From Trash to Eternity...

How long does trash last?

Have you ever considered just how long the rubbish that you throw away lasts in landfill? What lasts the longest? What degrades easily?

Collect the following objects to consider. If this is impractical, you can just work from the list if you prefer, but the actual objects make the activity more real and engaging.

ITEMS NEEDED:

• aluminum can (soft drink can)
• wool sock
• cigarette butt
• cotton rag
• plastic jug
• leather boot
• paper bag
• plastic 6-pack rings
• glass bottle
• rubber sole of the leather boot (above)
• Styrofoam cup
• tin can (eg soup or vegetable can)
• banana
 

It's now time to have a look at the objects and make some predictions of your own.

List the items in the order which you think will degrade first, to last. Don't look at the answers below!



Once you have finished your list, check out the predictions of this order, made by scientists.

• cotton rag
• wool sock
• cigarette butt
• leather boot
• rubber sole of the boot
• tin can
• aluminum can
• plastic 6-pack rings
• plastic jug
• Styrofoam cup
• glass bottle
• banana
• paper bag

Were your predictions right?

What could affect the rates of degradation?
Next, try to predict how long you think each item will take to degrade. Don't peek below!

This is what scientists predict:

 

• banana - 3 to 4 weeks
• paper bag - 1 month
• cotton rag - 5 months
• wool sock - 1 year
• cigarette butt - 2 to 5 years
• leather boot - 40 to 50 years
• rubber sole - 50 to 80 years
• tin can - 80 to 100 years
• aluminum can - 200 to 500 years
• plastic 6-pack rings _ 450 years
• plastic jug _ 1 million years
• Styrofoam cup _ unknown? forever?
• glass bottle _ unknown? forever? 

How close were your predictions?
Were you surprised by any of the scientists predictions?

Many of the above items can be recycled, rather than left to lay around in landfill for eternity.

Does this activity help you to understand the importance of recycling?

What are you going to do?

Make an Action Plan!

Homeschooling Styles: Educating for the Future

Styles of homeschooling are as widely varied as the families who use them! And the specific definition of each style differs, depending on who you ask.

 

Many families actually use a combination of styles, taking ideas from here and there, creating their own unique style and rhythm. Some stick fairly strictly to one particular style.

One style is not necessarily better than another. It's a matter of finding what suits your particular family best! And don't be afraid to experiment and change until you find your perfect niche. In fact, some families never get to the point where they feel they've found the ideal style... they are constantly exploring new ways and ideas.

The following are just a few educational styles/methods that homeschoolers choose to use:

Natural Learning

Natural learning tends to follow the idea that learning is part of life, ongoing and around us all the time. Everything that occurs in daily life teaches us something, and we delve deeper into things to help expand our understanding of them and to make sense of our world and its experiences.

Natural learner homeschoolers tend to learn as a family, parents along with kids, working on projects that occur naturally as a part of the rich life they lead. Learning isn't split into

subjects, or timetables as such- just learning in whatever areas, and whatever times, these pursuits naturally occur during the day, week, month or year. Children (or anyone) learn best, and retain more, when they are exploring something they actually want to know!

Some homeschoolers like to add some more specific study (such as maths or spelling) into their natural learning pursuits. Many also record activities under subject categories, so that they can keep track of what areas their children are covering, and to satisfy education department record keeping requirements.


School At Home

This style is at the other end of the spectrum. New homeschoolers sometimes try this method, as it is the way they are used to understanding the procedure of education, from their own schoolday experiences. After a while, they usually start to relax, gain confidence and allow things to flow more freely- often progressing to a much more natural learning style, as they become comfortable in their ability to help their children learn.

It is not usually a successful long term strategy. It limits the possibilities of creative learning so much more than a freer style does. Children are also more likely to rebel against these enforced restrictions at home. However, there are some families who find this style suits them well.


