It Matters.

Throughout the first two days of my vegetarian project, I pondered if what I was doing, by not eating meat, was actually making a positive contribution to this world.  As an aspiring activist, I am always trying to make this world a better place, and if I am not achieving something for the greater good, then I can become quite apathetic.  However, when I read the article, "Making Choices:  Ethics and Vegetarianism", by Juliana Devries, the negative doubts fixating in my mind were obliterated.  Devries expounds on the positive influences that vegetarianism possesses:  animal cruelty and the environment (39-40).  (Breakfast:  blueberry muffin and cinnamon roll from Jazzman's Cafe.)

First, she makes an argument that vegetarianism counters animal cruelty.  She gives a fantastic example displaying how cows are constantly fed food that is indigestible and that eventually damages their lives, and they are forced to live in improper shelters.  She then gives an excellent statistic on the amount and types of animals are forced to undergo this process (39).  It makes me feel excellent that I am not a contributor of this torture!  (Lunch:  peanut butter sandwich with potato cakes and a brownie.)

At the same time, vegetarianism positively affects the environment.  Devries reports that 18% of greenhouse gases are contributed to livestock which is more than cars, trains, and boats combined (40). That is an outstanding statistic that must not be ignored.  I cannot eliminate global warming by being a vegetarian, but at least I can say that I tried to slow climate change one meal at a time.  (Cheese pizza, salad, and a vegetarian, spinach wrap)