To ask everyone to eat less meat and meat products?

[Breadandwine]

There are 3 reasons I eat a plant-exclusive diet:

1. I feel I'm healthier (I became veggie to avoid BSE - and my osteoarthritis has been stopped in its tracks since I went vegan)
2. Animal welfare issues (I went vegan after looking at the inevitable cruelty involved in the meat and dairy industries)
3. Global warming/climate change (the single most important thing anyone can do to fight GW is to go vegan - the world's livestock industry contributes more to GW than does transport!)

Before global warming reared its ugly head, I was quite reticent about my veganism, only talking about it when I was asked. But now that our children's and our grandchildren's future is threatened, I'm a lot more vocal.

And now there's me and the Pope on the same side - who'dda thunk it?

i think you have to been quite food orientated to be a vegan. My ds(21) was underweight and suffering from a deficiency and he was advised to eat more red meat which he has done and doesn't suffer from the side effects he had.

it's quite a fine line and though i do appreciate the vegan lifestyle, i find it something that one has to do for ones self, rather than preach to other iykwim.

YANBU.

We munch on far too much meat.

I'd never choose to be a vegan however. Not ever!

YANBU to ask. I don't understand why people can't disagree without being rude. I went veggie this year. I love it.

You do what you like, but you can't impose it on everyone else.

I do generally eat much less meat than I used to, through my own choice though, not dictated by anyone else.

You can ask but it's up to individuals what they do.

Chicken and Fish form about 1/3rd of my diet. No way am I giving them up, I'd starve.

Your tone's all wrong, OP. Your post might have some merit but the tone is a is a big turn-off.

SpringBabyDays The responses on this thread so far are why this planet is sleepwalking into a point of no return. The greedy, consumerist and ignorant attitude seen here is depressing.

If everyone made a small change and just cut down on meat a little bit it would make a big difference. But people are too selfish. I really despair!

Cutting down on meat and becoming Vegan are quite, quite different. People who like to eat meat are not necessarily greedy, consumerist and ignorant.

Do you have kids OP?

But to be fair Evans, the OP asked for people to eat less meat, not become vegan.

YANBU, but only for the climate change reason. Meat and dairy contribute more emissions than all vehicles combined and that's only going to worsen as developing countries like China become more flush and begin to demand more.

where the fuck did you get that star expat

There are vast areas of this planet that do not have arable land. Land that can support sheep/cows etc is not necessarily able to grow grain. It's not that simple an issue to simply claim that the grain used to feed farm animals would be enough to feed the world.
(I live with vegetarians and a vegan so understand the op's position. I just think the solution is not that easy).

You can ask.....

YANBU about asking people to eat less meat and meat products.
YABU if you think everyone should go vegan. You can be a healthy, ethical and environmentally friendly on any diet.

Veganism/vegerianism aside, I agree that most of us could cut back on the amount of meat we eat. Maybe eat less but better quality meat? One less bacon sarnie or sausage roll per week? Overall just add more veg to our diets. Any little swap, no matter how tiny it seems is good. I started to make these changes myself in my own diet and surprisingly the biggest difference I have noticed is my improved mental wellbeing. I just feel less anxious about everything.

eating less meat for the good of the planet, and health. yanbu. giving up meat altogether though is a big ask for a lot of people as a lot of people really like it, are not that impressed with the alternatives,( it took two and a half years before I could say I prefer lentil bolognaise to beef) can't be arsed to learn a new set of recipes when the ones they have are working fine.

And now there's me and the Pope on the same side

I kind of take the view that if I'm living my life in a way that's completely opposed to the views of the Catholic church, I won't be going far wrong.

Now the pope has given his opinion, I'm going to cut down on vegetables.

Read your post OP yabu

That is all

Thank you honey.

I'm not vegan, I'm not even veggie. But I recognise the impact humans have on this planet and that only by changing our behaviour can we do anything to rectify it. I eat meat about twice a week. But if everyone cut out meat just once a week it would make such a difference.

I urge anyone who cares to Google Meat Free Monday. It's really easy to make a small difference.

well i like my meat two veg and potatoes, so did my forefathers and they lived till mid 80's so I really dont know what you mean. these are fad things as usual ! carnivors eat meat and unless anyone tells me im not one I will stick to eating it.

"I agree but threads like this are counter productive, all it does is make people defensive and aggressive."

The only aggressive or nasty response on here was springbabydays implying that those of us who had responded are 'greedy, consumerist and ignorant'. All the responses from those of us who want to carry on eating meat and dairy have been polite and pretty peaceful.

Great stuff, Hedgehog!

Methe, I went veggie in 2001 and vegan a couple of years after that. I was a big meat and cheese eater in my day.

But I spent most of my adult life in denial (about the cruelty involved in animal rearing). Now GW is threatening all our futures, I feel free to speak out.

but I am trying!

Lozy, that's all anyone can ask - good for you.

BTW, it's noticeable that those first few responders had no time to read any of the links I posted. Says a lot!

I have an egg and nut allergy. I'm not voluntarily eliminating more protein from my diet.

So for that reason yabu. Selfish of me, I know.

crusts I think we are more omnivores