Charlotte Mason Method
 

Charlotte Mason was an innovative 19th century educator who believed that children should learn from real life situations- such as nature walks and journals, museums, and creative play. She also believed in using "living books" as an essential learning tool, books that brought things to life, not just containing dry facts like most text books.

Discussions and narrations, not tests and homework (especially at a young age) defined her style. She also believed in children learning good habits and manners.


 
Waldorf/Steiner Method

This style is based on educating the whole child- body, mind and spirit. Young children are encouraged creatively with lots of artistic and dramatic activities. As they develop, emphasis starts to focus on self awareness, working through situations and reasoning.


Children create their own books instead of using standard textbooks. Use of computers, TV etc is discouraged, as, users of this method believe them to be unhealthy and to stifle creativity.


Montessori Method

Developed by educator Maria Montessori, this method encourages children to learn at their own pace, with a lot of hands on manipulative learning. Special learning tools were developed, emphasising simplicity and the use of natural materials. This method also discourages the use of computers and TV.



Unit Studies

In this method a topic theme is chosen, around which studies in multiple subject areas are included. For instance, a family may decide to study their local river. They could then observe, photograph, draw and record wildlife and plant life, and do transects, along the river. 

They could write journals of seasonal changes or observations. They could measure and map sections of the river, record parks, toilets, playgrounds, bins etc. Organise a litter clean up day and record where and how much accumulates. They could test water for salts and impurities. They could write to their local authority about their concerns for the river. Survey people as to what they use the area for.

They could use the internet or libraries to research the history of the river and the people who used it and lived along it, and create a poster project, or PowerPoint presentation about it. Maybe make a pamphlet about the river for people who might visit it... make a version in another language too, if you're studying one.

And the list goes on...

As you can see, almost any subject can be tied into a unit study. You just need to be creative.

These are just some of the main homeschooling styles. Much from one style can be combined with that of others, so it's easy to create your own unique home educating style.

There is extensive information available on all these styles, and others, so do some research to see what might fit your family best. And don't be afraid to acknowledge when something isn't working, and move on to try something different!

Balloon Terrarium

Make your own hanging balloon garden!

This sealed system balloon terrarium is quick and fun to make. You could make several and have them all over the house.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 large balloon- pale colour, or even transparent if you can get one, so that the light can get in and you can see the sprouting seeds
  
• Funnel
  
• 1/2 cup garden soil- note: compost may have chemicals or bacteria, so better to avoid for this project for health safety reasons.
  
• Bird seed, radish or other quick growing seeds
  
• 1/4 cup water
  

WHAT TO DO:

Stretch the balloon in various directions, with your fingers, to make it looser... blow it up and let air out a couple of times, to help. This will make the project easier.

Carefully pour the soil into the balloon, using your funnel. Add the water and several seeds. 

Tap the balloon if any fragments stick to the side, so that everything is on the bottom.

Make sure that you clean the neck of the balloon carefully, removing any soil particles, then blow up the balloon again. Tie it off to seal- or get an adult to help, if you have trouble. Hang the balloon up in a window sill, where it will get some light. 

Your seeds should sprout and grow!

Sustainable Food for the Future

Food that helps everyone & everything!

One of the most important issues facing the world is creating sustainable food systems for the changing future. We will no longer be able to rely heavily on fossil fuel abundance to grow, transport and store our food, in the way we have been used to.

That doesn't mean we need to starve however. It means we need to get moving on putting in place other options and implement the changes necessary.


GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD

Never underestimate the power of what you can achieve as an individual. Growing at least some of your own food gives you and your family security and resilience, in times of food supply interruption and provides you with healthy, fresh produce. And if everyone grew food, and swapped excesses with friends and neighbours, the whole community would become more self sufficient.

Get started now, while the need is less urgent, so that if the time arises that you need that food, you have ironed out the bugs and can grow successfully.

