As If You Needed Another Reason To Go Vegan
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The New York Times just published an article about curbing climate change by changing to a vegan or close to vegan diet. The article doesn’t say “vegan,” but it may as well; it’s about cutting down on meat consumption. The article goes beyond climate change and offers other reasons for veganism: promoting human health, ending world hunger, ending animal suffering, and promoting corporate responsibility.
Here are some great quotes from the article. First, about similarities between meat and oil:
“Like oil, meat is subsidized by the federal government. Like oil, meat is subject to accelerating demand as nations become wealthier, and this, in turn, sends prices higher. Finally — like oil — meat is something people are encouraged to consume less of, as the toll exacted by industrial production increases, and becomes increasingly visible.”
How meat production and consumption contributes to world hunger:
“Grain, meat and even energy are roped together in a way that could have dire results. More meat means a corresponding increase in demand for feed, especially corn and soy, which some experts say will contribute to higher prices.
“This will be inconvenient for citizens of wealthier nations, but it could have tragic consequences for those of poorer ones, especially if higher prices for feed divert production away from food crops.” [...]
“Though some 800 million people on the planet now suffer from hunger or malnutrition, the majority of corn and soy grown in the world feeds cattle, pigs and chickens. This despite the inherent inefficiencies: about two to five times more grain is required to produce the same amount of calories through livestock as through direct grain consumption[...]“
Meat production and consumption contributes to pollution:
“Perhaps the best hope for change lies in consumers’ becoming aware of the true costs of industrial meat production. “When you look at environmental problems in the U.S.,” says Professor Eshel, “nearly all of them have their source in food production and in particular meat production. And factory farming is ‘optimal’ only as long as degrading waterways is free. If dumping this stuff becomes costly — even if it simply carries a non-zero price tag — the entire structure of food production will change dramatically.””
Reasons people might use to justify going vegan:
“If price spikes don’t change eating habits, perhaps the combination of deforestation, pollution, climate change, starvation, heart disease and animal cruelty will gradually encourage the simple daily act of eating more plants and fewer animals.”
We’ve all read this elsewhere, but it’s great to see these reasons for veganism promoted in mainstream press. And even though the author, Mark Bittman, doesn’t suggest vegetarianism or veganism, he does suggest that Americans cut down on their meat consumption. That alone could make a world of difference in some areas like climate change and world hunger. And who knows? Some people who cut down on their meat consumption might just find they prefer a peaceful diet and switch to veganism full time.
You should really read the whole thing for yourself. Go here to read it: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html
That article was great. I’m so glad they wrote it. Right on!