UN and EU - shift toward vegan diet to save the earth 5Jun10

Amitayus48 SG

http://suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sos&wr_id=1625&goto_url=&url=&sca=sos_2&goto_url=

The authors state: “A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7797594/Eat-less-meat-to-save-the-planet-UN.html

http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/documents/pdf/PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report_Full.pdf
http://www.uneptie.org/shared/publications/pdf/WEBx0159xPA-
PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Summary_EN.pdf

http://suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sos_main

Vegetarianism and Climate Change Harmful pesticides fed to parasite-ridden farmed salmon - 7 Jul 2010 Global methane from the livestock industry underestimated - 5 Jul 2010 South Korean officials pledge to be veg one day a week - 10 Jun 2010 United Nations and European Commission call for shift toward vegan diet to save the Earth - 5 Jun 2010 French National Assembly presented with veg solution. - 25 May 2010 Portland, Oregon, USA leads the way in veg sustainability. - 10 May 2010 Livestock feed increases ground ozone levels. - 8 May 2010

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/04/meats-not-green-this-earth-day-go-vegetarian-to-save-the-planet/

http://www.saveourearth.co.uk/blog/2009/09/
Be A Vegetarian and Help Animals and Combat Climate Change
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Amitabha

the Bear SG

a strict vegan diet will probably cause health problems in the long term... there are some nutrients you will never get on a strictly organic plant diet

just go do the research without any prejudice...

Vote PAP OUT to Save SG SG

how about using less handphone, computer, electronic gadgets, watch less TV, use less electricity to save the earth?

Fallen-Angel SG

how about using less handphone, computer, electronic gadgets, watch less TV, use less electricity to save the earth?

Exactly. This idea is better than eating veges to be honest. K i shut down computer liao.

-StarDust- SG

how about using less handphone, computer, electronic gadgets, watch less TV, use less electricity to save the earth?

This idea is better.

-StarDust- SG

a strict vegan diet will probably cause health problems in the long term... there are some nutrients you will never get on a strictly organic plant diet

just go do the research without any prejudice...

Agreed also.

Dawnfirstlight SG

a strict vegan diet will probably cause health problems in the long term... there are some nutrients you will never get on a strictly organic plant diet

just go do the research without any prejudice...

There are many monks and ordinary people who are vegetarian but live to a ripe old age. There are too many to name them, just name a few famous monks, Master Chin Kong who is now past 70 years old still well and alive, Ven. Hong Choon who passed away at age past 70 or 80 years old (the abbot of Kong Meng San Buddhist Temple which is the biggest in Singapore), Ven. Shen Yan who passed away at age past 70 or 80 years old (Taiwan) etc. There are many monks who live past 90 years old. They are proving you wrong.

zero thought SG

It doesn't have to be using less electricity OR going vegan. It could be BOTH.

If you have really gone into the UN report that Amitayus48 posted in the link, you would have realised how much the reduce in impact on the environment by going vegan. Here are some sections from the report.

"Food production is the most significant influence on land use and therefore habitat change, water use, overexploitation of fisheries and pollution with nitrogen and phosphorus. In poorer countries, it is also the most important cause of emissions of greenhouse gases (CH4 and N2O). Both emissions and land use depend strongly on diets. Animal products, both meat and dairy, in general require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives."

"Currently about half of the world’s land is used for agriculture and 70% of total water use"

and some where else in the report you see these 2 statements:

"Agricultural materials, especially animal products, are also a very important material flow in terms of their contribution to a large number of impact categories. Animal products are important because more than half of the world’s crops are used to feed animals, not people."

"Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth, increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products."

When economics and politics are tossed aside on food distribution, we would realise from what the report directly implies - basically, we are eating meat at the cost of not only the lives of animals, but also the lives of people who are starving and have little/no food to eat.

Advising people not to eat meat for the environment is not something we see as much publicise by the government compared to cutting electricity and conserving water. Hence not many people know about the impact of meat, fish and animal products. But the fact is, they are really detrimental to the environment.

zero thought SG

Unless it's a vegan who ate a balanced diet who tells me it will bring nutritional deficiencies, maybe I will believe. Most people saying "Vegan or vegetarian diets not enough nutrients" very likely wasn't a vegetarian before.

In the vegetarian stalls I often see people buying mock meat and deep fried stuff etc. Any vegetarian who has been on a veg diet for years will tell you this will bring you a nutritional imbalance.

A vegan diet is not restricted to veggies, rice, noodles, mock meat, and deep fried stuff. Anyone who eat only these everyday will get sick. In a well balanced vegan diet, you need to include a variety of foods including some of the following...