Growing food is also a wonderful activity for children to be a part of. It provides exercise, sunshine, a bond with the earth, an understanding of cycles and seasons and uplifts your mood. It also makes some special family times and memories... not to mention the delight a child will experience eating the first ripe tomato of the season, or snapping open fresh peas, straight from the plant!


HOME PRODUCE AND COOKING

Learning, and teaching your children, how to cook wholesome, home made meals from scratch, using wholefoods and produce straight from your garden, is a great skill that will set a healthy pattern for their lives. Experiment... cook over a fire, use a wood oven, try a solar oven. Who knows when these skills may be needed.

If you eat butter and cheeses, Why not learn to make your own? What about your own bread... and don't cheat and use the bread machine. Make your own stocks, your own croutons, your own yummy cookies. See how many things that you usually buy pre-made that you can make yourselves.


STORING AND PRESERVING FOODS

Learning how to properly store different foods- from dry goods to fruits and vegetables- will save a lot of wastage and you will be able to make use of a lot more of your abundant crops or bulk purchases for a longer time period. Keeping out pests is an important aspect, as is correct temperature and humidity. Setting up a good pantry or root cellar record list is a great idea, as well as a rotational schedule to make sure you use the oldest items before the newly added ones.

If you have an excess of harvest, why not try learning how to preserve it for later use? The more ways of preservation you can put into practise, the greater variety of preserved food you will be able to produce.

Try some of these:

• Freezing- a common way of preserving, but works better when you actually know what you are doing and follow some simple principles.
• Drying- you can buy special food dryers, or make your own sun dryer.
• Smoking, salting, glacé.
• Making jam- used to be very common, but less so in the age of convenience.
• Bottling/preserving and pickling

HEALTHY DIETS FOR YOU... AND THE PLANET!

Animal products have the greatest environmental impact, in a host of ways, and therefore are not environmentally friendly at all. Many would say they are not good for your health either. Cutting down, or eliminating, meat and other animal products, is a great way of helping cut down greenhouse gases and the massive destruction to the environment brought about especially by factory farming, along with mass clearing land for grazing animals and growing livestock feed..

So, what are healthy diets? The closer you eat to how a food comes naturally (in most cases) the healthier that food should be. So, wholefoods, not processed. If it has an ingredient list... it's probably not very healthy (with certain exceptions of course.)

Vegan, or if you don't feel you can go that far, vegetarian. If you feel you can't give up meat, eggs or dairy make sure it is truly free range organic- not full of chemicals, toxins, hormones and antibiotics.

Eat lots of fresh, organic raw fruits and vegetables. Straight from the plant if you grow your own! You don't want to be eating something that has sat in storage for months, been artificially ripened with gas, or travelled hundreds or thousands of kilometres by the time it reaches you. How many vibrant nutrients do you think it still has after all that?


PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Unfortunately, much of our current agriculture and food production is geared towards making as much money, for as little expenditure as possible- with seemingly little consideration for the "product" (animals or plants) or the humans that end up eating them.

Some problems are:

• Production of enormous amounts of greenhouse gases, and other pollutant, along the entire chain of production.
• Toxic chemicals, hormones, antibiotics etc ending up in both plant and animal foods.
• Deforestation and land degradation to grow/graze.
• Oceans being over fished, polluted, fish ingest mercury and other toxins.
• Huge amounts of fossil fuel used for transport of food over long distances.
• Huge monopolies taking over, and having ultimate control of, certain industries.
• Government subsidies for certain industries.
• Health impact studies sponsored by the industry the studies are testing.
• Processed foods being stripped of nutrients and dietary value.
• People becoming ill, obese and dying as a result of their poor diets.
• Workers rights ignored, and abuse rife, in certain industries.
• Immense suffering and hardship by the animals raised in factory farms.

COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION

Within a community, much of its food can be produced locally, by individuals or small organic growers. Localisation is going to become increasingly important. Apart from individuals growing their own food, there are other options to obtain good healthy produce.

