Eating as a Revolutionary Act

pachamama.org

When I learned baby calves are taken
screaming from their mothers,
so I could have cream,
I switched to cashew milk.

When I knew that cows raised for meat
are treated terribly, chained, beaten,
pumped with hormones,
killed traumatically and hung on hooks,
that hamburger formed a lump in my throat.

When I heard that pigs have the intelligence
of a five year old child,
ham came off the menu.

When I read that factory farming
is the greatest cause of
deforestation and global warming,
I needed to act.

When I realized that eating a plant-based diet
is a revolutionary act,
and the quickest way to reverse climate change,
my fork took on new status
as a change agent.

"Eat your veggies," Mama says,
"because they're good for you."

Turns out that eating veggies

is good for the planet too.

Factory farming, animal agriculture and our voracious meat consumption is the leading cause of global warming, deforestation, species extinction and ocean dead zones, says onegreenplanet.org.

The quickest way to reverse climate change, with the fastest recovery time, would be adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.

Animal agriculture uses over 50% of our arable land base, a majority of fresh water stores, and is responsible for up to 51% of greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Leonardo di Caprio, in an article by One Green Planet,  states, "A shift in diet is a revolutionary step. We would see an immediate impact within ten to fifteen years." If we all went vegetarian today,we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2050, the article states. The planet would begin to regulate itself.

Going vegan is not for everyone. But we all can reduce our meat consumption, and ensure whatever meat we do consume is grass-fed, and humanely raised. Small steps such as eating meatless more often, having one plant-based meal a day, and learning to replace our favourite dishes without meat and dairy is a  beginning.

In the last 40 years, we have lost 52% of the wildlife on the planet, produced more carbon emissions than the last 800,000 years (!!!) and oceans now have over 400 dead zones, devoid of life.

Those who believe animals are sentient beings, who have intelligence and  feel the same emotions as we do,  can turn towards a largely or totally plant-based diet, as well as advocating for humane treatment of all animals, domestic and wild.

for Susan's prompt at Midweek Motiff: climate change