...to think cutting beef out of our diet is a good idea?

[KlingybunFistelvase]

And that even the most committed of meat eaters would be happy enough to cut out beef if they could eat moderate amounts of other meat?

www.collective-evolution.com/2016/08/06/leonardo-dicaprio-calls-for-a-ban-on-beef/

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/21/giving-up-beef-reduce-carbon-footprint-more-than-cars?client=safari

Personally, I'd love it if rationing for meat and dairy were introduced, but that's because it wouldn't interfere much with the way I already eat, so I guess I'm biased.

What is clear from this thread is that people wouldn't give up meat completely left to their own devices and that's totally understandable.

However, I think most people accept that we can't carry on as we are.

On that basis would people really put their money where their mouths are and radically change their habits? I don't actually think most people would, despite being faced with the evidence that our lifestyle / habits are screwing with the planet. I just wonder if short term pain for us now might prevent our children and grandchildren being faced with a shit storm to sort out. I'd be willingly to try it.

Because I don't particularly want to add to his viewer numbers

If I could find decent non dairy, non meat alternatives I would probably be prepared to consider giving up the real stuff but I can't live on fruit and veg alone and I don't eat rice/pulses/nuts etc

Livia, the documentary isn't telling people to stop eating meat. It looks at all kinds of issues in relation to climate change. When dealing with meat consumption, it compares the environmental impact of different types of meat e.g. chicken as compared to beef. And it also compares the USA with other countries around the world, showing that they are a major sinner in relation to climate change. The statistics are shocking. The documentary also includes suggestions about tweaks to your life that might make a difference.

I'm a meat eater, by the way, but this documentary made me sit up and think. Perhaps I should also add that I'm going through treatment for breast cancer at the moment and I'm doing a lot of research about diet. Just about everything I've read suggests that limiting red meat is a good thing. The Mediterranean diet seems to be the way to go if you are interested in good health, and that contains very little beef, as far as I'm aware.

Eating an animal's muscles is gross.

I'm also a meat eater (in case that wasn't obvious) but the doc was good viewing. As is Food. Inc iirc

He's an actor who eats meat, flies all over the world and presumably owns cars etc... nope, not convinced that he should be preaching to others

At the risk of sounding like a complete DiCaprio junkie, he is the UN Ambassador for Peace, he has been a campaigner for environmental issues since the late 1990s, he has his own environmental pressure group and he donates generously to wildlife causes. I knew nothing of all this until after I had watched the documentary and I'm now very impressed by him.

The documentary is a National Geographic production, so I hope we can all agree that they are a reputable organisation.

You had better stick to offal then Jack

It just seems a little 'do as I say, not as I do'

It's fine if people want to drink the Koolaid but the fact that people didn't know he was campaigning for climate change since the 1990s implies that he wasn't particularly good at it. But now he has an opportunity to raise his profile by making a film - job's a good un

Eating an animal's muscles is gross delicious.

Livia, I give up .

I watched the cowspiricy film on Netflix and decided everyone should be vege. Until I had to find what to have for dinner and made a lasagne. I'm too bloody weak.

I haven't watched cowspiracy yet as it looked too americocentric. Is it watchable from a uk perspective? (Question mainly to the meat eaters who have seen it)

It's very interesting if not terrifying but yes, it's something that resonates worldwide and I recommend it.

No its a fucking stupid idea, and I couldn't care less about what de C thinks, says or does. Someone please save us from self-absorbed, know-it-all celebrities.

Mushrooms are vile and taste of mold - to suggest them as a viable alternative to beef is risible.

I would find it hard to cut out beef because it's pretty much the only meat I eat apart from pork (I don't like chicken/turkey much and will only have it if there isn't beef available). Most of my meals containt dairy. And I don't eat rice or beans, so my diet would be pretty limited without beef and dairy.

Why not try only eating British meat?

Highest welfare in the world and it didn't fly here on a plane. Win win.

The environmental impacts of diet are very much dictated by the local conditions of production.

I once went travelling on the Trans Siberian in a small group. So we travelled across Europe and Asia by train, and flew back from China. One of my companions decided that he would neutralise the carbon footprint of his flight home by going vegetarian. So there he was in the middle of the Gobi Desert, refusing the sustainable, locally herded meats like goat, chomping away on imported vegetables. Prat.

There are large areas of the UK better suited to grazing land than arable. Going vegan for environmental reasons and increasing reliance on imported products such as soya is less noble in impacts than it sounds, especially when international deforestation occurs to cope with increased demands.

I am a vegan who doesn't eat mushrooms.

I am a vegan who doesn't eat mushrooms.

I'm afraid I would probably just end up filling you with beans. Fasolada, houmous, and chilli with wraps okay for you? 😂

Actually we eat a more varied diet than most people. It helps that I'm a great cook.

If you must eat meat, at least make sure it was reared at the highest possible welfare standards and had to travel as little distance as possible. This will help.

Vegan here btw.