Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Eating for Environmental Restoration, April 30, 2012


	CVA BLOG

Eating for Environmental Restoration
April 30, 2012

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

Animals Die and their Flesh is Wasted

Famous Quote: Albert Einstein

Local vs. Plant-Based: Which One Is Better for the Environment?

Bible verse: Matthew 5:14-16

Sustainable Meat?

This Week’s Video: Animal Equality Undercover Investigation at East Anglian Pig Company (EAP)

1. Animals Die and their Flesh is Wasted

Jonathan Bloom, journalist, author of American Wasteland and writer of a blog at www.wastedfood.com, raises the issue of eating meat and wasting some of it. Sadly, this is the case in most developed countries. In the U.S. about 20 percent of all meat produced in is not consumed. As Paul Root Wolpe, director of the Emory Center for Ethics, said: “To treat food cavalierly leads to a lack of appreciation of the importance of food, of the fact that some go without it, of the suffering of animals that the carnivores among us are willing to tolerate to eat our food.”

Please visit Every last bite: Why wasting animal protein is unethical:
http://grist.org/food/every-last-bite-why-wasting-animal-protein-is-unethical/

Indeed, the wasting of any food raises serious ethical and spiritual issues. What does it say about our sense of stewardship when God’s animals are tortured and slaughtered, and their flesh ends up in the trash? In a sense, we are saying we don’t care about God’s provision and we don’t care if God’s farmed animals suffer needlessly. Without any doubts, this is a double offense to our loving Creator.

2. This Week’s Famous Quote

Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.

~ Albert Einstein

3. Local vs. Plant-Based: Which One Is Better for the Environment?

The local movement has grown tremendously in the past years as well as the awareness about environmental issues that are impossible to ignore, such as the amount of fossil fuels used in the transportation of food and the global warming gases produced. However, more important than even being a locavore is eating fewer or no animal products. The fact is very simple, as stated in an analysis in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology: “Shifting less than one day per week's worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG reduction than buying all locally sourced food."

Please visit Local Food or Less Meat? Data Tells the Real Story:
http://blogs.hbr.org/winston/2011/06/local-food-or-less-meat-data-t.html

Waking up to realization that we have control over most of the consequences of our food choices is not only liberating but also empowering. By not supporting the meat, dairy and egg industries we are alleviating the most voluminous cruelty on God’s animals, we are helping restore the environment, we are providing our bodies with healthy foods and most importantly we are aligning our values and beliefs with our choices.

4. This Week’s Bible Verse

(RSV) Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Those who reflect God's essence of love onto all Creation are the light of the world! In a world beset of suffering, pain and anger we can all make and bring joy, peace and love.

5. Sustainable Meat?

James McWilliams, New York Times Op-Ed Contributor, writes about the myth of sustainable meat exposing the huge environmental toll this takes on the planet as well as on public health. While the idea of sustainable meat might sound like a good compromise, it is not the solution if we want to produce food in an ethical manner. Please visit The Myth of Sustainable Meat:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/the-myth-of-sustainable-meat.html

The idea of sustainable meat has been brought about to lessen the burden of our conscience in a fictitious way. Humanity still hasn’t realized that eating God’s animals is just not a good idea, not matter how sustainably it may seem. Frankly, any method of meat production is more sustainable than factory farmed meat products. However, the question is: Is “sustainable meat” sustainable enough to bring restoration to Creation? Abundant scientific evidence shows us the contrary.

6. This Week’s Video

Animal Equality carried out an undercover investigation into East Anglian Pig Company (EAP), which is the third largest pork producer of the UK. The result is shocking footage that depicts egregious acts of cruelty on pigs. These acts are the so called high standards of the British pig industry. To watch the video and learn more please visit http://britishporkindustry.co.uk/index.php#1 and share!

Unfortunately, these acts of cruelty are common around the world because God’s animals are seen as mere objects to satisfy taste buds, and to gain profit and power.

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