Community gardens are a wonderful way to get the community motivated, and is important for those who may not have their own land for gardening, such as those living in flats or retirement villages. They also provide social interaction, exercise and sunshine to those who take part.

Share gardens is another option, where people with garden space to spare partner with those willing to do a lot of the work. This is particularly relevant for older people who may have larger gardens, but find a lot of gardening too difficult. They may partner with younger people living in nearby apartments, who have no garden areas they can use.

CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) is another great idea, as is approaching local farmers yourself to see if you can buy produce direct... or even have the fun of pick-your-own!

Working together, at a local level, we can create food resilience in our community and ensure the availability of enough food and a healthy diet for all.

Imaginary Creatures: Designed To Survive

How do environmental conditions affect what inhabits certain areas?

Here's a chance to design and make an amazing imaginary creature, based on a particular type of environment!

Your creature can be any kind… insect, bird, mammal, water life (if there is water in your environment).

If your creature is one that changes as it develops (like a caterpillar into a butterfly, or a tadpole into a frog) you could make a representation of it at each stage.

Think about what kinds of traits a life form living in your chosen environment should have in order to have a good chance of survival.

First, you need to decide on the environment your creature lives in, and describe what it is like. This can be an environment on Earth, or an imaginary one on an imaginary planet... or the real environment on one of our own planets, or their moons.

Be prepared to answer questions about your creature, and explain how you have designed it specifically for its environment.

Some points to consider:

• What kind of survival/protection could it use? 

• Camouflage? Venom? Claws or teeth? Nocturnal? Living mainly underground or inside a log? Very fast?

• What adaptations does it have to suit its environment? 

• Fur or feathers for warmth? Areas to give off heat in a hot climate? Ability to use little water, or store it? Only coming out at night to avoid the heat, or living underground? (what special traits might it need if so?)

• What are its food and water (or other fluid, if your creature doesn't use water) sources?

• What is there available in its environment to provide these? How do they obtain/find/hunt/eat/drink this? Do they have any competition for this source and how do they combat this?

• What does it use to attract a mate?

• Colouring? Sounds? Scent? Fancy displays of activity? Fighting off any competition?

• What about babies?

• Live babies? Eggs? Pouch? Nest? Hollow trees? Burrows? Who cares for them…. Mother? Father? Both? How long do they remain reliant on their parents?

• Where does it spend most of it’s time?

• Ground level? Scrub, low bushes? Trees? Water? Underground? Sky?

Try drawing designs of what it may look like. 

Next you can begin construction. Use any bits and pieces you like, paint it too! Be creative… try to make it have something about it that is very different from any creatures we know!

Think of an appropriate name for your kind of creature. Make up a fact sheet with its name, and basic facts about your creature and its lifestyle.

Now, create a diorama of your environment, and place your creature in it for display, with its fact sheet.

If you enjoyed this, do it all over again with a totally different environment!

Create a whole series of creatures and environmental dioramas.

Scavenging Photographic Style

A Photographic Collage

It’s great to have a keen power of observation.  See how you do on this Scavenger Hunt!

Get together with friends and work as a group, challenge someone to find the items before you, or just do these alone at your leisure.

See if you can find all the items on the list.

(Score 1 point each item found)

Each item can only be used in one category.

You don’t have to complete the hunt at one time.

Make sure you check with an adult if you wish to go out and about searching.  They may wish to accompany you.

Also, do not enter private property without checking first!

 This is a Photographic Hunt.



You may use either things you find naturally, or set things up for the photos.

Print and label them, and explain your choice of subject.


SCAVENGER HUNT LIST
Take photos to represent the following.

Something very old.

Something very young.

Something very tiny.

Something huge.

Something tubular.

Something with many colours.

Something man made.

Something showing Nature’s power.

The most beautiful scene you can find.



The most disturbing or horrible scene you can find.

Something yummy.

Something growing.

Something edible that you don’t like.

Something very fast.

Something very slow.

Something captive.

Something free.

