Care2 has a post up called “The Vegan Solution: An Ideal Whose Time Has Come.” We wrote about this before in The Environmental Vocabulary Ought To Include Vegan. Now Care2 echos the same thoughts in a more developed article.

Here’s a bit from the post:

“‘Veganism’ as a philosophy which embodies non-violence and compassion toward the helpless, until now, has been marginalized by our society. Those who embrace this deep and powerful set of values have often been ostracized and the wisdom of their choices ignored or trivialized. But those who recognize the far-reaching effects of this lifestyle choice know how powerful the rewards can be. Ironically, it may well be that the survival of our species, and perhaps even the planet, is dependent upon learning the very lessons of empathy, responsibility and self-control that the vegan ideal embodies, and that our society seems so reluctant to embrace.” [...]

“By making vegan choices, people can lessen their ecological footprint more than with any other lifestyle change, as well as gain control over their health, take part in eliminating world hunger, rediscover their connection with the many different animals who share our world, and make a powerful personal contribution toward the beginning of peace on earth.”

* Global warming – Animal agriculture generates 40% more greenhouse gas than all cars, trucks and planes combined.
* Water – It takes far less water to generate vegan food. A vegan could leave their shower running year-round, and still not waste as much water as a non-vegan.
* World hunger – Most of the world’s grain is fed to food animals. On a plant-based diet, we could feed the entire human population. Millions of people who are starving (including 40,000 children who die every day) as a result of the unfair distribution of food could be fed by the many tons of grain that are currently cycled through animals.
* Pollution – Animal agriculture is the single biggest polluter of the planet.
* Human health crises such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, asthma, osteoporosis, and many more would be greatly reduced. Diseases created by intensive animal agriculture would disappear.
* Environment – Animal-based food is the primary cause of issues such as rainforest destruction, topsoil erosion, desertification of grassland, degradation of underwater ecosystems, and the declining population of endangered species.
* Global violence – A non-violent lifestyle would create a more compassionate, gentle population.

The article asks “Should ‘vegan’ be part of the dialogue about global change?”
Please go here to vote >>

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Sections: Vegan Theory
Topics: climate change, environment, global warming, health, hunger, nonviolence, peace, poll, pollution, veg, Vegan, violence, water