closest relatives.

2. Primates are predominately herbivorous. Orangutans eat only fruit. Gorillas eat only leaves. Spider and howler monkeys eat only fruit, leaves, and flowers. Chimps' principal diet is fruit, but also eat leaves, buds, and blossoms. Yes, there are exceptions, as Chimps hunt and eat monkeys and enjoy termites; however, this constitutes about 5% of their diet. So, 95% of our closest relative's diet is plant-based. (If I were a chimp in a jungle during decreased plant food availability, I would have to resort to other sources, but thankfully that is not a problem for us.)

3. In regards to your teeth argument, which was less than one sentence, view the following from Dr. Milton Mills who wrote on the subject:

Teeth (Incisors)
Carnivore Short and pointed
Omnivore Short and pointed
Herbivore Broad, flattened, and spade-shaped
Human Broad, flattened, and spade-shaped
Teeth (Canines)
Carnivore Long, sharp, and curved
Omnivore Long, sharp, and curved
Herbivore Dull and short or long (for defense) or none
Human Short and blunted
Teeth (Molars)
Carnivore Sharp, jagged, and blade-shaped
Omnivore Sharp blades and/or flattened
Herbivore Flattened with cusps vs. complex surface
Human Flattened with nodular cusps

Posted by: Lancelot | December 5, 2007 12:58 PM

We are not Chimps or Monkeys. The reason we became humans is because we started to eat animal protien, which in turn made our brains grow larger than our cousins the primates.

Posted by: Kurt K | December 5, 2007 03:00 PM

Caboose,

Then we're the only omnivore that has to cook and cut up its meat.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 5, 2007 03:26 PM

Lancelot, you must be in the dental field :) (good summary - hopefully the unconvinced will not dismiss it outright, just because they don't want to stop eating meat)

Kurt K, if you have any understanding of PETA and its supporters, you will realize that we absolutely believe that killing a human is just as bad as killing a non-human animal. I have already given you the name of a book that explains it all just perfectly.

And for what it's worth, my main point about using "tradition" as an excuse was that for centuries people justified many activities that are now considered barbaric, by saying it was "tradition". Some day, the world will realize that meat eating IS just as barbaric as was slavery, etc.

Humans, who were on this planet hundreds of millions of years AFTER other animals (for those who want to use the "animals were put on this planet for humans to eat" nonsense), are the ones who are messing up this entire planet. Humans have caused global warming, humans have polluted our waters, humans have killed off many, many species with hunting, fishing, polluting, land clearing and deforestation, humans continue to engage in horrific child abuse, elder abuse, genocide, and murder. That is pretty deplorable, isn't it?

Well, it is also deplorable to kill billions and billions of animals every year for the sake of clothing (which we can make without animal skins/fur/wool), entertainment (that is just sick - there are plenty of activities in which people can engage without USING a single animal), food (go to www.pcrm.org if you don't believe it), and so-called medical advancement (animal testing actually HARMS humans - read "Sacred Cows and Golden Geese" if you don't believe THAT). By the way, if everyone became vegetarian, we could also nearly eliminate world hunger, so our efforts to save animals also has the added benefit of helping humans.

Meanwhile, the animal rights people here will continue to convince others to show compassion toward our non-human earthlings by creating videos, writing letters, holding signs, handing out leaflets, and talking to everyone possible.

Again, way to go Bryan, and to everyone who does their part, large or small, to help animals.

Posted by: Michele | December 5, 2007 03:45 PM

I have always been a big fan
of Bryan Adams; his great rock
and roll spirit, and passionate music. Now I am an
even "bigger" fan of his de-
votion to animals; his actions
and devotion to the KFC campaign are motivating and
heartwarming. MORE POWER TO
BRYAN--RocknRoll!

Posted by: Pamela L. | December 5, 2007 03:46 PM

Lancelot, you must be in the dental field :) (good summary - hopefully the unconvinced will not dismiss it outright, just because they don't want to stop eating meat)

Kurt K, if you have any understanding of PETA and its supporters, you will realize that we absolutely believe that killing a human is just as bad as killing a non-human animal. I have already given you the name of a book that explains it all just perfectly.

