Vegetarianism

It is becoming increasingly common for people to take up a vegetarian or even a vegan diet. The numbers are muddled. Far more claim to be vegetarians than actually are. Roughly 5% claim while maybe 1-2% really are. The discrepancy seems to arise with people adopting a generally vegetarian diet but occasionally eating meat. This is sometimes called a flexitarian diet.

I must say I prefer the American usage of describing vegetarian food as plant based. This is clear when choosing and avoids the tinge of “weirdness” particularly around vegans.

The evidence that plant based diets prolong life appears somewhat thin. Some studies show an effect, some don’t. It does appear that red meat particularly in quantity has a life shortening effect. Some categories such as smoked meats appear definitely harmful. On the other hand oily fish are positively recommended. One clear peripheral benefit is reduction in obesity. While this is not an integral part of plant based diets they certainly help. It  isn’t as simple to take in the excess calories which is all too easy with a normal diet.

It would appear that the main motivation for veggies is aesthetic or moral. Certainly if you stop and think eating the dead flesh of animals isn’t very nice and also objection can be made that meat production is cruel. There is some movement towards more humane animal treatment such as legislation on chicken cages.

The main objective reason for supporting the vegetarian movement is the health of the planet. This has in two aspects; the production of greenhouse gases and energy efficiency. Firstly the main red meat is beef and cows produce a lot of methane in their digestion. This methane is belched or farted into the atmosphere and is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect behind global warming. Grazing takes up a large area ( some suitable as arable land ). This links to energy efficiency. A cow is a very inefficient way of producing protein; vegetable crops produce far more per unit energy applied.

It is increasingly clear that climate change is here. Far from being a future problem it is  certainly having effects here and now. The main effect is that extremes of climate are getting worse with some organisms are struggling to adapt. The toll of extreme weather on human life and prosperity is increasing. The adaption problem is perhaps best exemplified by coral where increases in temperature can kill. It is estimated that all coral will die before the end of the century.

I have slowly come to understand the visceral rejection of climate change by some because it is seen by them as some kind of “liberal” plot to change their way of life. I see that even terminally stupid Trump is now starting to acknowledge that climate change is real. However many deniers , including Trump, see climate change as uncomfortable and inconvenient. Far too many see it as depressing the economy. This is quite untrue as it is quite possible to have economic growth and adjustments to emissions. This simply means doing things in different ways.

I wonder if many of the objections to things like wind turbines which have puzzled me are simply those who object to any change which may affect their routine or the ways they have grown accustomed to. To be quite personal I have had a solid fuel fire for over 30 years but I am coming to the realisation that is probably not very healthy and although I burn some wood it is not good to the environment. In principle growing wood takes up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which is released back when burnt so is carbon neutral. The practical problem is that an open fire releases small particles of carbon which are unhealthy if breathed into the lungs. It is also very inefficient as much of the energy goes “up the chimney”.

This digresses somewhat from the main point that climate action and economic growth are by no means incompatible. Far too many “green” supporters also take a hair shirt approach and seem to relish throwing away much of modern living. It is a fact that the energy needed per unit of economic growth has been steadily falling.

In summary it appears that vegetarianism is marginally good for the individual and definitely good for the planet. However it may well be that the sizzling steak may have be largely replaced by an equally attractive vegetarian option.

Two lions were walking sown the aisle of a supermarket. One turned to the other and said “quiet in here today ,isn’t it”