Horse-Slaughter Plants and Nature Loving

OPB had a heated debate the other morning about the proposed horse-slaughter plant in Hermiston.  Though those for and against the plant disagree on some facts (whether or not the slaughter methods are humane and whether or not the meat is safe for human consumption, for example), much of the disagreement boiled down to the classic "head versus heart" division that characterizes so much of modern environmentalism.  Those in favor of the plant point out that thousands of unwanted horses are causing a number of economic and environmental problems and that the rational solution is to let a business make a profit from killing the excess.  Those who oppose the slaughterhouse argue that horses are an integral part of American history and have become loyal pets, so submitting them to mechanized slaughter and eating them are brutal and unAmerican.  The debate is somewhat reminiscent of the Cape Cod debate over wind power that I used to open my book on Environmentalism.  Some argued that wind farms constituted the industrialization of a beautiful area that should be a refuge from industrialization.  Supporters argued that wind farms are a relatively clean form of energy and we simply can't afford to declare every scenic area off limits to energy production--unless we are willing to decrease our consumption of energy dramatically by, say, not having vacation homes on Cape Cod.  Are enough people devoted enough to horses to ensure that each will be humanely cared for?  If not, what should be done wit the rest?  How we answer such questions depends a great deal upon whether or not we approach nature as a place to find love and inspiration or as a relationship to be maintained in a logical, sustainable manner.