Letter to the Editor:
Vegan menu could complement trayless dining initiative
Published Feb. 1, 2010
I was delighted to see the editorial on going trayless for the environment ("CDS should adopt trayless dining," The Maneater, 1/29). There is, however, an even better way to help the planet: increase vegan options. According to an extensive United Nations study, raising animals for food contributes more to climate change than all cars, boats, and trains combined.
The amount of resources wasted on producing animal-derived products is staggering. We currently feed more than 70 percent of the grains raised in the U.S. to animals raised for food. Similarly, nearly half of the water and 80 percent of agricultural land consumed in this country are used for livestock, rather than direct consumption by humans. Passing these resources through animals, who use up 90 percent of the energy they consume simply by living their lives, requires exponentially more land, water, and other resources than simply eating plants directly.
Thankfully, it's never been easier to find delicious and "green" meals like vegan pizza and veggie barbecue riblets. For more information about the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, visit peta2.com.
Comments (2)
11:41 p.m., Feb. 4, 2010
mad said:
I have to say, the 'soy' options aren't fascinating. I hate soy and it gives me cramps. Furthermore, genetic, economic and political corruption has monopolized the soybean industry 1) it is nigh impossible, if not outright impossible, to find a non-GMO soybean; partners of pcb chemical-producing companies are profiting off of GMO by selling their weed-killers - which is bad for people and the environment around them - to farmers with these specifically grown soybeans that can withstand these toxic chemicals. 2) soybeans are thus contributing (through no fault of their own) to global warming, as they are a universal product which ship everywhere; not only that, but they are pawns in our environmentalist agenda against a clean future; they allow toxic herbicides to be spread with no apparent detriment to the beans themselves, and yet people EAT these things... 3) I am, not unlike many people, sensitive if not completely allergic to soy products. It would be easier for more people to stomach going vegan if you provided them with soyless alternatives. Thank you.
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11:43 a.m., Feb. 2, 2010
Erin Horth said:
While I appreciate the sentiments here, and choose not to eat meat for the very reasons enumerated in this letter, there are a variety of organizations I'd push before PETA. I cannot put myself in support of any organization who can put forward press like the "Holocaust on Your Plate" campaign or showcase caged "chicks" in bikinis in a comparison to the plight of caged chickens.