Whether human beings have a moral right to kill and eat other animals is a debate which has existed for hundreds of years. With the advent of modern intensive farming methods, people who have no ethical problem with eating animals do have qualms about the unnaturalness of the lives they lead before slaughter.

Today a large percentage of the world's population eat a vegetarian diet from either choice or necessity. In poor nations, the general population cannot afford the luxury of meat. In wealthy nations, people become vegetarians for a variety of reasons including animal welfare, environmental conservation, human health and spreading food resources more equitably.

To stay up-to-date on animal issues, you can subscribe to Animals' Agenda , the original animal rights magazine and still one of the most informative.