On 12/28/2011 3:43 PM, dh@. wrote:


>>>>>> Abstaining from the use of leather is largely symbolic,
>>>>>> the alternatives are not necessarily any better.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you. What do you recommend?
>>>>
>>>> Leather works better and lasts longer than anything else, is a natural
>>>> product, so from environmental and utilitarian points of view it is hard to
>>>> beat.
>>>
>>> It's a byproduct so you should reassure him that no additional livestock
>>> animals live and die because of leather, or pet food.
>>
>> That's false, of course. Additional livestock animals do live because
>> of the demand for so-called "by-products". Everyone knows that.
>
> No one knows it

Everyone knows it, Goo. It is so: more animals live due to the demand
for leather, and pet food, and other so-called "by-products", than would
exist if there were no demand for those products. This is not in
rational dispute.