Become a Vegetarian Environmentalist
Activism for Plant-Based Diet is Key to Environmental Cause
Dec 3, 2008
Those who are concerned about the environment eventually realize that the most important step they can take as an environmentalist is to become a vegetarian. However, making the change to a meatless or completely vegan lifestyle can be challenging when friends and family taut the new vegetarian and when restaurants don't provide satisfying vegetarian options. The example of celebrity vegetarians and tips for the nouveau vegetarian help environmental activists take an important stand.
Research Supports Importance of Vegetarianism to the Environment
The Worldwatch Institute's State of the World 2008 report includes a chapter that outlines the stresses on the environment and society that are causes by the growing demand for meat and seafood. Current methods of supplying meat and poultry "create mountains of toxic manure and consume huge amounts of grain and water." Seafood harvesting ensnares and kills many other animals (called by-catch) and destroys coral reefs and other underwater habitat that is needed to sustain seafood production.
"Rethinking how fish and meat are produced will mean that consumers in industrial countries will have to eat fewer of these products—surf-and-turf dinners for executives may become a thing of the past, as will cheap fast-food meals of fried fish and hamburgers that have become a dinnertime staple for busy families. Eating less of these foods now, however, is a sort of investment in the future, since it will mean saving family farms, improving rangeland, reducing water pollution, and—in the case of wild fish—preserving a catch that is increasingly scarce."
Supported by copious endnotes, the venerable Institute's annual year-end report advises us to rethink our relationship to meat and seafood in order to sustain this source of nutrition for the world's population.
Celebrity Vegetarian Environmentalists
From Dennis Weaver to Daryl Hannah, celebrities have become vegetarians in order to do right by the environment.
Hannah became a vegetarian as a child out of her compassion for animals, but realized the environmental impact of her actions later. "Often I find that when I do something from pure compassionate place, aspects I never considered seem to benefit as well - illustrating how we are truly interconnected to all life. The meat industry not only suffers from inhumane practices but is also complicit as the 3rd largest contributor to our global warming crisis," she said in an October 2008 interview.
The Happy Cow, a website that promotes vegetarian and vegan resources and restaurants, happily lists more than 500 celebrity vegetarians and vegans as well as a list of many more who are rumored to be vegetarians.
Get Active: Become a Vegetarian Environmentalist!
Start by reducing the amount of meat and seafood in your diet. Center meals around seasonal vegetables and accent with a side dish of meat. Sprinkle a small amount of meat, cheese, or seafood in a stir-fry or on top of a salad. Beans, legumes, and whole grains provide protein and can become more central to family meals.Shop at Farmers Markets for local fruits and veggies.
Speak up in restaurants and ask for creative and nutritious vegetarian menu options. Send restaurateurs to the Happy Cow website to see how it is being done around the world.
Read Michael Pollan's books, In Defense of Food and the Ominvore's Dilemma to learn more about why eating low on the food chain is one of the most important stands you can take for the future of our environment.
 |
