This is why I don't like the 'avid' vegans...
I tend to get knee-jerk reactions to articles like this before I even read most of it, because the whole tone just pisses me off.
Such as: "Once these other factors are figured in, you have to put three times more energy into producing one pound of beef than the beef itself provides.".
My first thought?
"Well, yeah. But then, when we were just good little monkeys with sticks and stones, we output five to eight times more energy (as do most predatory animals to this day) than we consumed just to try and catch a mammoth or wild ox for dinner. Nevermind actually getting to eat it after if it doesn't escape and/or screw up one of our tribe mates."
Yeah, there are some good points, but the self righteous tone still bumps it down to 'meat is bad, and if you eat it, so are you.'
Fine. Once you're done taking that source of nutrition away though, I'd like to see you puzzle out the problems that farming for massive commercial interests and needs create and does to the planet. How are you going to 'stop' that rape of the planet without killing all food sources? We have to eat something, sweetcheeks. Or are you planning to have us eat each other? (Soylent Green! YUM!)
Okay, done ranting. (And no, I don't equate all vegan and vegeterians as being preachy and crazy and all that. I see nothing wrong with wanting to have that diet. It's just not my own choice. ;) ). And now I'll go back and read the damned article with as open a mind as I can manage.
Such as: "Once these other factors are figured in, you have to put three times more energy into producing one pound of beef than the beef itself provides.".
My first thought?
"Well, yeah. But then, when we were just good little monkeys with sticks and stones, we output five to eight times more energy (as do most predatory animals to this day) than we consumed just to try and catch a mammoth or wild ox for dinner. Nevermind actually getting to eat it after if it doesn't escape and/or screw up one of our tribe mates."
Yeah, there are some good points, but the self righteous tone still bumps it down to 'meat is bad, and if you eat it, so are you.'
Fine. Once you're done taking that source of nutrition away though, I'd like to see you puzzle out the problems that farming for massive commercial interests and needs create and does to the planet. How are you going to 'stop' that rape of the planet without killing all food sources? We have to eat something, sweetcheeks. Or are you planning to have us eat each other? (Soylent Green! YUM!)
Okay, done ranting. (And no, I don't equate all vegan and vegeterians as being preachy and crazy and all that. I see nothing wrong with wanting to have that diet. It's just not my own choice. ;) ). And now I'll go back and read the damned article with as open a mind as I can manage.