The 30-Minute Vegan - Mark Reinfeld [107]
Much of this environmental information is provided by John Robbins, a pioneer in the promotion of the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. He is the author of the landmark Diet for a New America. His latest work, Healthy at 100, is a must-read in-depth exploration of health and longevity. He also founded EarthSave International to educate, inspire, and empower people around the world.
It’s Cool to Be Kind
Many people adopt a vegetarian diet because of religious or moral beliefs that prohibit the killing of animals. These folks feel we are meant to be stewards and care-takers of the earth and its inhabitants and do not wish to support practices that inflict suffering on any creature that has the capacity to feel pain.
The small family farm where husbandry practices engendered a certain respect for the animals that were used for food is becoming a thing of the past. Today, most of the world’s meat, dairy, and egg production occurs on massive factory farms that are owned by agribusiness conglomerates. This has brought about practices that view the raising and transportation of farm animals solely in terms of their ability to generate profits.
Animals are routinely given chemicals and antibiotics to keep them alive in these conditions. To increase the weight of cows, many are fed sawdust, plastic, tallow, grease, and cement dust seasoned with artificial flavors and aromas. Mother pigs on factory farms are kept in crates that are so small they are unable to turn around. Dairy cows are forced to remain pregnant most of their lives and are injected with hormones to increase milk production. Male calves born from these cows are often raised to become “veal.” This practice consists of confining a newborn calf to a crate that is so small that he is unable to turn around. This is to ensure that the flesh remains tender. They are fed diets that are deliberately iron deficient, a practice that induces anemia and allows the flesh to remain white. After four months or so in these conditions, the calf is slaughtered to produce “veal.”
Go Organic
The Organic Trade Association states that “organic farming is based on practices that maintain soil fertility, while assisting nature’s balance through diversity and recycling of energy and nutrients. This method also strives to avoid or reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pest controls. Organic foods are processed, packaged, transported and stored to retain maximum nutritional value, without the use of artificial preservatives, coloring or other additives, irradiation or synthetic pesticides.”
Some people wonder if it’s worth it to buy organic. To that we reply that many of the chemicals in commercial pesticides and fertilizers have not been tested for their long-term effects on humans. Is it worth it to take that chance with your health and the health of your family? Organically grown foods represent a cycle of sustainability that improves topsoil fertility, enhances nutrition, and ensures food security.
Organic farmers employ farming methods that respect the fragile balance of our ecosystem. This results in a fraction of the groundwater pollution and topsoil depletion generated by conventional methods. Most people have also found the taste and nutrient quality of organic products superior to that of conventionally grown food.
Purchasing local, seasonal, and organically grown food is also an extremely effective way to reduce your environmental impact. Buying local saves the huge amount of energy it takes to transport food—sometimes across oceans and continents.
Another reason to support organic farmers has to do with the health of the farm workers themselves. Farm workers on conventional farms are exposed to high levels of toxic pesticides on a daily basis. Organic farm workers don’t have to encounter these risks.
Lastly, by supporting organic farmers, we are supporting small, family farms. This once prevalent method of farming is rapidly disappearing. This is due to the small