Moby: Save the Humans (from Climate Change). World Vegetarian Day Tomorrow

[ErikJ]

A few years ago, I was talking with Al Gore (yes, I'm name dropping). I asked him a very simple and pointed question: "Animal agriculture contributes about 18 percent of the gases that cause climate change. Why didn't you mention this in your book or movie?"

His answer was disconcertingly honest. I'm paraphrasing, but he said: "For most people, the role of animal agriculture in climate change is too inconvenient of a truth."

We like our animal products.

Well, you like your animal products. I've been a vegan for 28 years, so to be honest I don't even remember what they taste like.

But collectively, as a species, we seem to like animal products. A lot.

To wit: Each year, the U.S. grows and kills about 10 billion livestock animals. Globally, we're raising and slaughtering about 56 billion animals animal agriculture each year. If you do the math, that means we're killing 1,776 animals for food every second of every day. That doesn't even include fish and other seafood.

But even though I'm a vegan for ethical reasons, I don't want to write about the animal ethics of animal agriculture. I want to write about the ways in which animal agriculture is killing us and ruining our planet.

I know, that sounds like left wing hyperbole. "It's killing our planet!" But sometimes hyperbole isn't hyperbole. Sometimes hyperbole is just the clear-eyed truth. I'll start with climate change.

...............................more
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/moby/moby-meat_b_5889850.html

World Vegetarian Day - Oct. 1st http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/

[upaloopa]

1. 20 year vegetarian here. We must be careful

to not be preaching to others about what they should be eating. We all have to do our homework on the subject and make our own personal choices.
I like to include raw vegetables mostly organic in my diet.
I hate the concept of GMO food but as much as I hate that idea I hate worse the science high priests telling me what to think about the subject. Therefore turn about being fair play I will not preach to anyone about food.

[RebelOne]

3. 17 years a vegetarian here.

The only thing I preach to others is the health benefits of not eating meat, especially red meat. I am 75 years old and have no major health issues, only high blood pressure which is genetic. I cannot go vegan because I love my dairy products.

[tabbycat31]

6. This

I mentioned this down the line, but thank you.

[silverweb]

2. If you're in or near Sacramento...

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]...tomorrow kicks off the [font face="Arial"]4th Annual Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge[font face="Verdana"] for the Month Of October.

I'll be there at least once (probably at least once a week!) and hope to see lots and lots of people enjoying vegan cuisine, perhaps for the first time.

[center][/center]

[Adrahil]

4. I wish my Vegetarian and Vegan friends Bon Appetite! NT

[tabbycat31]

5. Not a vegetarian

But I haven't eaten meat in the last two weeks. I don't buy meat much (only in 2-3 meals I regularly cook) as a way to keep my grocery budget low (I make a lot of rice based dishes), but you will have to pry my dairy out of my cold, dead hands. I need milk in my coffee.

To each his own. I don't eat meat much for financial reasons, but I don't care if I'm sitting next to you while you're chowing down on a burger. It's like veganism is a religion where you get points with the higher power for everyone you convert (I've had many experiences where people have tried to convert me).

[REP]

7. I think omnivores can make small changes that can help

The unfortunate thing is is not everyone has access and/or enough money to make these changes, but choosing non-feedlot meat and having more meatless meals is a good place to start. Not everyone cares about how the animal on their plate lived, but most people care about safe, nutritious and tasty food; pushing these aspects of humanely-raised meat and meatless meals might reach more ears. Maybe. I mean, I'm a hard-core foodatarian and the phrase vegan food puts even me off a bit - I don't immediately realize some of my favorite foods are indeed vegan (falafel, hummus, dolmas, etc) or vegetarian (too many to list) - it makes me think of bland, gluteny things and I know better! Most people take (understandably) food personally, and the thought of removing a favorite item can seem too invasive. Just some random thoughts while I wait for traffic to clear.

[ErikJ]

8. But vegetarians DO live longer which is the ultimate measure.

The longest lived people in the US live in Loma Linda CA which is mostly 7th Day Adventist vegetarians.
I'm a wannabe vegetarian. I may try to go all veggie tomorrow. I've been slowly evolving to a pure veg diet but it is hard. I eat black beans and corn/rice combos almost every night now.
I think it helps the younger you start just like anything else. Older foodies are probably a lost cause.

[REP]

9. I just thnk the message needs repackaging

For example, living better vs living longer. Who wants a long life that isn't enjoyable? To some people, a meatless or less-meat life doesn't sound all that good. There's so much baggage bound up with eating meat - on top of that, some people really do enjoy it. The idea of adding delicious foods that can help make life better is an easier sell than the deprivation message. I mean, look at hummus sales numbers! Used to be if I wanted hummus I had to find a Greek restaurant or make it myself; now I can buy it just about anywhere. I think a lot of people are eating it because it tastes good, not because it's a high-fiber vegan snack. Even little things, such as teaching how to properly cook vegetables so they're delicious instead of mush from a can - can change how people look at food.

I think the "it's bad for you, it's bad for the animals, it's bad for the planet" message has reached nearly everyone who is going to respond to it. I think the "this tastes awesome! it's easy to make! you can feel great about eating it!" message should be tried -without meat-shaming - for meatless options.

Of course, the people who could benefit the most are the ones with the least access: those in poverty, who often live in food deserts and simply cannot afford to buy the ingredients, even if they are available (like fresh vegetables and fruit) or have the luxury of time to learn how to prepare different dishes.