GOOD REASONS FOR VEGETARIANISM

Personally, I am a vegetarian, for no other reason than I chose to be. The fact that I tread a little lighter on this good earth gives me some gratification. I have asked some people not to follow my example, as they are not prepared to plan their nutrition properly. I have no hidden agenda to convert people.

The main quarrel I have with the present food production system is the profound waste of animal protein. I see little logic or fair play in eating two or three times the animal protein that the human body can assimilate, when it takes up to ten measures of vegetable protein to make a single measure of animal protein. The end result is that excesses are wasted.

As well as wastage, the food chain is hopelessly contaminated with chemicals, capable of altering behavior, shortening or eliminating life, and modifying the very building blocks of all life.

We pour untold quantities and varieties of chemicals onto crops to kill insects and to produce increased yields and profits. The chemicals, when washed off, contaminate the soil and waters; if not washed off they contaminate our bodies. Regardless, the residues eventually enter the tissues and possibly the DNA of all creatures exposed to them.

Even though nature has revealed many of its secrets on how to improve yields and reduce insect damage with natural products and alternate methods, we chose to take the easy and profitable route as the alternatives are unlikely to be made readily available in the present economic and political climate.

Humanity is in a feeding frenzy that is straining the world's resources. People have adopted eating practices that are proving to be disastrous to the health of ourselves and our planet; and these very same people, in their misguided wisdom, are asking the rest of the world to follow their example.

Many people have become convinced that we must eat ever increasing amounts of meat, fish and poultry to remain healthy. The truth would appear to be contrary to this belief. A diet with more fiber and vegetable protein would apparently reduce, lethargy, colon diseases, rectal cancers, constipation, hemorrhoids, appendicitis and a host of other problems.

To increase productivity, and profit, animals are fed the offal and feces of other animals. These disgustingly abnormal practices spread disease from species to species and on to humans, as with the mad-cow disease catastrophe of England.

The animals ingest insecticides, herbicides, tranquilizers and are injected with antibiotics, and hormones and the processed flesh is contaminated with nitrates, preservatives and countless additives.

We ingest the residue of these concoctions, that no MD in his right mind would prescribe. These in turn, effect allergies, cause abnormal sexual development, including premature puberty and breast enlargement, and contribute to breast, cervical, and other cancers.

The production of meat products uses the major portion of the worlds grain harvest, is responsible for a major portion of the top soil losses, creates a large portion of the world's methane emissions, is responsible for the lowering of the world's water tables, and is a major factor in the destruction of the rain forests and, according to findings, contributes to breast, colon, and prostate cancers; contributes to diabetes, osteoporosis, gallstones, liver and kidney disorders, high blood cholesterol, arterial disease, arthritis, gout, obesity and stroke,

We have taken it upon ourselves to eat every conceivable fish, fowl, and creature on the face of the earth. This is done without regard to the consequences of our actions.

We scoop every living thing from the sea in the hope we will get it before someone else does. The subsequent upset to the balance of nature is a problem that everyone hopes the next generation will resolve.

The thousands of additives to our food, and the rape of the seas happen for one reason. Each increases the profit potential of someone in the food production and distribution chain.

Have a nice day.