Thinking globally, acting locally
The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter
written by Peter Singer and Jim Mason
Half way through this alarming book about the effects of our food choices. What I like most about this book so far is that the authors spend as much effort detailing the environmental effects of the food products we consume, in addition to the animal rights aspect.
Until recently, when people have discussed the ethics of food choices with me, they have usually based their case heavily on the humane treatment of animals, and have been strong proponents of a vegan lifestyle, and often have been condescending to anyone that did not share their same passion and/or understanding of the issue. The issue of whether or not humans are meant to eat the flesh of other living creatures is not such an easy issue to sort out, and the worst way to alienate someone who might potentially make better choices for their life, is to make them feel like a monster for not seeing things they way they do.
So, for anyone who may be on the fence about going vegetarian or vegan, and are not totally pushed over the edge by strong convictions about not eating animals, Peter Singer and Dave Mason make a strong case for reconsidering your food choices.
Check it out on Amazon... I have a copy that can be lent out soon...
Half way through this alarming book about the effects of our food choices. What I like most about this book so far is that the authors spend as much effort detailing the environmental effects of the food products we consume, in addition to the animal rights aspect.
Until recently, when people have discussed the ethics of food choices with me, they have usually based their case heavily on the humane treatment of animals, and have been strong proponents of a vegan lifestyle, and often have been condescending to anyone that did not share their same passion and/or understanding of the issue. The issue of whether or not humans are meant to eat the flesh of other living creatures is not such an easy issue to sort out, and the worst way to alienate someone who might potentially make better choices for their life, is to make them feel like a monster for not seeing things they way they do.
So, for anyone who may be on the fence about going vegetarian or vegan, and are not totally pushed over the edge by strong convictions about not eating animals, Peter Singer and Dave Mason make a strong case for reconsidering your food choices.
Check it out on Amazon... I have a copy that can be lent out soon...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gil Ben-Meir on
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You are right, this is a complicated issue. For millions of years humans were hunters gatherers and 11,000 years ago found farming therefore were able to survuve on a vegetarian diet. I guess that they still missed the taste of anumal flesh when they domesticated livestock and comined meat and dairy with the produce of their land. This is all good when you have enough land to feed your livestock but with the pollulation explosion these days the only people who can afford meat are rich countries who pay the cost of lost agriculture land to pasture. Being vegeterian is a commitment to the enviroment as much as it is a commitment to eat healthy balanced diet that will include protein from the land such as beans and certain grains and nuts. I think that for someone who really enjoy meat, having it once in a while is OK and having fish and puoltry on your diet can help get that extra protein you need.
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