And for what it's worth, my main point about using "tradition" as an excuse was that for centuries people justified many activities that are now considered barbaric, by saying it was "tradition". Some day, the world will realize that meat eating IS just as barbaric as was slavery, etc.

Humans, who were on this planet hundreds of millions of years AFTER other animals (for those who want to use the "animals were put on this planet for humans to eat" nonsense), are the ones who are messing up this entire planet. Humans have caused global warming, humans have polluted our waters, humans have killed off many, many species with hunting, fishing, polluting, land clearing and deforestation, humans continue to engage in horrific child abuse, elder abuse, genocide, and murder. That is pretty deplorable, isn't it?

Well, it is also deplorable to kill billions and billions of animals every year for the sake of clothing (which we can make without animal skins/fur/wool), entertainment (that is just sick - there are plenty of activities in which people can engage without USING a single animal), food (go to www.pcrm.org if you don't believe it), and so-called medical advancement (animal testing actually HARMS humans - read "Sacred Cows and Golden Geese" if you don't believe THAT). By the way, if everyone became vegetarian, we could also nearly eliminate world hunger, so our efforts to save animals also has the added benefit of helping humans.

Meanwhile, the animal rights people here will continue to convince others to show compassion toward our non-human earthlings by creating videos, writing letters, holding signs, handing out leaflets, and talking to everyone possible.

Again, way to go Bryan, and to everyone who does their part, large or small, to help animals.

Posted by: Michele | December 5, 2007 03:48 PM

Mike Q, we don't have to cook our meat, and in fact some isn't- sashimi, carpaccio, steak tartare.

I do admit cutting it up is handy.

Posted by: rojo | December 5, 2007 05:23 PM

michele, there is no impediment to ending world hunger now, other than the ability to pay for food. Or as a result of govt corruption. There is no shortage of food, look at the number of ethanol factories popping up.

No sheep dies to provide wool, unlike fur.

Posted by: rojo | December 5, 2007 05:34 PM

Rojo,

A few types may not be cooked, but 99% is—probably a good idea. And what would raw chicken taste like...?

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 5, 2007 06:08 PM

Whats so bad about eating meats? (Besides how it is raised)

Posted by: Caboose | December 5, 2007 06:18 PM

Way to go Brian!! The animals need a voice such as yours. Anyone who gives their time and effort to help these animals not suffer as they have, is a hero in my eyes. Thank you for speaking for them as they can`t. I feel saddened that we as human beings think we can treat living things in this manner. How can these people be so horrible to a living thing? An animal that looks you in the eyes and almost pleads with them to be kind. I just wish one day that "some" of those KFC employees come back as birds!!!

Posted by: Karen Falkingham | December 5, 2007 07:37 PM

Kurt,

What's the difference chemically between animal protein and plant protein?

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 5, 2007 08:36 PM

Well written letter and I hope that KFC Canada decides to make changes. I think that is all we can ask for, humane and ethical deaths for the animals we eat. We cannot ask the whole world to not eat meat, its not possible, but the killing of these animals can be changed so that our pleasure in eating them does not mean they have to suffer.
Way to go Mr. Adams.

Posted by: Heather | December 5, 2007 08:52 PM

Yet why is the human body able to accept meats with no problem? (Excessivly, its a problem though. I do not have that problem because I am no lazy, dumb American)

Look at Argentina and Chile, no problem.

Posted by: Caboose | December 5, 2007 10:15 PM

THIS LETTER ROCKS. GREAT JOB BRYAN WAY TO GO.CHICKENS HAVE FEELINGS AND ANYONE WHO EATS ANIMAL FLESH OUGHT TO BE BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.
BOYCOTT KFC THEY MURDER ANIMALS

OREGON

Posted by: Veronica Knight | December 5, 2007 11:34 PM

How could not eating meat cure the world of hunger? My mother just had a major surgery in whih she was hospitalized for 29 days. She lost about 35lbs and is pretty week to boot. I talk to the doctor the day she came home to ask how to get her strength back and gain some need weight. In his diet plan he included beef and chicken for protein and much needed fat. If you can get all these nutrients from plants why would he include chicken and beef?

