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I was 3 years old—to this day it is a vivid memory.
My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one fish was caught, he was writhing, then he was thrown against the side of the boat. You couldn’t disguise what it was. This was what we did to animals to eat them. The animal went from a living, vibrant creature fighting for life to a violent death. I recognized it, as did my brothers and sisters.
— Joaquin Phoenix
Empathy. More than compassion, it hits the gut. A straight shot right to the heart of the terror. I always thought that I’d only eat what I could kill and gut myself. Now I’m thinking that I won’t eat anything that can fight for its life. That could look me in the eye as it dies.