“Food is our common ground, a universal experience” quotes James Beard, a celebrated American columnist and chef. Society has always revolved around its cuisine and the way that its members eat. Cultural and social hearths are often family dinner tables. But, What would our world look like if everyone was vegan? Eating a vegan diet is not only beneficial to one 's health, but it is an ethical and moral obligation to consider the way that one’s eating habits can affect the world. Skeptics claim that a vegan diet is one that is lacking in vital nutrients and may actually prove to be detrimental to one’s health. These people believe that vegans develop deficiencies of iron, zinc, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamins D and A, and in order
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By many in the Christian faith, it is believed that God created animals for man to eat. However, nowhere in the Bible does it say this. In Genesis 9:3, God says “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything”. Also, God tells man to “rule” over animals and gives mankind “dominion” over them, not permission to eat them (Gen 1:29-30). Instead, as instruction on what should be eaten, God says “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Gen 1:29-30).By some in the Christian faith, veganism can be seen as a form of temperance and even during Lent, many give up meat and animal products. There are also many beliefs in religions other than Christianity that do not permit consuming certain meats or animal products altogether, such as Islam, Judaism, and …show more content…
Not only does the widespread production of meat emit more greenhouse gases than transportation, but it is also a major cause of both land and water degradation. The massive emissions of carbon dioxide and methane is eating away at the earth 's already damaged ozone layer and is believed by scientists to be one of the primary causes of global climate change. Livestock now occupies about 30% of the world 's land, a number which is constantly increasing as more and more forests are cleared to occupy in order to create new pastures and land to grow the grain necessary to feed the animals. For example, more than 70% of forests in the Amazon have been destroyed in order to become farmland. These large farms often lead to the erosion of the soil, the pollution of nearby water sources, and in extreme cases, total desertification of the
By many in the Christian faith, it is believed that God created animals for man to eat. However, nowhere in the Bible does it say this. In Genesis 9:3, God says “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything”. Also, God tells man to “rule” over animals and gives mankind “dominion” over them, not permission to eat them (Gen 1:29-30). Instead, as instruction on what should be eaten, God says “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Gen 1:29-30).By some in the Christian faith, veganism can be seen as a form of temperance and even during Lent, many give up meat and animal products. There are also many beliefs in religions other than Christianity that do not permit consuming certain meats or animal products altogether, such as Islam, Judaism, and …show more content…
Not only does the widespread production of meat emit more greenhouse gases than transportation, but it is also a major cause of both land and water degradation. The massive emissions of carbon dioxide and methane is eating away at the earth 's already damaged ozone layer and is believed by scientists to be one of the primary causes of global climate change. Livestock now occupies about 30% of the world 's land, a number which is constantly increasing as more and more forests are cleared to occupy in order to create new pastures and land to grow the grain necessary to feed the animals. For example, more than 70% of forests in the Amazon have been destroyed in order to become farmland. These large farms often lead to the erosion of the soil, the pollution of nearby water sources, and in extreme cases, total desertification of the