Posted by: Kurt K | December 6, 2007 10:17 AM

How could not eating meat cure the world of hunger? My mother just had a major surgery in whih she was hospitalized for 29 days. She lost about 35lbs and is pretty week to boot. I talk to the doctor the day she came home to ask how to get her strength back and gain some need weight. In his diet plan he included beef and chicken for protein and much needed fat. If you can get all these nutrients from plants why would he include chicken and beef?

Posted by: Kurt K | December 6, 2007 10:17 AM

Caboose,

The human body is not able to accept meat with no problem. It starts to rot in your intestines, which are very long and designed to EXTRACT THE NUTRIENTS from plant food sources (in comparison to short carnivorous intestines designed to lessen the amount of time bacteria from the dead animal can spread).

According to the editor of the American Journal of Cardiology, a meat-based diet increases your risk of colon cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

We would not be getting colon cancer from eating meat if our bodies accepted meat with no problem.

Kurt K,

"The reason we became humans is because we started to eat animal protien, which in turn made our brains grow larger than our cousins the primates."

This has not been accepted by the majority of biologists and anthropologists (but they have accepted that our intestines are designed for plant foods).

They bring up the argument that hominids (past "human" species) would have already needed large brains to begin hunting and fishing.

During the long stretch of time since our divergence from a common ancestor with the apes, humans have needed to scavenge and hunt when food was scarace. But, that short period of time (in evolution's eyes) did not make eating meat safe for humans. If the passage of time did, then why are so many Americans dying from cancers and heart diseases linked to meat-based diets?

Like I said before, please research the topic before you debate. I have researched this subject endlessly for a semester project for Intro to Bio at University of Maryland (my teacher was also a vegetarian b/c she knew all of this and more).

Posted by: Lancelot | December 6, 2007 11:09 AM

Rojo is correct. The problem is not calories, it never has been. The problem is sustainable protein production. The whole tooth argument is always silly, but it does get repeated from time to time. Bottom line: a person in 2007 in an urban area with lots of available choices can live a perfectly healthy, perhaps super-healthy life by never ingesting an animal product from birth to death (including breast milk). But, I have always contended that this artificial support hearkens to some weird futuristic soylent green world where eventually you have no idea what your eating. Especially all these weird fake meat products, which I know Mike doesn't eat (who could blame him, yuk!)

A paleolithic diet is the healthiest diet because it is the diet we evolved with, but it too is unattainable by most. I feel fortunate that I am lucky enough to have all these choices, though. I choose the diet my body is designed for, meaning lots of fruits and vegetables, lots of lean animal protein, eggs, very little dairy, and very little if any grain products, and absolutely no processed grain products or corn glop. I do make an exception when faced with a 20 year old MacCallan, but if your going to imbibe barley, make it good!

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 6, 2007 12:04 PM

we did not evolve as carnivores, (pcrm.org) a meatless diet helps elimlnate the farms that breed infectious disease (mad cow ect,) vegan eating habits also eliminate artery clogging animal fat and cholestrol, (heart attack) this blockage also occurs in the arteries to the brain. when they close off, part of the brain dies A STROKE, no species past infancy drinks milk (try rice or soy) milk is designed for (there young) baby cows, remember dick chaneys history of heart problems and dave letterman regis philbin ect,

Posted by: indycar01 | December 6, 2007 02:18 PM

Kurt K, crops that could be used to feed the hungry are instead being used to fatten animals raised for food. It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of edible animal flesh. Go to http://goveg.com/worldHunger.asp if you really are interested in learning more.

