Go vegetarian

i've been vegetarian for a little over a year, and i always told myself i could never go without meat (i love ribs, chicken, five guys (but not 'fast food'), etc) but i feel awesome about my decision.
i did it because i hate how the meat industry is treating its animals. the recent abuse of downer cows in meat processing facilities is outrageous. not only is it unsafe for humans to eat meat that is produced from downer cows, it is disgusting that people can treat living animals that way.
humans were made to eat meat - we have the teeth and we need the protein. but with all of our intelligence and riches, how is it that we can't find a way to raise animals for meat consumption in a way that isn't miles beyond the border of animal cruelty?

"Growing meat (it’s hard to use the word “raising” when applied to animals in factory farms) uses so many resources that it’s a challenge to enumerate them all. But consider: an estimated 30 percent of the earth’s ice-free land is directly or indirectly involved in livestock production, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, which also estimates that livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than transportation."
- Gary Kazzanjian (New York Times)
Going vegetarian is one of the easiest things I have ever done (and I LOVE meat). It helps you eat healthier (pretty much eliminates eating fast food) and it is such a small step. I really hope to go vegan some day but I'm just trying to take it one step at a time.