Something that shows survival against the odds.

Something that shows man’s destruction of natural environment.

Something that shows conservation efforts.

Something growing inside something else.

Something very tall.

Something up high.

Something dried up.

Something expanding.

Something melting.

Something about to bloom.

Something of the night

Something flying.

Something blowing.

Something floating.

Something you can fit inside.

Something you can’t.

Is Homeschooling Right For Your Family?

 Educating For The Future

Growing healthy, happy, creative children who are able to meet the challenges of the future is every parent's goal.  Many parents just 'go with the flow' and send their children to school without an alternative even entering their mind.  But for some, mainstream school may not be the answer.  

Are you a parent who is dissatisfied with the education your child is receiving or concerned about the potential adverse effects of a traditional school setting?  Maybe you feel the class size is too big and your child is not getting enough individual help. Perhaps your child is struggling with understanding concepts, and falling behind in certain subjects. Or maybe your child is very bright, longing to surge ahead, and getting bored while everyone else catches up.

Is your child being bullied at school- by classmates... or teachers?! Do you worry about the dangers your child is exposed to every day (at a younger and younger age all the time) such as drugs, smoking, drinking, unhealthy peer pressure and illegal activities? What about potential horrors of pedophiles... or impatient drivers at crossings?

Or perhaps you have a precious little one, who hasn't reached school age yet, and you have fears of the things mentioned above. Maybe you don't want to hand over the care and responsibility of your child to someone who also has 30 other children to supervise! And perhaps you don't want to miss out on your child's new discoveries and explorations- just left to hear about it when they get home from school.

Do you get fed up with the constant morning battle to get your kids ready for school on time... and the evening battles of homework? Are your kids (and you!) tired and irritable when you all eventually join up for what's left of the day, after school? Is over scheduling... to fit in everything else you and your kids want to be involved with such as sport, socialising, tutoring etc... exhausting you?

If this sounds like your family, then homeschooling might be an option worth exploring!

Educating your children at home can be extremely rewarding. It can also have its ups and downs, especially as you're finding your way, but overall it is usually a positive and exciting journey.

If your children have been at school, it can take time (even months) for them to leave the old groove behind and adjust to a more relaxed, self directed style of learning. But there's no rush... let them (and you) take your time. Learning should be a natural adventure of discovery.

It is your job as a home educating parent to be a facilitator in your child's learning. You aren't there to force the 3 R's on them, but rather to help gently guide when needed, make sure they have the materials and resources they need, and provide an interesting and learning oriented environment. Learn along with them! 

You certainly don't need to "know everything about everything" to home educate. You just need to be resourceful and know how to find out (and show your kids how to find out) what they want to know. With the internet, and so many excellent libraries, museums and other resources, this is usually a fairly easy task these days.

One of the things you need to consider, if you are thinking of homeschooling, is the time factor. Do you have the time it takes to dedicate to educating your children? Will your lifestyle allow it? 

While many home educators work part time and successfully homeschool, it is probably not really an option for two (or one in a single parent family) parents to work full time and home educate. And even for part time, don't forget, you don't have school to fall back on as a babysitter while you work, or go out doing errands etc. While your children are too young to be left at home alone you will need to find someone to care for them during these times. And please don't make them grow up and take on this responsibility too early! Don't leave older ones to care for young ones, until they are well and truly ready.

If you are on certain Centrelink support payments, registered homeschoolers are exempt from the new part time work requirement. Inquire through Centrelink to make sure this includes whatever payment you are receiving.

However, regarding time, home education does not actually need to take as much time as your child used to spend each day, in school. Your child will learn a lot more, with one to one involvement with you, and being able to progress at their own rate, in their own direction. Probably a couple of hours a day working on whatever projects he/she is currently engaged in will be enough, plus some creative time on art, craft, music, maybe a walk or kicking a ball around, attending homeschool group social events etc.

