Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Animal-Based Diets: Negative for our Health, God’s Animals and the Environment


	CVA BLOG

Animal-Based Diets: Negative for our Health, God’s Animals and the Environment
March 5, 2012

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

1. Choice of Diet Crucial for the Environment
2. Famous Quote: Plutarch
3. First In-Vitro Hamburger to be Produced this Year
4. Bible verse: Colossians 3:15
5. The Many Conflicts of Meat-Eating
6. This Week’s Video: Global Warming in 26 seconds

1. Choice of Diet Crucial for the Environment

A new research study has shed more light into the huge impact that plant-based diets have on carbon emissions. The results of the study indicate that if everyone in the UK adopted a plant-based diet, carbon emissions could be cut by at least 22% with the equivalent to talking half of all cars off the road. Please visit Meat trade emissions equal to half of all Britain's cars:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/meat-trade-emissions-equal-to-half-of-all-britains-cars-6423173.html

Scientific evidence is undeniable: the choice of diet matters greatly if we want to restore the environment. Plant-based diets help us leave a smaller footprint on the planet, which is essential if we want the generations to come to avoid as much hardship as possible and enjoy God's Creation to its fullest!

2. This Week’s Famous Quote

But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh we deprive a soul of the sun and light, and of that proportion of life and time she had been born into the world to enjoy.

- Plutarch

3. First In-Vitro Hamburger to be Produced this Year

Dutch scientists have announced that the first hamburger made of cow’s stem cells will be produced this year. Scientists believe that in-vitro meat will eventually replace the meat from farmed animals, and therefore alleviate suffering and also mitigate some of the problems that animal agriculture causes on the environment. Please visit First 'test-tube' hamburger to be produced this year:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/19/first-test-tube-hamburger-to-be-produced-this-year/

We have been blessed with a vast variety of healthy and tasty plant-based foods and protein from animal sources is rarely necessary for humans. However, in-vitro meat could mean the end of the brutal, systematic, legalized abuse of God’s farmed animals and to the devastation of Creation.

4. This Week’s Bible Verse

(RSV) Colossians 3:15

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful."

We are all children of a loving God and everything in Creation shares the essence of this love. When we do unnecessary harm to any of God's creatures we are creating fear and violence. On the other hand, when we show love and compassion to God's creatures we are creating peace and harmony.

5. The Many Conflicts of Meat-Eating

Tim Carman, writer for the Washington Post, notes that eating meat in our country is no longer a trivial matter, but one of internal conflict. Consumers are now more aware than ever before about the implications of eating meat and how this translates into environmental devastation, health issues and animal suffering. Of course, animal advocacy groups, health organizations and environmental groups help by targeting people, starting at a young age, and exposing what animal agriculture entails. Please visit Eating meat, with a side of internal conflict:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/02/17/health/eating-meat-with-a-side-of-internal-conflict/

Eating animal products is of profound consequence at many levels. First and foremost, we are creating misery in the lives of God’s animals by not allowing them to live the celebratory lives they should, enjoying and rejoicing by exercising their God-given instincts and drives. Moreover, by supporting animal-based agriculture we are also contributing to the misery that workers at factory farms and slaughterhouses are subjected to, having to systematically abuse and kill one animal after another. Something most of us would never choose to do. Adding to this is the environmental devastation and health crisis to which the standard American diet contributes. Animal agriculture does not benefit God’s Creation in any way.

6. This Week’s Video: Global Warming in 26 seconds

This very short video illustrates the temperature increase around the globe in the last century: NASA - Temperature Data: 1880-2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoOrtvYTKeE&feature=player_embedded

We might be at a point of no return; and therefore, it’s imperative to actively participate in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. One very effective way is to transition to a plant-base diet.

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