Posted by: Michele | December 6, 2007 02:51 PM

Lancelot,
Your data is biased, and as a result understandably quite skewed. Humans have the shortest gut, relative to body mass (hey, but we have the largest penises), of all the apes. The editor of the AJC is a reformed vegetarian who eats fish. He does this, I am sure, because of the overwhelming research, showing diets high in marine lipids have significantly fewer CV events. He doesn't, I imagine, eat a much if any grain fed pork, beef or poultry. The Inuit who eat almost no vegetables and are one of the few truly "meat-based" diets have a very low incidence of cv events or colon ca. The most unhealthy diet is grain based which is what most people eat. The byproducts of corn and wheat (including pure grain fed livestock) are killing Americans faster than anything else. The vermiform appendix is a vestigium of a much larger cecum. Like horses or deer our distant little brained tree climbing relatives needed this large cecum to culture large vats of fermenting cellulose eating bacteria because of a pure vegetable diet. For the record, fresh meat is nearly sterile or at the very least free of pathogens. Tyson brand poop dunked chicken breast is not what I am talking about. I am sure you did your research, but from a biologists point of view, I can tell you that your arguments are very biased. I don't blame you though, you really want this to be true because of your passion for animals. You can continue to eat a vegan diet and you will be very healthy for it, but try not to evangelize those of us who do make healthy choices in our omnivorousness. You are not walking the only road to healthy, and you don't need us to join your road for you to be right.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 6, 2007 03:34 PM

Oh my dear Mr Cochran,
Every time I read one of your comments I am just so glad I have a good doctor, and am not relying on your medical advice to keep me healthy. Keep in mind that when defending your great Paleolithic diet that the basic foundation of this diet is vegetarian with a little meat added in for you drama queens that just can not handle the thought of never chewing on dead flesh again. Now Mr. Cochran I shall feel you in on some new research that I am sure you are unaware of, because you spend all your time in this forum trying to convert animal activist into hunters, and meat eaters good luck with that by the way it will never happen.

We have all told you time and time again that your body is not designed to eat meat, but since you are a doctor and all thought you already knew all that. Chimpanzees seem to love to dig for tubers, and roots even when things above ground are plentiful. The discovery of the Ugalla savanna woodland tools of the western Tanzania in Africa provided the first evidence that our closest living relatives used sticks, and bark to dig for underground foods. It is quite possible Mr. Cochran that the million dollar questions about our early himinids diets could be soon answered leaving you very disappointed about your food choices. It is quite possible that the spear was not used to consume meat, or hunting instead it could very well have been used for the skills needed to uncover carbohydrate rich, and sometimes protein-laden, roots, bulbs, and tubers. Some researchers have actually suggested that what made us human was actually tubers...yes Mr. Cochran I wrote tubers one can only imagine your surprise....Roots, and tuber chow could help explain the dental changes found in fossil records for the earliest humans...fossil evidence dating 3-4 million years ago has revealed changes in the teeth and jaws of the first himinids that indicate some fundamental change in diet that would require very hardy chewing...more than required by eating meat. There was definitely a change for the teeth got bigger especially the molars, the enamel became thicker. Eating meat does not require you to need thicker enamel, even though people determined to eat meat try and use this as a reason....I know Mr. Cochran you will most likely tell us that back then they drank soda, and orange juice so the enamel started to grow thicker so that the teeth would be stronger for such drinks......drinks they enjoyed while tearing raw meat with their so called canine teeth.............

Posted by: Dana | December 6, 2007 03:40 PM

mike, I shudder to think what raw chicken tastes like, but the Wedge-Tail eagle that took one of our chooks recently didn't seem to mind it.

lancelot, so many people are dying from cancer, somewhat ironically, because they're living longer.

