Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - The Implications of Adopting a Plant-Based Diet


	CVA BLOG

The Implications of Adopting a Plant-Based Diet
October 17, 2011

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

Decrease in Red Meat Might Mean More Suffering for Chickens

Famous Quote: Wayne Pacelle, excerpt from the preface of his new book "The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them"

Jonathan Safran Foer on Being Vegetarian

Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Vegetarianism Curbs Terrorism

This Week’s Video: Cage Vs. Cage Free

1. Decrease in Red Meat Might Mean More Suffering for Chickens

Although it is certainly beneficial for our bodies to cut down or even better eliminate red meat due to evidence of increased cancer risk and diabetes, a lot of people instead of reducing their overall consumption of animal products, replace red meat with chicken and turkey.

What might seem like a wise move causes many more animals to die, especially those animals who are the most abused by agribusiness. Please visit Bad news for red meat is bad news for chickens:
http://www.theveganrd.com/2011/08/bad-news-for-red-meat-is-bad-news-for-chickens.html

Instead of highlighting the risks of eating red meat, advocates of God’s animals should highlight the lack of ethics and inherent cruelty of agribusiness in order to be more effective at reducing suffering in God’s Creation.

2. This Week’s Famous Quote

As harsh as nature is for animals, cruelty comes only from human hands. We are the creature of conscience, aware of the wrongs we do and fully capable of making things right. Our best instincts will always tend in that direction, because there is a bond with animals that’s built into every one of us. That bond of kinship and fellow-feeling has been with us through the entire arc of human experience—from our first bare-footed steps on the planet through the era of the domestication of animals and into the modern age. For all that sets humanity apart, animals remain “our companions in Creation,” to borrow a phrase from Pope Benedict XVI, bound up with us in the story of life on earth. Every act of callousness toward an animal is a betrayal of that bond. In every act of kindness we keep faith with the bond. And broadly speaking, the whole mission of the animal welfare cause is to repair the bond—for their sake and for our own.

~ Wayne Pacelle, excerpt from the preface of his new book The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them.

3. Jonathan Safran Foer on Being Vegetarian

Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the acclaimed book Eating Animals will be in Sydney at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, speaking about eating traditions, eating fictions and not eating animals. Safran learned first hand about factory farming during his 3-year research on the subject which included a visit to a turkey factory farm in the middle of the night.

What does Foer think about being vegetarian? He says, "There are ideas that can literally put you in physical danger, which this one can,"... "There are ideas that are socially dangerous, which this one is. There are ideas that are dangerous because of their potential to change things in a dramatic way, which this one also is. So by most definitions, I would say that not eating animals is a dangerous idea." To read the article please visit Being vegetarian a dangerous idea: Foer:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/being-vegetarian-a-dangerous-idea-foer-20110922-1km26.html

Jonathan Safran Foer showed a lot of courage when he decided to find for himself what factory farming is all about, and later on writing one of the best books on the subject in order to expose the inherent cruelty of raising God's animals for food and the devastation this causes in God's Creation. Being vegetarian definitely challenges the status quo, which seems blinded by taste and profit trumping compassion and ethics on its way. Being vegetarian is to stand for what is right, to expose victimization and to be the voice of victims. Being vegetarian is to honor God's Creation.

4. This Week’s Bible Verse

(RSV) 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

How is it possible to glorify God if when we eat animal products we are feeding on torture, fear, pain, sickness and devastation? We glorify God when we choose a diet that alleviates suffering, and brings healing and reconciliation to God’s Creation.

5. Vegetarianism Curbs Terrorism

Tarachand Dugar, National President of The Indian Vegetarian Congress, emphasized at an Ahimsa walk the importance of adopting a vegetarian diet. He said, “Vegetarianism promotes non-violence, vegetarianism curbs terrorism.” Dugar believes that a plant-based diet is good for the mind, the environment and our health; in fact, he believes that vegetarians tend to be less violent than non-vegetarians. To read the article please visit Be a vegetarian, curb terrorism:
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/be-a-vegetarian-curb-terrorism/189633-60-120.html

The mere fact that in order to consume animal products a life has to be taken usually involving pain and terror should make us think about the relationship between violence and our choice of diet. We can certainly not expect peace if we continue to exploit God’s animals relentlessly. Peace will be achieved only when all creatures are free from exploitation.

6. This Week’s Video: Cage Vs. Cage Free

This HSUS video narrated by Hal Sparks, shows why an increasing number of food companies and consumers are switching to cage-free eggs: Cage Vs. Cage Free

It’s important to note that any step toward alleviating animal suffering is good; however, not supporting the egg industry all together is the most compassionate choice for egg-laying hens. Watch and share Cage Vs. Cage Free:
http://video.humanesociety.org/category/629262638001/Channels/729780768001/Factory-Farming/

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