It Isn’t Ok To Eat Meat
It isn’t ok to eat meat, and it’s even worse to attempt to make others do the same
Sorry we’re such an inconvenience for you, Mr. Rinella, but with all do respect, don’t tread on my beliefs with your fascist insistence of carnivorism. As a vegetarian, I’ve encountered the “what’s wrong with meat?” inquiries and I’ve always been able to offer a thoughtful response that extends far beyond health concerns or my desire for the ethical treatment of animals.
As a nature enthusiast and forward thinking conservationist (or tree-hugger for those lacking originality), I’ve been a long-time fan of Outside Magazine. So you can imagine my excitement by this March’s “Green” themed issue. Page 46, however, leaves a gaping wound on the skin of the magazine’s otherwise stellar attempt at promoting a more eco-friendly way of life. I was honestly shocked that the “Green” issue would include such a misleading story. When reading Rinella’s assurance that it’s ok to eat meat, consider this excerpt from Time Magazine’s special edition on Global Warming:
“The international meat industry generates roughly 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – even more than transportation…”
More than transportation! While people boast about their hybrid cars, I’ll be content with my tofu. It doesn’t end there. A November 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization entitled Livestock’s Long Shadow, notes that, “Worldwide, animal agriculture is likely the largest source of water pollution.” So, guilt trip me about the Native American agriculture and I’ll simply smile and ask you about your destruction of the earth.
The political solutions offered in Rinella’s piece are impractical at best, as the everyday American will have a difficult time finding such eco-friendly meat at their local grocer. And I’m sure I wasn’t the only reader to be alarmed by the story’s casual, matter-of-fact mention of, “the increased cancer risk of an overly meated diet