Posted by: rojo | December 6, 2007 03:53 PM

You say our intestines are designed for plant fibers only, huh. Okay, I did some reading. Most herbivore's have intestines that are about 20:1 ratio compared to overall body length. Meaning a horse's intestines are 15 10 20 times longer than the area between its front and rear legs. Pure carnivores, like lions, have a 3:1 ratio because meat breaks down faster and doesn't need as long of a trac. Humans on the otherhand have on average about an 8:1 ratio. Suggesting that we have the capability of digesting both meat and vegitation. You are entirely right about meat rotting in you intestines, only if you eat to much. If you balance vegitables and friut (fiber) with meat you can move the meat along faster with less harm. Furthermore, since our intestines are not as long as pure herbivores, we can not break down cellulose and extract all the minerals that a horse, or cow can. That is why meat, in the right balance is essential to a healthy diet. Okay, lets hear the rebutle!

Posted by: Kurt K | December 6, 2007 03:59 PM

Christopher,

The Inuit (Eskimo) have the highest osteoporosis rates in the world. In a study of 217 children, 89 adults, and 107 elderly Inuit in Alaska, researchers found that they had lower bone mineral content, onset of bone loss at an earlier age, and development of bone thinning with a greater intensity than white Americans. The scientists attributed the greater degeneration to the acidic effects of the Inuit's high meat diet.

All that animal protein has a price:

A Michigan State study found that by age 65, the average woman who ate meat had lost one-third of her skeletal structure. Meanwhile, vegetarian women of comparable age had less than half the bone loss and were more active, less likely to break bones, maintained erect postures, and healed bones more quickly.

Kurt,

Meat is not essential. Protein is essential. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the success of the many vegan athletes represents that proof.

EG:

Kenneth Williams, Robert Cheeke, Robbie Hazeley, Pat Reeves, Jane Black, Anthony Aureilus, Martin Whittred, Mike Mahler, Jonny Gibbings, Jim Morris (72 years old)
(Vegan bodybuilders)

Scott Jurek, Ruth Heidrich, Brendan Brazier, Carl Lewis (Track, ultramarathons, etc.)

I've got lots more if you want.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 6, 2007 05:38 PM

Dana,

I never intended to imply that protohumans didn't eat vegetables. Once again the authors of the paleodiet theories do not add meat to it to appease the likes of me. I am glad you have a good doctor as well because I want you to be healthy. If you continue to eat a HEALTHY vegetarian diet, you will be. Stay away from all those processed grain products!
We do share a great many similarities to Pan troglodytes but we do have many distinctions such as hyoid bone structure allowing efficient phonation, os penis (we don't have one), body hair, proclivity to swim (we are the most hydrophilic ape), upright posture, female sex organs are shifted forward in humans, relative testicle size is smaller in humans et cetera. Chimps are intelligent tool using primates, but they are not human.
Your point is that we are vegetarians because chimps dig up yams in the jungle. You, I assume, are very quick to point out the pointlessness in making animal comparisons like this when it comes to animal research. Isn't the argument the same here? All the best.

PS
The conventional title is doctor, not mister, in the US when someone is degreed with a PhD., MD, DO, etc, I don't know what country your in or what your conventions are, but all the same have a great, healthy day!!

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 6, 2007 05:46 PM

Mike,

I do not advocate an Inuit diet, my point was related to their nearly absent atherosclerosis. I expect their osteoporosis has a great deal to do with their near complete lack of sunlight during certain times of the year resulting in poor vitamin D metabolism, but that is a guess. In 2007, meat is not essential, but it is also healthy and not harmful if eaten correctly, not unlike a vegan diet. Like all vegans, the athletes you cite all must take dietary supplements (I contend pond scum is not a food, rather at best is a dietary supplement)

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 6, 2007 06:46 PM

Ummm, no, we have medium intestines, which means its an omnivore, and has potent stomach acids to digest plant or meat. Ruminants have long intestines, which means herbivore, and short for carnivore.

What are canines for, since they are useless on plant?

