Better
for animals
Pollution
and fishing are two of the major causes. Dolphins, whales, sharks
and turtles are also indiscriminately killed by drift netting
and in some parts of the world, such species are still deliberately
slaughtered for food. Massive amounts of dead and dying fish
are thrown back into the sea, ironically deemed too small, they
are needlessly deprived of life, as factory fishing vessels
lay waste vast areas of the sea in minutes. Such needless destruction
means that not enough numbers are reaching suitable maturity
to replenish the species properly. Not content with destroying
marine life in the natural environment, intensive farming techniques
have been introduced to 'cultivate' fish.
This practice
is called aquaculture and is responsible for 10 per cent of
current a global fish sources, with this figure set to rise
as natural stocks become dangerously depleted. Instinctively
migratory species, such as salmon and trout are caged up in
very close confines and forced to live unnatural, short lives,
with high premature mortality and even cannibalism all too evident.
Such fish are fed large doses of chemicals, as disease and infection
can be rife. They are then slaughtered after about 14 months
of life. The list goes on and the crimes against the environment
are many. Far more people are now becoming aware that a vegetarian
diet makes far better use of the world's resources and is a
positive way of contributing to the future well being of the
planet.Vegetarian food will not cost you the Earth. Research
has shown that a well-balanced, low-fat, high-fibre vegetarian
diet is a very healthy option and vegetarians certainly need
not go short of any nutrients, vitamins or minerals.
In recent
years people have been forced to think much more about the health
implications of the food on their plates. This is in light of
recent health scares such as E-coli and, of course, BSE ('Mad
Cow Disease') and nvCJD (the deadly human form), which resulted
in the widespread banning of British beef, with billions of
pounds of public money wasted and millions of innocent animals
slaughtered.
Research
has also shown that a vegetarian diet could help reduce risks
from certain cancers by up to 40 per cent; decrease the possibility
of dying from heart disease by 30 per cent; restrict the chance
of suffering from kidney and gall stones, diet-related diabetes
and even high blood pressure. lt could also lower cholesterol
levels and reduce health problems related to obesity. Over 90
per cent of all food poisoning cases each year in the UK are
related to the consumption of animal products.
Studies
have shown that mortality from heart disease is an amazing 30
per cent less among vegetarians.
Vegetarians also tend to have lower blood pressure than meat-eaters.
What
about GMOs?
There is
currently a widespread unease concerning the possible future
implications and effects of the proliferation and wider application
of gene technology, particularly with regard to food.
Amongst many other organisations and individuals, The Vegetarian
Society believes that insufficient research has been carried
out into the potential environmental and health implications
of genetic manipulation, and the Society is concerned that the
introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) foods could
cause risk to the environment, animal welfare and human health.
In addition, the extensive animal experimentation undertaken
during the development of these synthetically altered natural
forms of plant life is contrary to the Society's principles.
In all of these areas, The Vegetarian Society is campaigning
hard, promoting the very many benefits of vegetarianism, to
push for change and create a better world through the food on
our plates.
