| Altruistic
"Why
do you people care more about animals than about humans?"
is a question that is often thrown at vegans and vegetarians
by irritated omnivores. Leaving aside the fact that it is clearly
an emotional reponse, probably stemming from their own feelings
of guilt, it is simply not true:
"If Americans were to reduce their
meat consumption by only 10 per cent for one year, it would
free at least 12 millions tons of grain for human consumption
- or enough to feed 60 million people... Indeed, if Americans
were to stop eating grain-fed beef altogether the grain
thus released would be enough to feed all the 600 million
people in India." (Animal Liberation, Peter
Singer, Thorsons, 1983.)
Not to mention the few starving millions in
central Africa!
For the truth is that if you wish to put
the welfare of humanity first, you can hardly do better than
become vegan!
So the next time an irritable omnivore challenges
you in this way, why not throw the challenge right back by
asking: "Why are you so indifferent to the starving people
in the Third World that you selfishly continue to eat more
than ten times the grain you need in the form of animal protein?"
If all this sounds a bit too idealistic
for you, consider this: since the case for the vegan diet
as healthier is now irrefutable (and generally accepted by
the medical profession) what better way can there be of showing
your love and concern for those closest to you than by preparing
for them not only food they will enjoy, but food that is good
for their health?
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