Red meat has a huge carbon footprint because cattle requires a large amount of land and water.
https://sph.tulane.edu/climate-and-food-environmental-impact-beef-consumption
Demand for steaks and burgers is the primary driver of Deforestation:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/marcel-gomes-interview
If you don’t have a car and rarely eat red meat, you are doing GREAT 🙌🙌 🙌
Sure, you can drink tap water instead of plastic water. You can switch to Tea. You can travel by train. You can use Linux instead of Windows AI’s crap. Those are great ideas. But, don’t drive yourself crazy. If you are only an ordinary citizen, remember that perfect is the enemy of good.
I wish vegans and vegetarians would be a bit more willing to promote this viewpoint. It’s insane how many otherwise normal people will refuse a single meat-free meal for no reason other than identity politics.
Most vegetarians and vegans will be happy about positive changes. They aren’t the loudest ones, however. Similar to feminism, the most radical opinions get much more attention relative to reasonable ones. Especially by those opposed to it.
When I was a meat eater I also saw it as an all-or-nothing choice though, as if I need to fully commit all at once, which was daunting to me. Then I tried to be vegetarian for a week which was surprisingly easy. Then I had a foot in the door, decided to continue, and replaced eggs and milk as well in the following weeks.
Some people might have an easier time replacing single foods, like buying plant-based patties instead of meat ones, or just trying out a few plant-based alternatives, and that’s great too.
I agree. I think that sometimes people avoid vegan/vegetarian options due to negative perception drawn from some prominent activists in the community (not helped when rage-baiters get more views and coverage).
I honestly think I would have become vegan sooner if there were less ‘hardcore’ vegan activists and more empathetic role models.
I fully support people making the public aware of awful conditions in livestock farms and abattoirs (nonviolently), as well as those who encourage alternative options (e.g. nooch is delicious and I wish I knew about it before I became vegan).
The people that dump red dye/fake blood on people, or block streets, or vandalise businesses, aren’t doing the movement any favours IMO. The same with people who disparage others who are making more ethical choices, but not the ones they have made (e.g. consuming less meat instead of no meat in this case).
Attacking a person’s character doesn’t generally work; people just get defensive.