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Why is the 'eat less meat' message such a hard sell?
The Vancouver Sun ^ | October 31, 2008 | Eleanor Boyle

Posted on 11/02/2008 3:36:07 PM PST by Abathar

Eating less meat is one of the most effective steps any of us can take to fight climate change, as Nicholas Read points out in his insightful article in The Vancouver Sun last week.

However, as he demonstrates, despite evidence that intensive meat production contributes significantly to global warming, and to further threats to public health and environment such as water pollution, most citizen and environmental groups play down the issue. They ask people to walk more and turn off lights, but usually steer clear of the meat question.

As an educator working on this issue, I can concur that the Eat Less Meat message is a hard sell, even for groups dedicated to sustainability.

Why the resistance? Both for sustainability professionals and for their audiences, some people understandably just don't want to eat less of foods they enjoy. Others consume animal products out of habit or convenience, or because they believe meat-eating conveys sophistication, or affluence, or virility.

But one key source of resistance to the Eat Less Meat message is a belief, even among some environmentalists, that food decisions constitute a sacred kind of "personal choice" that society cannot, or should not, seek to influence.

This argument doesn't stand up to analysis.

Deciding what to eat is no more personal choice than are other consumption decisions. All are shaped by culture, family and habit. We are not born craving chicken wings or pork chops. Humans' innate food desires are for salt, fats and sugars, which can be obtained in many ways and do not require much, or any, meat.

When people buy beef burgers rather than veggie ones, it is partly in response to years of ads and special-interest messages that animal products are delicious, nutritious, and necessary to health -- all of which are debatable.

(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: envirowhackos; globalwarming; nonsense; peta; vegan
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I don't know what Baraq's eating habits are, but with the far extreme left giving the marching orders to the Democrats reducing meat because of global warming gas reduction will have a sympathetic ear in Washington now.

You can pry my prime rib bone from my cold, greasy, dead hands before I stop eating meat.

1 posted on 11/02/2008 3:36:08 PM PST by Abathar
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To: Abathar
"But one key source of resistance to the Eat Less Meat message is a belief, even among some environmentalists, that food decisions constitute a sacred kind of "personal choice" that society cannot, or should not, seek to influence.

This argument doesn't stand up to analysis. "

You can go suck on your cold commie potato then, our whole existence as humans has been for a cheap, reliable source of meat and protein.

2 posted on 11/02/2008 3:40:01 PM PST by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: Abathar

If God did not mean for humans to consume meat, then He would not have created animals. Humans are carnivores, but the left cannot even grasp that fact. I have a couple of words for them, and they are not Happy Thanksgiving.


3 posted on 11/02/2008 3:40:02 PM PST by CdMGuy
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To: Abathar

4 posted on 11/02/2008 3:40:27 PM PST by ari-freedom (Paint your finger purple on Tuesday!)
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To: ari-freedom

Oh man does that look good!...


5 posted on 11/02/2008 3:41:02 PM PST by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: Abathar

I happen to think I do eat too much meat. That being said, I don’t think it’s long before some idiot in government will try to make it his/her business. And when that happens my reaction is going to be, eat twice as much meat.

This politically correct nonsense is becoming epidemic, and it’s time we start rising up and start butting some heads over it.


6 posted on 11/02/2008 3:41:43 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Our nation is uncomfortably close to having B.O. We need to use a Republican roll on by 11/04.)
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To: ari-freedom

I think I’ll cook up a steak and feed it to the dog!


7 posted on 11/02/2008 3:41:54 PM PST by JaguarXKE
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To: Abathar
Maybe people just feel too sorry for all those poor innocent broccoli and cabbages that are murdered everyday.
8 posted on 11/02/2008 3:41:56 PM PST by Proud2BeRight
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To: Abathar

because Americans don’t like to be told what to do... many of us still like to exercise our right to choose for ourselves... and we know that many of those in the upper echelons of American government, who like to tell us how we should live, will not live that way themselves...


9 posted on 11/02/2008 3:42:13 PM PST by latina4dubya ( self-proclaimed tequila snob)
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To: Abathar

I think we need a slightly clearer explanation of why eating meat causes global warming. Is it all those cow farts? If so, let’s hook them up to methane collectors, by all means.


10 posted on 11/02/2008 3:43:09 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Abathar

If God doesn’t want to eat animals, then why did He make them out of MEAT?!


11 posted on 11/02/2008 3:43:32 PM PST by ikka
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To: Abathar
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
12 posted on 11/02/2008 3:43:32 PM PST by txroadkill (www.honorandremember.org)
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To: ikka

“want us to eat animals” is what I meant...


13 posted on 11/02/2008 3:44:57 PM PST by ikka
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To: Cicero
I think we need a slightly clearer explanation of why eating meat causes global warming. Is it all those cow farts?

wouldn't the answer be to consume more cows? that way they will not be passing methane?

14 posted on 11/02/2008 3:45:11 PM PST by latina4dubya ( self-proclaimed tequila snob)
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To: Abathar

You can pry my prime rib bone from my cold, greasy, dead hands before I stop eating meat.

Amen to that brother.
These morons can take their veggies burgers and stick them where the sun won’t shine on them...


15 posted on 11/02/2008 3:45:11 PM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Vote FOR AMERICA . Vote McCain / Palin)
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To: Abathar

I’ll take my steak medium rare, thank you.


16 posted on 11/02/2008 3:45:13 PM PST by itsthejourney (1 of every 10 people you pass in the mall is here illegally... including Aunt Zeituni)
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To: Abathar

“You can go suck on your cold commie potato . . .”

Don’t even think about what that thing sucks on.

When I read this “As an educator working on this issue” I knew not to waste any more time. When I want the opinion of an educator, I’ll give it to him/her/it.


17 posted on 11/02/2008 3:47:00 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: Abathar
I don't know what Baraq's eating habits are,...

He went to a North Carolina barbecue place and ordered chicken. I mean, he just ain't RIGHT.

18 posted on 11/02/2008 3:47:03 PM PST by nina0113 (If fences don't work, why does the White House have one?)
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To: Abathar
BEEF (meat), Its' what for Dinner / Supper.

19 posted on 11/02/2008 3:47:27 PM PST by skinkinthegrass ("Annoy the media, elect PALIN and McCAIN....errr....McCAIN / PALIN.....McPALIN" 8^)
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To: Abathar

Because, as Denis Leary once said, “Meat is murder...and murder is pretty BLEEPin’ tasty.”


20 posted on 11/02/2008 3:47:44 PM PST by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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