The Undesigned Chapter, Part VI.

; The Frogs, the Hogs and '...few observations about ambiguity of eating meat'

People often find lots to talk from foods. Not surprising, for in the modern world questions of human food supply are ever increasingly discussed (Due the aspects from global warming, but also of the view-point of global equality). At most basically, food economics is rather simple. People with food, sometimes plentitudes or or overwhelmingly, find the food usually a reasons to gather together, servings and menus, discussions and jokes, ao. People with no food only would hope having some, and hardly there's chance for much else about the foods.

As we've lately had quite much to say from  food we'd obviously count  on the  former mentioned. Saying anything else would be pretending for ourself, certainly. So, at this it is aimed make some contemplations from and about food, the meats mostly. Purpose is not to offer any unflexible or very comprehensive argumentation, but individual experiences/thoughts from.

Of the human diets my personal view-points have within time turned favoring quite balanced combination. Meats in general, I think, become less suitable or less necessary part of diet the older any personnel (he or she) gets. On the other hand, I wouldn't myself at most circumstances think any solely vegetarian diet to most practical choice, at least on the current situations of my life. But, I feel the vegetables and similar make very good main basis on that diet. By coincidence, happens also that my favored 'veggies', or some I perhaps most often use, mainly contain those 'Three sisters' that N.American native agriculturalist people/tribes mainly cultivated; The beans, squash(or, 'zucchini'), and from somewhat lesser extent, maize. Of course contains some other varying alternative, too. (Not excludes the cereals/grains and some fruit, either. I guess, I'd get along mainly with those on the summers, if not just solely. Also I fx consider the (organic) milk quite inevitable and necessary for the human body. And no place for soya on my diet, except on sauces.).

I also consume meat and fish, more or less regularly. Fx, if making any heavier physical tasks, or traveling for the longer distances without any fuelled external aid (read: the car), I find meat often for a most proper and compact energy source. Appears easiest to carry along and often also burns more lastingly, if compared for most any vegetable(s).

(Generally), I also don't have too much belief on peoples capability from limiting their global consumption of animal protein in the long run. (I think) without some kind of domesticatated animals – more or less always been kept – wild animal populations would've gotten lot more harmed until the present day (...Although, in that case a human population growth wouldn't perhaps ever have  gone quite similarly,  and neither reached it's exponential levels in during  the most recent centuries, most probably). History offers lots examples from how certain formerly populous animal species may have been massively hunted and declined for their scarce remains from original natural extent (...Although, not always due from the hunt for foods.) In a world of several billion people, feels to me, it's quite impossible think any societies without some stocks of the domesticated species maintained.

...Yet, one shouldn't either dismiss from noticing various arguments against the global meat markets (like that widely spread phrase/slogan 'Meat is murder'). There's as well that popular book of this aspect by Jonathan Saffron Foer (Eating Animals,published sometime during the 2000s). From some reason I've not felt need from viewing the book on backgrounds of this discussion. (Mostly probably due from having felt myself to have learned enough from this modern mass production of foods. Or, that maybe is from due I've just felt properly enough informed from these ethical dilemmas on 'meat production chain' already, and, as it's often easier avoid thinking too profoundly the questions of the foods, bypassed it. Recommendable reading anyway, probably.)

If spending sometime on the natures it's also quite easy reach some understanding about that there being something unpleasant eating meats. Personally people perhaps might interpretate that feeling quite differently, but I understand it perfectly well (Although haven't noticed that preventing me from eating meat). More precisely - and for to loan few additional suitable sentences from Henry David Thoreau (that we've often cited recently) - there is, very certainly, something disgusting at the idea of eating animals. Words that hit, according my view, stricktly to the point on this. (...However, it's often noticeable - from what comes to the foods - humans tend be capable maintaining quite flexible attitudes. Thoreau fx equips his very unconditional sounding view with the formerly said sentences that he could eat even a muskrat, if he'd have to. He also mentions often on his walkabouts been eating elsewhere, and is not saying anything of how consistently was that principal vegetarianism maintained while visiting other peoples apartments.)

