I'll warn you, watching this video is not for the faint of heart. Actually, it's probably not for anyone with a heart, because of the terrible cruelty involved. But though I can't see beyond the animal rights issues that are obviously brought to light by the undercover video recently released by the Humane Society, I know that not everyone shares that particular viewpoint.

But there's another issue here that may hit closer to home...your dinner plate. These cows were being beaten, pushed with forklift blades, and sprayed with high-power hoses so that they would get up and walk into the slaughterhouse. The problem? They were "downer" cows, sick or injured, and the use of them as food is restricted by law. Whether or not these particular cows made it to the food supply is in question, but Humane Society leaders say what happened in this video is not an isolated event.

Food safety is a major issue in America today, and as this video highlights, our best interests are not always top priority. I'll continue to vote against these types of practices with my food dollar by avoiding factory farmed animals and buying meat only from local sources that I know and trust. I'm not opposed to adding an occasional piece of meat to my meal, but I just can't swallow the suffering.

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Newer studies show when Americans get out of the car and walk a little instead, they're simultaneously fighting obesity and global warming.

If all Americans between the ages of 10 and 74 walked or biked a half hour daily versus hitting the gas pedal, one scientist estimated we'd:

• cut 64 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
• save 6.5 billion gallons of gas.
• shed more than 3 billion pounds.

Shifting away from heavy meat consumption toward a flexitarian diet would also positively impact the planet. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported in 2006 that 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions derive from the meat industry. Fruits, veggies and grains take significantly less energy to produce.

Perhaps the dual benefits of walking will motivate even more of us to step out of the car and onto the sidewalk.

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