Of course, the beauty of home education is that there are no school bells to tell you to start or stop or change subject! Most of the time, your child can continue for as long as their interest holds. Then they can move on!

Another consideration is do you actually feel you and your children can spend this much time together without driving each other crazy?!

There are some families who, no matter how much they really love each other, just find they can't cope with almost constant "togetherness". Families who come back from holidays together almost not speaking! And this is nothing to feel badly about. People are different. It's far better to be honest about this, than to struggle on and cause damage to your family relationships. 

But homeschooling is often worth a try, if you feel that there's a chance of it working. Often without the pressures and old battles of getting ready for school, homework, strict bedtimes, tired grumpiness etc, families find that they are much more relaxed and enjoy each others company. 

Most families who have homeschooled from the beginning (and many who take it on later) find that it brings their families much closer together, and they just can't imagine not wanting to explore each day with their children. Not to say that it doesn't get frustrating at times. There are arguments, disagreements, just like any family, and naturally, most people need some "space" and time to themselves. This can be achieved by incorporating quiet, reflective personal time for everyone into your day. And by making sure you have other people who can give you a break, if needed, such as your spouse, family, and other home educators.

Joining a homeschoolers group is one of the best ways to begin your home education adventure. There are lots of online groups, as well as groups who meet regularly. Some are formal groups with membership fees, newsletters etc... some are just an informal group of families who get together.

Members of any homeschool group are usually quite friendly and willing to welcome newcomers into the "fold". They understand the questions, worries and doubts you may have... they have been there before! You can gain much wisdom and help with how to go about the whole process, from being an active part of a homeschool group. They can help lessen the "teething pains" greatly!

Homeschool groups often have social meeting where kids (and parents) can get together to play and chat. Many also have group workshops, activity groups and educational outings. They can provide great support and friendship! 

Different homeschool groups often have a different focus, to do with the general ideas and principles its members follow- such as natural learning, Christian home ed, Charlotte Mason etc. Some are pretty general. So it pays to check around for the one(s) that might be best for your family. Experienced home educators in any group can probably give you a contact for the group they think might suit you. Unless you have specific ideas already, a fairly general group is probably best to begin with, then you can always join another one with more specific focus later on.

Opening your children up to the joys and challenges of learning is a wonderful experience... one like no other!

Helping to grow the scientists, inventors, politicians, musicians, great thinkers, explorers, entrepreneurs, sports people, artists... people who will shape the world... and the future!

Animals Are Earthlings Too!

This article is designed to help promote discussion and look at some of the issues surrounding animals and their environments and how they relate in the world's ecology as well as the impact that humans have on animals.

Animals as food
 
Throughout history many humans, as well as some animals, have eaten other animals as a source of their daily food intake.

When did humans start eating meat as part of their diet ? What animals did humans eat throughout history ? What animals eat meat only ? What animals eat plants only ? What are the characteristics of meat eating animals ? Do humans share any characteristics of meat eating animals ?

Where does meat come from
 
Some may be of the opinion that meat comes from local supermarket, others may be of the opinion that meat comes from a farmers farm in the countryside.

Where do the main meats that you might eat come from ? Why do supermarkets stock only certain kinds of meat ? Is red meat actually red ? Is seafood meat ? Is chicken meat ? Where does milk come from ? Where do eggs come from ? Do dairy products have any of the characteristics of meat ? Where does leather come from ?

Factory farming

Many mass-consumer outlets, such a supermarkets (and their suppliers of products) have a high demand for meat and animal products.

To meet this demand some farms had to become far more business oriented in supplying the huge demand. Let's ask some question about factory farming, also known as industrial farming..

What is a factory farm ? Where are these factory farms located ? Why do the keep so many livestock at once ? What are the main products in factory farming ? Do factory farmed animals ever see dirt or grass ? Is factory farming ethical ?

CAFO

As the demand for animals as food (and other products) increased even more, not only supermarkets, but fast food chains and other mass consumer needs put a considerable pressure on how farm animals are now raised and processed.

