Are you willing to change your eating habits if it significantly helps the environment?

Question

I just read this quote from a guy in the U.K. environmental agency...

"Whilst potential benefit of a vegan diet in terms of climate impact could be very significant, encouraging the public to take a lifestyle decision as substantial as becoming vegan would be a request few are likely to take up...You will be interested to hear that Defra is working on a set of key environmental behavior changes to mitigate climate change. Consumption of animal protein has been highlighted within that work...As a result, the issue may start to figure in climate change communications in the future. It will be a case of introducing this gently as there is a risk of alienating the public majority."

What are your thoughts? If you were presented with proof that not eating meat , dairy, or eggs could drastically help the environment AND that you could live healthily on a vegan diet, would you stop eating animal products?

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/30/132348.shtml

It's amazing how many people so far have rude answers, but fail to answer the real question I posed.

And, for the record, if it were proven to me that we needed to consume animal products to survive then I would not stay a vegetarian (I would likely raise my own animals for food). My own health is of utmost importance to me and I take it quite seriously. After much research, however, I have found a lot of hard evidence that consuming animal products is very, VERY unhealthy. What I have read concering the raising of animals for food and its impact on the environment is just one more good thing about a vegan diet. But this wasn't supposed to be about me. Let me repeat my question:

IF YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH PROOF that not eating meat , dairy, or eggs could drastically help the environment AND that you could live HEALTHILY on a vegan diet, would you stop eating animal products?

My inquiry was to gauge whether people who are passionate about environmental issues could get past their lifelong habits of consuming animal products if it meant a healthier planet (note the category I placed this question in). Many vegetarians also consume animal products in the form of dairy and eggs. This was not meant to be an attack on anyone. I did not think I had posed my question in such a way. I'm a little surprised by some of the responses.

Answer 1

This is sad...so much opposition and ridicule towards you just for presenting some information.

Answer 2

I would consider changing my diet if it would really benefit the environment, but I could not become a full vegan. I don't think the consumption of chicken meat or fish could impact the environment as much as other type of meat does.

Taking into account how things are going in our planet though, it seems only logical than one day maybe not too far away it will not be a choice but a necessity.

Answer 3

You know, ideally I would, however I have enough problems getting the nutrition I need. I find vegetables to be appalling in taste, unfortunately, and there's no way I could subject myself to such a diet. I know it's all psychological, but eating vegetables makes me feel ill and it's just not something I could do. However, if I really did find strong evidence that eating as a vegan were easily nutritious, and I could somehow get around the absolutely dismal taste, I would make an effort to stop eating animal products.

And I do find it unfortunate that people have been so narrow-minded as to ignore the hypothetical circumstance of your question.

Answer 4

Yeah guys that makes complete sense! she asked if you would change your diet for the good of the enviroment, and you responded with some great answers, lets take a look shall we?:

I can kill animals hear me roar!

Stop pointing fingers!

Let people live their lives!

oh and my personal favorite:
Go chew on your carrot.. (which was really inventive i thought, how long did it take you to come up with that? were you sitting there thinking of what vegetable sounded the best and giggling to yourself?.. pathetic.)

seriously! even when i wasn't vegetarian i wasnt that stupid and ignorant! talk about putting down people's lifestyles, look at yourselves! What a joke..

Answer 5

If I were assured that my body would be getting all the nutrients that I need to be healthy, then I think I would be a fool to not at least *try* it.

We only have one body & we only have one planet - why wouldn't we want to do what we could to keep both of them healthy & happy?

Thanks for having a great question!

Answer 6

Wow, I can't believe the amount of ignorant responses on here! *shakes head* You're just asking a question, and yet people take it so personally. I'm just appalled at people. Well, that's nothing new.

Some people just want to eat what tastes good ... it's the epitome of selfishness in some cases.

I don't understand why people are so close minded.

Answer 7

Another change people could make is simply to go to bed at night. If we're not up all night burning lights, it would be a big help.

Answer 8

I already have.

Answer 9

No. Just like I suspect you would not change your diet if you were presented with proof that meat is a necessary part of any diet for proper health.

Answer 10

Absolutely not, I will continue to eat tasty animals at every opportunity.