Why are so many of you environmentalists in this section opposed to adopting a vegan diet?

Question

Boycotting consumption of animal products can make a huge difference, but everytime I suggest it in an answer, I seem to get many "thumbs down." Do you not realize what a vegan diet can do for the environment or is just too much trouble for you?

http://www.goveg.com/environment.asp

I'm not saying you HAVE to be vegan to care about the environment, I'm just saying you shouldn't discount it so readily just because you aren't willing to take such a step.

Patrick, I am a vegan and I am not sickly. I am beginning to see that you are incredibly narrow minded.

Answer 1

it's an inconvenient truth. when people are presented with facts showing the devastating global effects animal farming has, they either deny it, say we have to focus on other "green"-friendly tasks, or they get very defensive.

scientists will recommend switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs and driving hybrid vehicles, but they won't mention vegetarianism or veganism. it is not the accepted lifestyle in our nation. veggies are considered radical, even extreme and are often accused of caring only about the animals and not the people. those very scientists who conducted research are most likely meat-eaters themselves! and those who want to mention the benefits of a veggie diet are probably too afraid to mention it because they'll probably get sued by the beef industries! (just think oprah)

if more people would be more open-minded and not be so quick to assume that all vegans are sickly, i think we would be well on our way to restoring our planet's vitality. until that day comes, then this planet will slowly continue its deteriorating cycle.

Answer 2

That site is a little extreme. There aren't really farms that are cutting down trees in the rain forest. Also it is complaining about the waste from the animals, but most of the waste is used as fertilizer for the crops, and helps the topsoil instead of ruining it like your article tries to convince you people. Most farmers have their own wells which are replenished by the rain water, and therefor they are not depleting anyone's water supply. Also plants are supposed to be good for the environment so the plants that are grown to feed the animals serve the purpose of diminishing the CO2 in the environment. So basically your whole argument is based on getting people emotional and causing people not to think which is really what the environmental movement is all about anyway.

Answer 3

I defianlty agree that it is not sustainable to eat/use animal products at the rate we do. I also realize that industrialized farming of anything is terrible for the environment and society. I believe the solution is not simply veganism though, but a localism of food supplies and a better ways of farming including Permaculture. Livestock can be an indispensible part of Permaculture and still be sustainable. However, consumption of animal products per person has to drop tremendously for it to be sustainable. I believe the best bet for people who care about the environment, animal welfare, and their communities should adobt a diet that contains mostly foods from local family farms. Eat animal products that you know the history of (organic, raised in humane conditions) and eat them in moderation.

Answer 4

I think it is a very good point but I must admit I would rather make many other sacrifices before totally giving up meat, dairy products and fish. These are not the trappings of modern civilisation, man evolved eating them. Supposedly, just from a health perspective, here in the UK, we are being bombarded with the message "eat more fruit and vegetables". A good message for the environment too.

Answer 5

A vegan most certainly makes a large difference, on a personal level, towards the environment. The amount of fuel required to grow corn is a lot less than the amount of fuel required to feed cows corn. By fuel I mean resources like water, chemicals, waste and such. By eating vegan one is reducing the steps to the table. This is good. Ignore the thumbs down. Who cares what some pud on YA clicks. Your point about vegans is well taken.

Answer 6

I'm not opposed to a vegan diet - I applaud people who can manage it. The problem is that as omnivores it's difficult for humans to get sufficient nutrients from a vegan diet. Certainly not impossible, it just takes a significant effort. If you're willing to make that effort, then good for you.

Unfortunately I personally don't have a taste for many vegetables, so it's not practical for me to adopt a vegan diet. However, it's a good way to reduce your environmental impact, so I applaud those who are willing to make the effort.

Answer 7

There is no problem with a vegan diet as long as you do it correctly. You still need a form of protein which comes mainly from animals. We need everything in the right form. I have a hard time thinking that enviromentally educated people oppose it. Although you need to realize that there are things in our world that need to go on as they have. Animals are important food sources for many people in the world that do not have access to vegan protein sources. There are many vegans that take it to the extreme. One case that I can think of was a vegan couple that starved their child to death because the milk for the baby came from an animal. they only gave him soy milk and apple juice which did not provide the correct nutrients for him to grow as he should of. The baby was only 6 weeks old at the time of his death. there are extremists that make every kind of group look bad.

Animals do not have the big effect on "global warming" that the enviromentalists think they do. We need them and they need us. That is how the world works. The cyclr of life on our planet requires all the creatures that we have here.

Answer 8

I think it's great if you can fill your needs as a vegan and I would love to do that too. However, these are some reasons that stop me from doing that:

1. I have two kids and they are not particularly fond of vegetables. It can sometimes be tricky to find varying food that suits their needs even with meat and fish as ingredients.

2. When eating completely vegetarian food I never feel satisfied. No matter how much I eat it feels like I can't fill my stomach. (I am probably missing something important but don't know what it is.)

3. I don't know how to cook even one vegetarian meal, how could I "go vegetarian"?

I would like to rely more on vegetarian food though, but unfortunately I don't know how or where to start. If I post a question in the vegetarian section, maybe you can help me and others?

Answer 9

Being vegan is good for the environment. That being said, I don't think it should be a priority right now. Neither do most folks. That is probably why you get so many thumbs down for suggesting it. There are so many more productive ways that people can reduce their carbon footprint. The most important point is that you will alienate the majority of people who would normally support making changes to save the environment, but if you ask them to do something radical like asking everyone to be vegan, would probably not listen to the message so many scientists are trying to get to the masses of people. So it would hurt the cause more than help. I personally like meat far too much to give it up. I got some wonderful pork ribs on my plate right now. . To each his own. Bon appetite!

Answer 10

My reasons for going vegan had nothing to do with the environment. After reading this article I realized the overwhelming harm to our planet all this intensive farming is causing. Can you read this and not feel the same?

It is a Rolling Stone article - and although they aren't known as science experts, they are not a biased vegan group either.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12840743/porks_dirty_secret_the_nations_top_hog_producer_is_also_one_of_americas_worst_polluters/1

*It is incorrect to say a vegan diet is unhealthy. I recently had blood work done and my calcium, protein and every other level they check for is all 'normal' and my cholesterol is low with a good ratio. It is not a science to eat a plant based diet just read up on it and give it a try - it is not as hard as you might think.