You could've had everything

Yesterday I was walking to the police station to file my missing ID-card. I still don’t have a new bike, so I had to walk there. Face To Face was playing on my headphones. I put on the album Reactionary. That’s still my favorite Face To Face record. It reminds of some relationships that broke up and the shitty years that followed. Not just because of the relationships, but just because I really began to fuck up a few things.

Walking through Utrecht, a little bit of rain coming down, cold wind in my face and listening to Face To Face…. I suddenly became immensely melancholic. I watched the leaves fall from the trees, being blown out on the streets, raindrops covering my glasses like tears and chills went up and down my spine because of the wind and the way too short jacket I was wearing.

But most of all it was the music that reminded me of a time I thought I was living my life to the fullest. Partying and stuff…. But at the same time I made a few mistakes that I now not so much regret, but I would sure as hell do things differently. Songs like “You could’ve had everything” or “Best defense” sound like they sounded like eight years ago. I have changed though. And I like that.

Music always gets me in a certain mood. Wether it is killing someone, loving someone, getting my shit back together, just chill, remembering good times or remembering bad times. It’s like fuel for a day of hard work. But most of all it’s a soundtrack to a certain mood or period of my life.

When I play Guns N’ Roses I’m soloing on my air-guitar in my old room. Type-O-Negative reminds me of drinking beer and smoking cigarettes by candlelight in Andreas’ attic. Backfire! makes me shove empty beer cans out of the car at 100 m/ph. Maximum Penalty makes me listen to the first mix tape I made for what was soon to be my first girlfriend and Face To Face sometimes reminds me of a time my world was fuzzy and insecure.

Today I’ll settle with Guns N’ Roses. Hell yeah!

Save the world: GO VEGETARIAN!

And again, a question from some one at school inspired me to write this piece. This time I was asked why I don't eat meat.

Actually, this always kinda pisses me off. To me the question should be reversed: why do YOU eat meat? Have you ever thought it over? Do you have any other arguments besides: "I like the taste of it." Probably you don't.

I made my mind up. For me the most ethical thing to do, is not to eat animals. Not because they are my friends, but because I think it is immoral.

Before animals become your food, there's a whole process of torture, bloodshed and murder necessary. Animals in small cages, getting beaten, treated in the worst ways you can imagine. That's no secret, is it? It's ignorant to think that's just okay.

Survival of the fittest? Humans have compassion, we can make choices, we can think. That's what differs us from animals. Do something with that! Be compassionate, think and make a difference!!! Every little bit helps.

When you don't need meat, there's a wide range of vegetarian products in western grocery stores that will enable you to participate in a environment friendly eating culture that not only helps to save animals, but also the world we live in.

The meat industry pollutes the environment in a alarming way. The UN reported that raising animals for food is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution and loss of biodiversity. Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale …" (1)

Yes, it is essential to save animals from the slaughter houses. But think of the impact it can have on the world around you and me, when more and more people decide to go vegetarian or vegan.

Start today!

1: H. Steinfeld, P. Gerber, T. Wassenaar, V. Castel, M. Rosales, and C. de Haan, “Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options,” Livestock, Environment and Development (2006).