To meet the ever rising demand a new system of meat production was devised called CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations).

What is a CAFO ? Do these animals ever see light ? Do these animals ever walk on earth ? Do these animals have a normal life ? What do they feed CAFO animals ? How many animals or 'units' can u feed in a CAFO ? How many chickens are eaten every day in Australia ? ..the world? How many eggs are produced on a daily bases worldwide, to meet demand ? How else do they increase yield ? Do conditions favour production or welfare ? Are CAFOs ethical ? Are there CAFOs in Australia ?

Free Range

Some people seek Free Range alternatives when buying animal meat and products as the 'feel good' alternative, as the farm animals has a lived a free life on the farm.

What do you consider free range ? How is free range defined ? Is free range what you thought it was ? How do supermarkets get so many free range eggs ever day ? How long to free range chickens live for ? Where can you buy free range meat ? Why might free range products be less desirable than factory farmed alternatives ? Why do free range products cost more ? Who decides what free range means ? Should animals be allowed free range ?

What do they feed the animals

When you eat animals for food it becomes a chain, so you might want to consider what the meat you eat, ingested, consumed or has eaten itself during it's lifetime.

What do free range animals eat ? What do factory farmed animals eat ? What do CAFO animals eat ? Are the farmed animals fed hormones ? Are the farmed animals fed antibiotics ? Are the farmed animals fed medical supplements ? Do they eat raw foods such as grass or grains, or manufactured foods ? What happens to the waste from these animals ? Does an animals diet effect it methane emissions ? Are the animals free to eat anytime ? Do the animals eat in comfortable stress free conditions ?

What happens between farm to dinner table

Meat as a food doesn't just grow at the supermarket, so how does it get there, and what happens to those farm animals that live on those farms? Well.. a lot happens, so let's pose some questions to find out.

Where do farms get their animals ? Do farm animals ever die of old age ? Do animals on farms get sick ? How do they prevent farm animals from getting sick ? Do cows have to be pregnant to be milked ? Does the animal have to be killed in order to provide meat ? How are farm animals transported from farms to cities ? How are meat animals killed ? How does a dead animal become the meat you see in the supermarket ? Why are some meat packed as raw meat and others in soups, crumbed or microwave products ?

Why do we eat certain animals and use certain animal products

There are estimates that there could be anywhere from 5 million to 100 million species of animals on Earth, but science has only identified about 2 million of them.
So why is it that when we think of meat as food there are only a few that are used in our diet?

How many species exist on Earth ? How many animals are there on Earth ? Which animals are most used for human food ? Why are those animals chosen ? Have the characteristics of those animals changed over the years ? Where does leather come from ? Why do we use leather ? How are meat animals killed ? Why are chickens sometimes fed seafood ? What types of meat have the most nutritional value to humans ?

How do these animals for food businesses effect the environment
 
Food animal operations can take up vast areas of space, this area has to be cleared of trees (etc), have infrastructure built and operated and incorporate waste management systems.

Does removing trees effect the environment ? Does the animal food operation provide a more beneficial return than the trees ? What happens to those trees that are cut down or burned ? Where three animals living in those areas previously ? What are the costs in terms of money and energy of animal food agri-business ? Where does the animals waste go to ? How much water is required for animal farming operations ? Is the atmospheric air effected by these animals farms ? When you eat meat, where do the bones go ? Do big farming operations effect smaller ones ? Does transporting animals effect the environment ? What happens to diseased or pre-slaughter dead animals ?

Transporting animals
 
Many times animals and animal products have to be transported over vast distances, either within your local area, your country or even over seas.

How much oil (fuel) is required to transport food (locally, nationally, overseas, to your house) ? Does food and animal product transport effect the environment ? What modes of transport are required ? What are 'food miles' ? Could animal transport effect the animals ? Is live transport of animals ethical ? Do animals perish in transport ? What can a consumer do to minimise transport in meat buying ? What other transportation is required in animal farming operations ?

