By Elizabeth J (Year 11)

During Tuesday lunchtimes, the Academic Scholars gather together to discuss science related questions and theories.

This week the topic discussed was, ‘Can eating meat and consuming animal-based products be justified?’. It was a very interesting discussion as it is a controversial topic that many people hold strong opinions on.

When discussing it we considered many points: whether it was ethical to produce animals for the sole purpose of killing them to eat their meat or use their skin (crocodile leather, mink coats); whether it is ethical to use substances that animals produces (honey, beeswax); the reason why we eat meat in the first place; and whether it is actually possible for people to live without eating meat (it requires a lot of time and education in order to consume all of the proteins that we need without eating meat).