On my own 'hobbyist practise for', or  'slight likeness for vegetarianism', I often notice having quite similar feeling/dislike towards animal food - Although my attitudes aren't closely as absolute than of some other people. Fx, I happen appreciate the ducks very much, they're among most impressive birds to watch, etc. But, on the other hand, wouldn't appear too difficult for me enjoying a duck for meal. ... Probably this contradiction (the ethical view-point against my adapted attitudes/habits) doesn't feel so difficult to overcome, because from my cultural basis. Quite likely the idea from eating some smaller bird(s) would only feel unpleasant and the plate left untouched. Certainly this has some culturally based reasons, as I don't feel so much appreciation/admiration to the Pigeons, fx, even that their said been quite rudely hunted on some places. ...Of course, there's also a viewpoint from that the ducks are grown domestically to foods while some other bird species are not. But the cultural preferences also change, and over half century ago the Swans (having formerly been largely hunted) were made protected. They've also after that (at least partly due this reason) culturally been 'up-lifted' for such symbols of purity, that for most (European) people the idea from eating swan would appear completely unthinkable. Formerly, however, were quite often favored dinners at feasts or celebrations. So, it's not solely from what you are eating but also how you choose to think about what you eat.

...Of the global (meat) markets more generally, of course, appears it very easy notice that the heaviest ethical arguments arise from that massive waste of the foods. As well, hardly defendable is the unnecessity of the current  maintainance from such excessive market (of the meats), and as  the inequalities relating to that global food industry. Ecological aspects no less meaningful. Rarely people bother think about these things, but actually anyone should. So, the following merely attempts make some general ecologic summaries from basis of my view-points:

As I see that – and from personal opinions; Considering that all human uses of nutrients can't reasonably argued (from practical and historical reasons) based for vegetable foods, I'd consider best develop Hens farming (/and from other birds) to the more environmental and ethically lasting directions. The (industrial) Hog farms I'd happily see closed completely...Only said purely from personal preferences (Yet, I also fx find the sausages quite eatable. At least occasionally.) However, thinking the global ecology - and like is most often nowadays been remarked - most beneficial for environment would appear the down-scaling production for (global) beef markets, and steeply. In particular due from it's massive excess needs of the used grazing lands, field, etc. ...Also, without question and because of several ecologically sound arguments against, from it's very unhealthyness as foods, and as well on ethical basis, the  fast foods (burgers and alike) would receive as the  only judgment complete a disappearance. Definitively.

On purely ecological arguments, would perhaps also appear equally reasonable fx to say that the sheeps herding on continents where them originally were human introduced (to be kept as domesticated species) would also have to come for halt...But as I personally like some wool on clothing, it would (from this view-point) only receive similar advices from quite large downscaling. (And, as one can easily notice from this; People often tend be very inconsistent, at the same time also  quite sceptical, of  their opinions concerning various  foods. In particularly from and about  what  should appear as the healthiest - or ecologically most suitable - choices to favor.).

As I perhaps don't so much believe all these imagined ecological scenarios of mine to actually take place any time soon, probably is more realistic for only hope emergence of the less centralized and more local production. Possibly some return to the old-time traditional farming; perhaps means at best some  return for smaller production units (Although, from being a member of the urbanized modern world, I'd probably feel quite reluctant from keeping some domesticated animals myself.) Anyway, these aspects continue to become ever more important along with the prospected global population growth to be seen.  Simply because this enlargening and over-scaled 'meat-market' is presumed becoming ever more expensive, globally. Many ways also more expensive for the consumers, both from (so called) developed and developing countries.

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...On our series from Fennoscandian insect(s) and plant...

Would be quite exhaustive effort trying select representatives from each type of  environments on Fennoscandian Nature ...For those are all but similar or the resembling kind. Anyhow, this particular section aims make some brief glimpses from  the coasts and pelagic. Although, I actually rarely go for the seaside (Being less fond of the sandy banks and beaches people perhaps more commonly favor.). Maybe I should. Seasides, also rich from other life-forms, often serve even more populous environments for the  insect than any other places. Many also are quite exiting kind, and even there's various extraordinary some that not appear on elsewhere.

