Sir, – Robert White (April 12th) advocates bringing all sixth-class students to an abattoir to see how meat is obtained from animals. A nation of carnivores instantly transformed into one of vegetarians, or worse, vegans. Not only that but a nation of traumatised and sleepless ones at that. Most of us are quite squeamish, so would the letter-writer also insist on us visiting sewage works, morgues, operating theatres and the like? All necessary for civilised life, but hardly suitable fare for any but trained adults.
As a member of a school board of management, inundated with Government-mandated policies ranging from the very sensible to the frankly loopy, I look forward to the prospect of adopting yet more policies for handling the stress, trauma and malnourishment resulting from this proposal. – Yours, etc,
JOHN K ROGERS,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – Is John Gibbons ("Why meat is madness", Weekend, April 9th) aware that red meat in particular is an excellent source of the essential amino acids, so called because the body cannot synthesise them and must get them in the diet? Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, vital for healthy growth, especially in children. The essential amino acids are found only in trace quantities in plants. Furthermore, red meat is rich in iron, which is more easily absorbed than the iron in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. – Yours, etc,
AGNES DOOLAN,
Banagher,
Co Offaly.
Sir, – We should eat half the meat at double the price as this would be better for the animal, the consumer, the environment and the farmer. – Yours, etc,
CHARLES HENRY,
Ardtarmon,
Co Sligo.