Do you own pets
 
Do you own pets. Pets can me amazing friends and indeed feel a part of your family. People, over the years, have come to own many varied varieties of animals as pets.

What makes an animal a pet ? What are the most common pets, and why ? What is your pets natural diet ? Does you pet have a personality ? Has your pet ever felt pain ? Does your pet ever feel happy ? Does your pet have a family ? How does your pet differ from farmed for food animals ? Do you think pet ownership is right ?

Hunting
 
For much of history animals have been hunted, primarily for food or extermination. Hunting still exists today. Hunting comes in many forms; shooting, trapping, drift netting, harpooning and more depending on the species being hunted.

What is the definition of hunting ? What methods are used in the main forms of hunting ? Why do people hunt ? What happens to region when it is over hunted ? Is hunting ethical ? What is the most ethical way of hunting ? Should hunting be outlawed ? Why is it that humans hunt animals considerably less today?

Animals for testing
 
In recent modern history testing of new chemicals and products on animals has been standard practice as opposed to immediate human testing. Examples include testing the effects of shampoo in eyes on rabbits or vaccines in laboratory mice.

Is it better to test products on animals rather than humans ? Could these tests potentially injure or harm the laboratory animals ? Is animal testing ethical ? Which animals have comparable characteristics to humans ? What happens to lab testing animals once the test is complete ? Should a certain number of animals be expendable for science ? Why do some people have a preference for 'not tested on animals' products ?

Animals for entertainment

In recent history animals have been used, more and more, for human entertainment. 

Some examples of this include; horse racing, circuses, rodeos, bull fighting, water world type aquariums, zoos, cat and dog shows and more including underground / outlawed betting on certain animal activities.

Do zoo animals suffer in less than ideal climates and conditions for their species? Do circus animals have a happy existence ? What happens when a race horse breaks a leg ? How far can a dolphin swim on 30 minutes ? In a bull fight, why is the bull always angry ? Why is dog fighting outlawed in most countries ? Is it possible to have animals in entertainment ethically ?

Animals as earthlings

All living creature that exist on our planet are equally Earthlings.

Are all species on Earth treated equally ? How many species of Earthlings are there ? How did humans make it to the top of the food chain ? What are some of the smartest species on Earth ? Do all animal species of the Earth have families ? What does extinct mean ?

Does consuming animal products effect my health

There is great debate as to whether eating meat has adverse effects on human health and its the digestive system. Other considerations are the toxicity of the animal when it was alive and the resulting meat product.

Which proteins are better for the human body; animal or vegetable ? What are good cholesterols and what are bad cholesterols ? Do predominately herbivore regions citizens live longer that omnivore ones ? What is casein and how does it effect humans ? What are the benefits of eating eggs ? Where does vitamin B12 come from ? Do medical supplements stay in the meat of medicated farm animals ? How does mercury get into seafood ?

What is vegetarian

At the moment there are an estimated 7-10% of vegetarian humans on planet Earth.

What don't vegetarians eat ? What do vegetarians eat ? Why would someone be vegetarian ? Do vegetarians live longer ? Are vegetarians healthier than omnivorous humans ? How do you become vegetarian ? How many vegetarians do you know ?

What is vegan

At the moment there are an estimated 4-5% of vegans humans on planet Earth.

Why do vegans not eat meat, dairy or eggs ? Why do vegans not buy any animal products at all ? Is vegetarian a diet or a lifestyle ? Do vegans live longer ? Are vegans healthier than omnivorous humans ? Who can become vegan ? Is it OK to take honey from bees ? Is it OK to turn animal hide into to leather for human products ? Do vegans just eat leaves ?

Use these questions to get some discussion going with your family or friends.  Do you agree or disagree with each other in most ways?  Does having thought about these issues change your opinions on some things... and if so, how might you implement changes to reflect your new beliefs?