Posted by: Caboose | December 6, 2007 06:50 PM

We have far more important things to worry about than if a chicken has a hot tub.
From the FBI Web site:
Inner city males, ages 14 to 35, commit 56.6% of all violent crime in America, while they comprise less than 3.5% of the population, and contribute less than 1/10 of 1% to the gross national product. Please join the National assocition of black law officer's and tell your Congressman and Senator you want money from homeland security allocated to clean the "Criminal element" out of the inner cities.
Call now, before your mother is "Beaten to death" for a "Couple of dollars", and your wife and teenage daughter are repeatedly "Gang Raped" and "Sodomized", or your son is "Murdered", just because some "Under privileged" young man thought he looked at him the "Wrong way". CALL NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: tojo | December 6, 2007 07:04 PM

I dare anybody to criticize PETA's bloggers or a/r activists as "crazy tree huggers". You'll never find such intelligent, fact-based, as well as compassionate, debates on any other site.

Go PETA!

Posted by: mlo | December 6, 2007 07:41 PM

KFC SUCKS. I WON'T EAT THERE. NO ANIMAL'S SUFFERING IS WORTH A QUICK MEAL. THE ENTIRE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY IS JUST DISGUSTING.

Posted by: KFCRUELTY | December 6, 2007 08:03 PM

Cochran,
I think your name without a title really fits you best...for I am not convinced at this point that you actually hold any type of degree at all. I also have to add that in fact I think that you are a closet animal rights activist just looking to bust out of the closet wide open. Why else could one explain your fascination with spending all of your time on a forum that is based off of everything you are not? Could it be that you are actually seeking soul salvation? I would have to say if you are in fact a doctor you have recently had your license revoked, and are no longer allowed to practice based on the fact that the valuable time you would be spending with patients is being spent here. My diet is fine, and I am in tip top shape thanks for the concern. It is however a very touchy situation that we are in as ARA it is proven that chimpanzees do make up 97 percent of our DNA pattern which does link a very strong connection to humans...therefore they are a huge target for animal research. I think where you are missing the point here is yes in a medical research stand point humans have evolved into a much different species than monkeys we continued to evolve they did not...this is the problem with the medical research end we may have likenesses, but we do have differences...these differences single handedly play the biggest part on why some things will react differently to our systems than theirs so any medical research performed on monkeys is not conclusive evidence. Now on to the part about where you are wondering how I can say you can not get conclusive medical research from the study of monkeys, but you can defend a vegetarian diet from many years ago by their habits. Evolution is the key word in this during evolution we would have had the same diet as what we evolved from millions of years ago....human form after evolution in the present day is a whole different ball game....Also I feel the need to make you understand that as an ARA anything that has the ability to feel pain should not be a product of a research lab no matter if we were identical to them. What kind of world do we live in when in order to save a life we must inflict great pain, and torture to try and accomplish it? If in fact we did evolve from monkeys then it would be fair to say that the ones in research labs are our relatives, and therefore should have the right not to be tested upon. There is a big difference in the research of diets based off of what Monkey’s ate at one point, and placing them in torture chambers with little hope of their ever being a out poohing amount of factual data to even start to try and justify the testing at all.

Posted by: Dana | December 6, 2007 09:21 PM

we are all meant to be vegetarians...we are not animals in the wild who instinctively need to hunt..or kill to survive...
It all boils down to this:
...for hunters, it's a sick thrill
...for meat eaters, it's a selfish choice

Posted by: Karen | December 7, 2007 10:24 AM

Dana,
I never advocated doing research on chimps, rather, just pointing out that if they are so incongruent to human physiology that experiements on them are invalid, then comparing their eating habits and tool use may not be particularly helpful in understanding human diet. I would also like to point out that we did not evolve from chimps, either.
I am very interested in animal rights, but I may not share all the views of other posters here. I do not mean any offense, but I can not glean meaningful, pertinent points to the topic at hand, based on your last post. I look forward to you clarifying, but I would appreciate if you would refrain from attacking my ability to practice medicine as you have nothing to base your theory that I have lost my license. If you do a database search you will find I have never been censured in any way or nor have I had any litigation brought against me. I can't see how that is relavent to this discussion, though. Cheers.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 7, 2007 10:31 AM

I find it very funny when people have to resort to name calling such as “Tree Huggers” for they can not come up with anything intelligent to say. I also find that it take very egotistical, and ignorant people to say such things...egotistical because they are the majority of humans that still think that we are superior to nature, but never even stop to think how well nature can get along with out us...we however would parish without it. Ignorance comes in with the fact of such little concept of that we need trees plain and simple! As for compassion you will find that the ones of us concerned about the environment are just as concerned for the effect it has on the ones that hate us, and deny that there is a problem at all. So we will keep hugging trees if thats what you want to call it, but at least the a/r here have found a purpose in life what might I ask besides sitting in front of the tv, and fussing about people trying to make a difference is yours?

