Vegetarianism and Treading Lightly on the Earth

Abstract

The meat-based diet that is the prevailing choice in affluent, industrialized parts of the world is unhealthy and environmentally unsustainable in a number of ways. These claims are explained and documented in some detail in this essay. The negative effects of meat production on species diversity in particular are illustrated with special reference to rain forest destruction for cattle grazing. Also investigated here is the link between animal agriculture and the manipulative or dominating mindset that encourages viewing animals and ecosystems generally just as resources to be exploited at will. In contrast, it is argued, a vegetarian food system would enable us to take greater responsibility for our actions by minimizing our impact on the planet and help us regain a sense of being part of nature rather than existing apart from it.