Why go vegetarian?

What is a Vegetarian?

According to the Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom a vegetarian is 'Someone who eats no meat, poultry, game or fish, and who also avoids slaughterhouse by-products such as gelatine, rennet (an enzyme from a calf's stomach sometimes found in cheese) and animal fats. Many vegetarians in the UK consume dairy produce and free-range eggs - they are referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarians. The Vegetarian Society only approves free-range eggs which are produced to standards above and beyond EU criteria for free-range egg farming. The Society believes that hens are more likely to behave naturally and remain healthy under such conditions.'

What is a Vegan?

According to the Vegan Society 'Vegans, like other vegetarians, do not eat the bodies of animals. In addition, vegans do not consume milk, eggs or honey. More broadly, veganism is a way of life which seeks to avoid exploitation of or cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Most vegans do not wear leather, wool or silk.'

Why go vegetarian/vegan?

Reasons why people turn to a vegetarian or vegan diet are varied. For many it will be concern over factory farming of animals and animal welfare in general. Understandable when one considers that 'In the UK alone, almost 900 million animals are slaughtered for food each year. That means about fifteen live animals, per person, per year.' (vegsoc.org) The environment is also an important factor for many people, the waste and damage from livestock agriculture threatens our natural resources such as water and forests. Concern is also growing as to the yet unknown impacts of gene-technology most notably GM products. Those non-veg*ns who are often dismissive of the idea of vegetarianism as being only for 'animal lovers' should seriously start re-thinking the wider implications that their choice of food consumption brings. Everyone can and should cut down on all meat, fish and dairy-based products.

Who Are Vegetarians?

Well, frankly just about anybody who shares a concern over health, ethics, people and the environment. And we are in excellent company - Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther, Milton, Plato, Pythagoras, George Bernard Shaw, Shelley, Socrates, Tolstoy, Leonardo da Vinci, and Wordsworth. See www.ivu.org for information on other famous veggies/vegans.

Want to help feed the world?

Look around for alternative arguments to GM and Factory Farmed Livestock. The Global Hunger Alliance is comprised of an international coalition of environmental, animal rights and social justice organisations. Their aim is to help educate people about the agribusiness practices that cause malnutrition and poverty, animal abuse and environmental pollution. They have a good web site with some interesting links at www.globalhunger.net.

Help People

Look out for 'Fair Trade' Products in shops and supermarkets.

Show Compassion

You do not have to be vegetarian to help improve animal welfare. Check out the Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) site www.ciwf.co.uk. CIWF Campaign for a decent life for farm animals and a ban on live animal exports. Not all of us will choose to go veg*n but we can all choose to show compassion and respect for animals. What you choose to buy reflects the way that an animal will live and die, if an animal is to have a life worth living even if that life is short it cannot be through factory farming. THINK BEFORE YOU BUY we are all individually responsible for the world we create.