Rojo,
It is a proven fact we are not living longer we are dieing longer thanks to modern technology.

Posted by: Anonymous | December 7, 2007 11:37 AM

Bryan you still are sexy as ever!! :)

Posted by: Veronica | December 7, 2007 12:33 PM

Christopher,

The traditional Inuit diet is very rich in Vitamin D already. In the article I cited, the scientists attributed their osteoporosis to high meat intake.

That pond scum you deride is where the fish get their DHA from in the first place. Vegans that possess good ALA to DHA conversion need only to take B-12.

Caboose,

Prominent canines can be used for defensive or mock-aggressive posturing. The vegetarian gorilla has got a set of choppers that make ours look piddly.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 7, 2007 02:45 PM

Cochran,
I am sure some would argue with your theory of evolution, but at present time that is the great debate. Yes you keep pointing out that we cant use the eating habits of chimps to determine our own diets millions of years ago, but based off of your theory of we did not evolve from chimps it rather explains your resistance to acknowledge that our diets may very well have been the same. To me it does not matter one way or another how you feel about how or when humans became humans it only matters that the evidence of us not being carnivorous is there for all to see...the way our systems are designed are clearly not to consume meat, and with that said your arguments seem based on your theory alone. As for your Doctor status it is not I that came in here to start with and rubbed in everyone’s face the fact that you are a doctor...you opened that can of worms when it was irrelevant not I.. It is ok for you to try and make your points more valid by portraying yourself as a doctor, but it is not ok for anyone to have doubts about your status is that what you are getting at? You seem to be very one sided on all of your opinions Cochran...........As for your interest in animal rights I think that is great, the only problem that I have is not one ARA will ever agree that you do great harm to animals every time you put on your hunting clothes, and pick up a gun. I just cant see someone with great concern for animals hunting them down, and killing them, and then trying to justify your hobby with the controlled population theory...or the help of not spreading disease......You ability to practice medicine really is not my concern either that is only the concern of the ones that use your services. I do think that you need to be aware though people are going to question your ability when you so proudly use it to try and make points seem more valid. To me you are just one of those people in the world that I do not have likeness for, because of your treatment of animals. You claim to be an animal lover based off of the fact that you have a dog.....that Cochran does not even began to touch the surface of what animal rights are all about. You also defend puppy mills by saying that you are glad people in your area are breeding dogs for there is no shelter around you, or you would have to take too much time out of your schedule to rescue a dog....I furthermore think that you would not adopt from a shelter based off of your need for a hunting dog....purebred of course...see you use animals to your own advantage you do not help them you meet the normal hunters stereo type even down to your hunting dog....its not what companionship does my animal give it is more on the side of how can my animal meet my needs when we go hunting. If animal rights is a interest to you I would suggest you start learning from the people here instead of every time we say white you say black just for the sake of an argument.....animal rights is not your interest arguing however is............I must say that I love your cop out from my last post it is always great when not having the ability to intelligently respond to someone elses post to try, and make yourself look smarter by sending out the message that you could not understand what the other person is talking about..................

Posted by: Dana | December 7, 2007 03:52 PM

Dana, I am afraid that try as I might, I still can't follow your argument. Obviously you are very passionate about your cause, and I am sure the fault lies with me, but for the life of me, I am not sure where your argument is coming from. There is no debate whether or not we evolved from chimpanzees, we didn't. There is some debate as to how far back we share a common ancestor with chimps, but no one I know of, except you, of course, believes that humans evolved directly from chimps. Anytime you have a subject you believe is not open to debate, you run the risk of looking like a zealot...and we all know what happened to those guys. All the best.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 10, 2007 01:04 PM

Yes Mike, but they are good on meats.

