Saturday, November 16, 2013

why vegan?

It's been roughly a year since I began this journey. It began as an exploration of a healthier way of eating. A suggestion to check out Forks Over Knives led to trying to eat more of a plant-based, whole food diet. Searching for recipes and tips opened my eyes to the inefficiencies in our food chain. Estimates are that every pound of beef we consume requires sixteen pounds of grain for feed, and 2500 gallons of water. It became clear that I could have a smaller adverse effect on the planet by eating a vegan diet. If a person is willing to go that far, it's a short step to learn more about the way we treat the animals we raise for food and myriad other products.

For me, that sealed the deal. I'm a vegan, and expect to be for the rest of my life. Paul McCartney once said that "if slaughterhouses has glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian". Peta is promoting a video featuring Paul called "Glass Walls". Fair warning; it's hard to watch. But I think it's important. If we're not willing to look through the "glass walls" to see where our food comes from, we're living in denial.

If you can't, or don't want to watch this, I understand. But if we can do anything to reduce demand, or encourage more humane practices, we should. The way we treat all creatures, great and small, reflects on us as a society. I want my voice, and my actions, to lead towards less suffering in the world.