Reasons why we should all be vegetarian

SOCIAL STUDIES - April 7 2008
Last Monday Gwynne Dyer wrote an article about the food crisis that the world is facing.

He chose as the point of conflict the creation of ethanol -- and rightly so; if food becomes fuel for machines, we are in trouble given the insatiable need our culture seems to have for fossil fuels. Dyer quotes information saying that at present 30 per cent of America's grains go to ethanol and while that number will continue to rise there is a looming crisis in terms of feeding people.

On Thursday CBC Radio ran an interview on using potatoes to produce plastics -- or at least, plastic replacement products. Again, same issue.

This is completely true and part of our global environmental problem. Eliminating ethanol, however, is not the easiest way to solve the food crisis. Vegetarianism is.

Now I know that there are a lot of arguments against vegetarianism; and I am not trying to write this column from a "meat is murder" point of view. I understand evolution and the food chain; I even agree with one of my friends who says that if God didn't intend us to eat cows they wouldn't taste so good.

By the same token, I have fielded a lot of questions lately about being a vegetarian; and the reason that I have chosen that path comes down to two things: ethics and environment.

You see, I love ribs, probably more than any single thing on the planet except strawberry-rhubarb pie (thank God shortening works as a substitute for lard in pastry) and the idea of never again smoking those ribs on my BBQ all afternoon is enough to bring a tear to my eye.

At the same time, it just doesn't make sense anymore to raise animals for food; if for no other reason, then because the population of the Earth will soon surpass our ability to raise livestock and we will be forced to live off grains and plants.

There are two books I urge you to read if you want more information on what I am about to say: "Diet for a Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappé; and "Becoming Vegetarian" by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis. Both of these will explain the nutritional science and debunk a lot of the myths surrounding vegetarianism; as well as giving some pretty compelling social reasons to choose to eat differently.

Consider this: Food animals are raised, by and large, in an inhumane manner. 10 billion animals, not including fish, are slaughtered in North America every year to feed us; and despite what we might like to think, they are subject to appalling growth, transport and slaughter practices. Animals do have rights, and they certainly do have feelings. We would never treat our pets the way we treat our food; and yet many breeds of livestock are more aware than some of our pets.

What about health? Do you know that over-consumption is one of the biggest health problems in the developed world? That is a euphemism for the fact that we are fat. Vegetarians by and large are healthier and more likely to be a proper body weight -- mainly because most of our calories come from animal fat. Obesity causes millions of dollars to be spent by our health care systems to take care of heart problems and diabetes. There are 1.2 billion overweight people in the world. Vegetarianism is an easy way to take control of your own health.

And last, but certainly not least, we come to the environment. Here are some fast facts to consider: 50 per cent of all the water used in North America is used to produce livestock. Although it varies from place to place an average amount of water used to produce a pound of beef would be 2,500 gallons; or approximately 100 times more water than it would take to produce a pound of wheat. Not only that, but agriculture accounts for 70 per cent of all the waterway pollution we contend with.

Rain forest beef is also being used in most fast food restaurants, and 55 square feet of rain forest is cut down for every burger -- meaning the loss of hundreds of species of plants and animals -- some of which might even have medicinal properties that could save us from the diseases over-consumption might cause!

How about this: 70 per cent of all available farm land is used to graze livestock. Then on the rest we plant mostly corn and soybeans, both for ethanol and as cattle feed -- and these two crops are linked to greater erosion of topsoil -- another limited resource; once we fail to have enough soil to plant in, we are doomed. And they need so much more grain then we do to grow and make meat. The world's cattle alone consume enough grain to feed 8.7 billion people. It takes over 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef.

It is not as hard as you think. I had some great portobello fajitas at the Lone Star the other night. I try out different vegetable combos on my Pizza Delight pizza. In almost any restaurant you find yourself in there is a way to order that will get you a fabulous meal without meat -- and it will even cost you less some of the time.

Seriously though -- there is an ethical reason to get on board; and whether we like it or not, the day is coming quite soon when we will have to admit we simply cannot grow enough food, or collect enough water, or waste enough fuel transporting the animals we use for food. It would be easier to start making the changes today -- who knows, you might even live longer.