Cowspiracy

[ceelove]

And in a completely other vein, let me direct your attention to Cowspiracy, a film streaming on Netflix. As a sometimes-frothing-at-the-mouth environmentalist, I started exploring vegetarianism at 16 due to the much lower footprint of a plants-centric diet. But I didn't realize, until seeing this film, that's it's actually something like the much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much lower footprint.

Rarely do I overcome the discomfort enough to get my preach on, but I'm saying it now: back away from that burger. Watch this movie. Tell your friends. If you want to stop the destruction of the aquifers and the rainforests and the I-can't-even-start-to-list-it-all, not eating one serving of meat will make more of a difference than weeks of water conservation around the home, driving an electric car, going solar - everything.

(And if you're all distraught, come visit me, I don't get to share my vegetarian cooking with enough people. Also I serve venison, because deer overpopulation. But wow do I have mad respect for vegans these days.)

Comments

As long as we're preaching...

[moonshadow.livejournal.com]

Even for people who do not wish to or cannot become vegetarians (this includes me btw), eating less meat can make a huge difference for the planet. In most cultures around the world, even if you eat meat it's normal not to eat it as a main dish every day - let alone the multiple times a day many Americans do.
Hey, look, it's a global meat map! (http://chartsbin.com/view/12730) Notice anything?

Even for people who do not wish to have any meatless meals, you can still have a significant impact by serving dishes that have some meat and some other things. Make a beef and veggie stir fry with rice or noodles, or a split pea soup with a ham bone, rather than a pot roast for dinner. And source that meat from a local farm while you're at it, why don't you?

Re: As long as we're preaching...

[ceelove.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I was trying to convey "eat less meat" by "not eating one serving of meat" but didn't do a good job of it.

And JESUS that map. The average American consumes almost 3/4 of a pound of meat every day!? Mind-blowing.

Re: As long as we're preaching...

[moonshadow.livejournal.com]

No problem!

And I always love your vegetarian cooking. And you cook venison? I've never had that I don't think, I bet it makes great pasta sauce. BUT ANYWAY.

To speak to your later point, I do eat meat and I enjoy it. And just thinking about the idea of eating more than 1/2 a pound of meat every day, I literally feel ill.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Where do you get your venison?

I've no clue if I like it or not. :)

[ceelove.livejournal.com]

I get my venison from a friend in a non-FDA-approved manner, so not one I can describe publicly. It probably tastes closest to beef (which I haven't had in, like, 24 years, so I'm kind of talking out my ass), but tougher and less rich - needs a long slow cooking to tenderize.

At this point, I would put my mouth where my politics are and campaign to free up the hunting and sale of deer meat, because damnit, that's a meat source that needs to be decimated.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

::raises hand to find out where you get your venison too::

[ceelove.livejournal.com]

See response above.