Misleading Myth #10 … “There are so many other more important social issues” (07/08/14)
Actually … there aren’t.
Please consider the following facts:
*Are you concerned with world hunger? Well, while 20 million people will die of malnutrition this year worldwide, 5 TIMES that number (that’s 100 million people) could be adequately fed if Americans alone reduced their meat & dairy consumption by only 10%. It takes 16 pounds of soy beans and grain to produce one pound of animal flesh … Draw your own conclusions.
*Are you concerned about global warming and/or an imminent climatological catastrophe? Well, meat & dairy livestock are the number one producer of greenhouse gases — 40% more than all cars, trucks & planes COMBINED.
*Are you concerned about the environment in general? Well, animal-based food production is the primary cause of rainforest destruction (220 square feet razed for every single pound of rainforest beef!), topsoil erosion, desertification and species extinction.
*Are you concerned about our supplies of fresh drinking water? (hint: You should be!) Well, it takes over ten times the water to produce one pound of meat that it takes to produce one pound of vegetables or tofu. To put that into a more practical perspective, a vegan could leave their shower running constantly ALL YEAR and still not waste as much water as a non-vegan wastes with their food choices.
*Are you concerned about global violence? Well, studies have conclusively shown higher & more intense exhibitions of aggressive behavior in meat eaters than in those eating a plant-based, cruelty-based diet.
*Are you concerned about health & wholeness? Well, meat & dairy consumption has been directly linked to dramatically higher instances of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis — not to mention all those “super bugs” that are being created & incubated in the unspeakable squalor of the world’s factory farms.
*And finally, are you concerned about basic decency and fundamental expressions of justice? Well, it is impossible to fully embrace, champion or enliven those ideals while hypocritically supporting an industry that systematically denounces the same.
In conclusion, it IS true that there are many social causes that are worthy of our attention & energy … It is also true that ALL of these causes can be even more powerfully (& more consistently) supported while living as a vegan.
Amen … Let it be so.
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