What do the meat-eaters think when they read this?

Question

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, December 27, 2006: (Note: The following item is from the editorial page of the New York Times -- not the place you'd normally expect an anti-meat statement...)

When you think about the growth of human population over the last century or so, it is all too easy to imagine it merely as an increase in the number of humans. But as we multiply, so do all the things associated with us, including our livestock. At present, there are about 1.5 billion cattle and domestic buffalo and about 1.7 billion sheep and goats. With pigs and poultry, they form a critical part of our enormous biological footprint upon this planet. Just how enormous was not really apparent until the publication of a new report, called "Livestock's Long Shadow," by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Consider these numbers. Global livestock grazing and feed production use "30 percent of the land surface of the planet." Livestock -- which consume more food than they yield -- also compete directly with humans for water. And the drive to expand grazing land destroys more biologically sensitive terrain, rain forests especially, than anything else. But what is even more striking, and alarming, is that livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect, more than transportation's contribution. The culprits are methane -- the natural result of bovine digestion -- and the nitrogen emitted by manure. Deforestation of grazing land adds to the effect.

Economic of feeding the masses will govern wha we eat. Vegetarian food is produced with less cost, less energy, less landmass, less waste, less transport and storage issues.

Shame about there being so many meat-eaters in the world. This is the reason for the problem.
Anyone care to put this statement in a time capsule?

Seems the majority will end up eating their words. It's just a matter of time.

Meat tastes nice? Perhaps I've missed something here.

Thanks to 'Betty' for that. Wish all the other people who have answered so far could think like her. It will take a long time for all of us to think like that, I'm sure.

Why should we turn ourbodies into walking talking graveyards for dead animals?

To answer 'taters821' it is at
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/opinion/27wed4.html?ex=1324875600&en=db5014cf8f6f9006&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Also search the net for 'Livestock's Long Shadow'

Many thanks to 'Andielep'. Just as smoking is being phased out by law, meat-eating will eventually go the same way.

No meat-eater has expressed a supporting view as 'Michael H' has for vegetarianism. Thanks for that.

Answer 1

I'm a vegetarian. I think that some things that harm our environment are out of our hands, but we still can do something for our planet. Humans have harmed the Earth more in the past 100 years than in all the history of our beloved planet. One of the things that is in our hands is to go meat free. Each vegetarian saves over 100 animals a year, which means we save millions of gallons of water a year, it takes about 2500 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef steak, which is about 15 times the amount of water needed to produce the same amount of protein from plant sources.

What would a meat eater think? If he cares for our planet more than what he cares for his apetite, he'd give it a thought, and consider eating less meat. If he's just an egoist meat eater, then he would just pretend he never read the article, and go on with a lifestyle that doesn't only affect his health, it also affects the World.

Answer 2

I am not vegetarian or vegan. I do like meat. However I am trying to be more concious of how much I eat. I eat alot of vegetable and soy to make up the difference. We as a whole race (the human race) are distroying the planet. Even if we were to all become vegetarian Global warming would still exist. Its the techology that has done us in.

Answer 3

Hi!! I'm a new VEGAN but I think these people should have been nicer to you. They don't understand why we have a lot of livestock in the first place because Omnivores demand a plentiful supply of meat.Betty's answerer was good, why couldn't more people be like her!

If only they realised that you are only trying to get them thinking or maybe help some of them to cut down on their meat consumption , not necessarily give it up because even that would be a big help to the Environment.

I am sad that they have just burried their heads in the sand in most cases and said things like 'pass the steak'! Some one said (in answer to another question) that the rise in 'ASBO's' was linked to vegetarianism in my county!!! That is laughable as most of these 'ASBO' winning 'chavs' can't even spell 'vegetarianism' besides, Greggs bakery (their mainstay) doesn't do Veggie food!!!

Answer 4

Wow! I am a meat eater, but I read alot so I found this question. I had no idea that livestock was such a strain on the Earth! I didn't know about the global warming being so bad and I've never thought about all the water and vegetation they consume! Thank you for the article!

Answer 5

I think the times prints news whatever the issue is. I think they have to remain neutral on everything such as politics. I have heard about the natural gas thing before lol. But I find the horror stories about what actually goes in our food, all the rubbish that is pumped into an animal to make them big the most shocking. The way they die and how they are treated. You can never trust meat these days, all the crap that's put in it and things such as BSE.
Hey that's true about being more gas if we all turned veggie lol

Answer 6

Though I'm a vegetarian I answer your question. Before I became a vegetarian I had a lot of predjudices about vegetarism. But then more of my friends became vegetarians and I informed myself about vegetarism. This aspect that it's not good for the world around us(and ourselves) changed my opinion and I wanted to become a vegetarian. But many meat-eaters say that's nonsense and they like the taste of meat, so this aspect doesn't convince them. A few months ago I told my mother (she's a meat-eater) that eating meat isn't good for the world around us, and she's still a meat eater. But don't give up, some become vegetarians, when you tell them that.

(At last I want to excuse myself for my bad English ;-))

PS: I wish you a happy New Year.

Answer 7

I say the following:
The New York Times is the newspaper I would most expect to read an anti-meat statement. They cater to the ultra-liberal crowd more than any other mainstream newspaper. It doesn't surprise me at all.
Currently 11% of the world's surface is used for crop production, not 30%.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y3557e/y3557e08.htm
I say that eating meat is as natural as eating fruit. Zillions of other animals are carnivores (many almost exclusively carnivores, unlike people). I grant you that many people eat way too much meat.
The places where water is in short supply don't farm many animals (i.e. Africa).
We will manage just fine. We always have. We always will. If eating meat somehow becomes unsustainable we will simply be forced to cut it back. Problem solved, if there is a problem.

Answer 8

meat has always been a natural part of our diets. not eating meat would cause problems too. and there's no doubt about it WE are the main cause of global warming. the livestock eat to live and pinching logs is a natural part of living. we need to take responsibility and not blame gobal warming on other things. WE MUST ACT NOW!!!

Answer 9

Hi, i agree with your sentiment, but posting this in Veggie and vegan section is not likely to result in balanced meat-eaters responding...why would a sensible meat-eater who has a logical arguement hang around the V&V section ?

We have an arable farm. We have a pet cow and 2 pet sheep that need 7 acres to sustain them.

7 acres would feed a small village in veggies and fruit for a year. You can't say the same about the meat from 1 cow and 2 sheep.

So, my expereince backs up your article. Thanks for pointing it out.

Answer 10

this is probably what they think:

oh well. i'm gonna pass on at some point anyway. plus, we eat them, ummm.....i can just taste that nice jucy beef right off the grill!!!

i on the other hand am only 14 and an activist in the making. (thank-you-very-much). i've alwasy been concerned with the envorment and animals. i do all i can to help save earth and her inhabatints. i would like to have this artical...where can i get one off the web (i live in nc so i doubt i can get a new york paper here...lol)?