For defense, DONT get me started

Posted by: Caboose | December 10, 2007 04:24 PM

anon, you could put it that way as essentially we are on the road to death from the moment of birth.
Now it takes twice as long to die as it did only a few hundred years ago. I for one am pretty happy about that, but it means I'll probably die with prostate cancer, though hopefully not because of it.

Posted by: rojo | December 10, 2007 05:38 PM

Cochran,
Its really not that hard to understand so not sure what your problem in understanding that view animal activist take you seriously when you believe in doing more harm than good to nature.
Now I hope you understood that.

Now on to a much bigger problem than you.....I emails to everyone that I just recently dropped for they appeared on PETA’s list of companies that test on animals. Clorox & S.C. Johnson’s are the only ones at this point I have heard back from. Clorox gave me the story of that they only test on the products that the FDA requires them to test on before they can register the product for market. They also went on to explain that they follow strict regulations when it comes to the bringing as little suffering to animals as possible. I for one will not purchase any of their products until they drop animal testing all together maybe with that it will force them to go after the EPA for changes. As for S.C. Johnson they said nothing about any EPA regulations just that until they there are other ways to make sure of the safety of their products they will remain to test on animals. They also went about telling me that they are looking into other options, but at this point they are not at a point to stop animal testing. Also they said they subscribe to the Russell and Burch’s three Rs approach with animal testing. To me nothing they explained could justify animal testing, or that they are working quickly to change the situation. So I will refuse to buy their products as well. I as of now have about 20 more to hear back from, and I feel sure I will get the same from all. I at least figure the more emails they receive will prompt them to see that animal testing is a concern for American’s.

Posted by: Dana | December 10, 2007 07:18 PM

Anonymous,
As a physician I am always aware that eventually all my patients will die. My goal, I suppose, in the half-empty philosophy you support, is to ensure people take as long as possible to wither away and die, as long as they are having an enjoyable time of it. I hope the sun comes for you today.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 11, 2007 10:38 AM

In our fervor to support our opinions, let us not lose sight of what this blog is about. Whether or not you eat meat, there is no excuse for torture or causing any living creature prolonged misery. And profit is the worst of reasons.

About the letter that was written to one of the posters here. These types of letters are canned corporate responses. I've received my share. I do not believe there is any evidence that what these letters say are true, especially when large amounts of money are involved.

PETA is far too busy to waste their time with witch hunts. They rely on hard evidence (video does not lie) when targeting animal abuse. They have no motive other than the desire to stop animal abuse and torture.

The abuse and torture absolutely exists in the factory farming industry. Any organization that spends its time and resources to eradicate it has my support. Any person (Bryan Adams) who spends even a small amount of their time to try to make a difference has my admiration.

I am a vegetarian because it is my choice not to support an industry that tortures and pollutes.

Thanks to PETA and Bryan Adams.

Posted by: Heather | December 11, 2007 03:29 PM

Heather

Then dont use electricity if you dont like companies that pollute.

Posted by: Caboose | December 11, 2007 09:28 PM

Thank you Brian! Hope it helps. All companies testing on animals should be boycut. Maybe a nice letter to Stephen Harper regarding the atrocities done to the seals would help too!!

Posted by: Josée | January 17, 2008 05:28 PM

it's wonderful what you did bryan!

Posted by: joanne | January 31, 2008 10:57 AM

You forget to mention the hundreds of mammals etc that are killed and crushed in the cultivation of crops all over the world, not to mention organic veg still has the allowance of certain pesticides just not as many as some veg. AND the fact that veg is intensivly and factory farmed too, which is basically veg abuse.
i dont agree with factory farms but im certainly not against meat eating.

Posted by: June | March 16, 2008 05:48 PM