There's as well unique and exceptional plants on coast/isolated pelagics. At some smaller islands fx appear still some rare (often threatened) species from the genus  Botrychium (their relates for  ferns). From more common plant, typical for the seashores, one could have fx pick as our selection that impressive looking flower, Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Sometimes it forms large growths close by the sea. By origin a plant of the coasts but has later spread within human settlements to various watery areas inland (and now common also at lakesides). Another typical flower for the seashores - and particularly favored by the insect too - that could've been selected is the Sea Aster (Aster tripolium). And of course there's lots other.

A. Archangelica Litoralis (...probably).

But - even that I'm from this also not too certain whether identifyin' it correctly – selected plant on this (sequel) appears represent the subspecies of a better known Angelica Archangelica. It's name-giving inland species grows mostly on Lappland, and was  formerly very popularly gathered for the human uses (/still is on places). In contrary, this coastal plant (A. Archangelica, sbp litoralis) isn't palatable at all (It grows near the seawaters/on saltier ground), but it's also said to tempt a variety of insect. ...Assuming that my photo should represent this particular species, for it's little difficult say because the plant at the pic isn't flowering. Anyway, the structure of the bloomings seems to me lot resembling those related plants, that grow by various separate species on mainlands. (But, apparently, only this is known from appear solely near the Fennoscandian seasides).

...Of the insect part I must at first say this one, of course, not representing any favorite of mine. Instead of this , the most obvious selection for it's place could probably been some of the Dragonflies. However, we've already devoted some words to dragonflies at our former writings. So I'll just leave them for the mention, yet citing briefly the sentences from that Preston-Mafham book, such lively describing the Dragonfly as (smtgh like) wonders of the nature, that from millions years evolutonary adaptation to flight '...have mastered the art of the aerial slaughter to it's perfectness.' ...As dragonflies are also said catching any variety from flying insects, this offers me some hope from them keeping our selected exemplary insect species on their minim. (For these) little winged creatures appear rather nasty, did bite me badly. I guess it doesn't actually sting like the comparable smaller creatures more typical encounter from forest environments on the early summers, but I'm assuming it slightly similarly seeking blood for aid on it's increases (Also, only the females bite.) Bite feels quite resembling to that of Horse-flies (and indeed is as much painful).

This little creature discussed.

It's probably counted to  mosquitos (Culicidae) at the actual main family/group. - Like elsewhere, there's plentitudes (tens, or hundreds from) different species  of  the  mosquito on Fennoscandia, although none can carry the malaria, or other diseases, more commonly spread by them  at equatorial tropics. Other alternative insect (sub-class/a group) I could guess it for to belong for is  Nematocera (ie Thread-horned flies ...likely their not classed under the same larger group as the mosquitos). The latter also contain several species, and (apparently) both referred groups were evolved at their earliest from some ancestral genera that also later has produced the flies (Diptera).  On some obscure period during the evolutionary past, now hidden behind mist of time. ...Anyhow, the humans often serve as only the secondary sources (of blood)  for these little insect, as their mostly dependent /adapted to feed of other mammalian species. So not surprisingly, where there's some domesticated animals kept closer shoreline, there's sometimes these too. Typically, on their favored environment at coasts there often can grow some rushes.

More broadly thinking, this is only one example from the wide various ecological surveillance tactics the insects have developed. From a bit more humoristic view-point/perspectives, it's noticed that insects often serve as food sources for various larger animals and have little ways but their impressive capasity from increase to fight against. So these little blood-suckers could actually, if wish, little jokingly be described as some 'counter-strike' from this persecuted animal class. (Doesn't mean I'd like them any better than most people...) No matter if one likes this or not, ecologically them also – like the most numerous insect species – have found effective way for to flourish. As long as there exists suitable hosts - From the naturally wild stocks, or from similarly large herds of human domesticated species - them will find suitable hosts for increase on. At some places these insect 'parasites' (resembling some at least), when overpopulating, are also said occasionally  capable to driving the cattle nuts by their little bites.

Consequently, of these slight observations and with my somewhat  increased (certainly very limited) understanding about the ecology of this (particularly) annoying creature, I don't have too much faith  to those electronic or chemial solutions invented to aids for their annihilation - However, colors are often advised practical  (fx certain bright curtains, that on doors help keep most insect outside).    But even less I'm convinced by those sometimes proposed/discussed genetic solutions that would offer a way of to complete erasing these from Earth. Whether we would like it or not, 'The life will find a way', like goes the words on that phrase... (W-G.)

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