Beans, lentils, legumes: black, green, red, kidney, white, soy, dhal etc.
Nuts: cashew, walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts etc.
Grains: wild rice, millet, brown rice, quinoa, oats, etc.
Seeds: pumpkin, flax, sesame, sunflower etc.
Not forgetting a healthy dose of B12.

Most of this we don't get when eating out at vegetarian places, but is necessary to include in the veg diet.

An Eternal Now SG

a strict vegan diet will probably cause health problems in the long term... there are some nutrients you will never get on a strictly organic plant diet

just go do the research without any prejudice...

You just need to know what are the protein rich vegan materials, and know how to cook a healthy vegan meal.

Then you'll be fine. I've seen many strong and healthy vegans.

Dawnfirstlight SG

You just need to know what are the protein rich vegan materials, and know how to cook a healthy vegan meal.

Then you'll be fine. I've seen many strong and healthy vegans.

Yeah agree with you. There is this guy (Singaporean but I cannot remember his name), he was a champion in weightlifting, he is a vegetarian. Carl Lewis and Mike Tyson are also vegetarian.

May be you guys will say humans and animals are different but I always wonder why elephants and cows are so strong even though they are herbivores.

the Bear SG

there is a difference between philosophy, religion and actually being healthy...

anyway, it is what you believe, and then, there is hard brutal science...

most doctors who have done research in this say that all you need to do is to take some organic dairy products like butter, or take some free-range organic eggs (if you want to make sure, check if it is unfertilised) once in a while to keep healthy...

but the vegans will tell you these are verboten...

again, do your research without prejudice...

anyway, my aunt who went vegan 20years ago, now has osteoporosis, a dowager's hump and lots more other problems.. because she went into this without any thought and half-cocked...

while sticking to your beliefs are to be commended, your body needs more...

may you all stay healthy...

the Bear SG

Yeah agree with you. There is this guy (Singaporean but I cannot remember his name), he was a champion in weightlifting, he is a vegetarian. Carl Lewis and Mike Tyson are also vegetarian.

May be you guys will say humans and animals are different but I always wonder why elephants and cows are so strong even though they are herbivores.

notice they have their eyes on the side of their heads... the sign of herbivores which means they are or were evolved from prey animals... they have almost 360 degree vision..

while we have stereoscopic vision.. we are descended from hunters and predators..

An Eternal Now SG

there is a difference between philosophy, religion and actually being healthy...

anyway, it is what you believe, and then, there is hard brutal science...

but the vegans will tell you these are verboten...

again, do your research without prejudice...

anyway, my aunt who went vegan 20years ago, now has osteoporosis, a dowager's hump and lots more other problems.. because she went into this without any thought and half-cocked...

while sticking to your beliefs are to be commended, your body needs more...

may you all stay healthy...

Sorry about your aunt... but I believe her meals may not have enough proteins, which is avoidable if she knows exactly what to eat. In other words, if you want to be vegan, familiarize yourself with healthy vegan diet... Some research may be needed.

Dawnfirstlight SG

there is a difference between philosophy, religion and actually being healthy...

anyway, it is what you believe, and then, there is hard brutal science...

but the vegans will tell you these are verboten...

again, do your research without prejudice...

anyway, my aunt who went vegan 20years ago, now has osteoporosis, a dowager's hump and lots more other problems.. because she went into this without any thought and half-cocked...

while sticking to your beliefs are to be commended, your body needs more...

may you all stay healthy...

Erm, the problems which you mentioned that your aunt has are problems due to old aged. My father who is not a vegetarian also has the problems that your aunt has. Well, normally all kinds of problems will appear once a person gets old regardless of vegetarian or non vegetarian.

Weychin SG

notice they have their eyes on the side of their heads... the sign of herbivores which means they are or were evolved from prey animals... they have almost 360 degree vision..

while we have stereoscopic vision.. we are descended from hunters and predators..

Hi the Bear!

i beg to differ, stereoscopic vision is not only used for hunting, it is essential for gauging distance and position, eg. jumping from tree to tree, ever seen documentaries of gibbons swinging up in tree canopies.

Also take for example, examine our teeth, our canines are not very well suitable for grasping or tearing flesh from life prey; as compared to other real carnivores! What of our molars? Comparatively, they are more robust and more suited for their job than our canines are!

Also, our digestive system is long compared to carnivores, indicating a prediposition to digesting fibrous or vegetable matter. That we crave meat is not the issue here, but our physical attribute indicate adaptation to herbivorian/fructivorian diet.

Weychin SG

there is a difference between philosophy, religion and actually being healthy...

anyway, it is what you believe, and then, there is hard brutal science...

but the vegans will tell you these are verboten...

again, do your research without prejudice...

anyway, my aunt who went vegan 20years ago, now has osteoporosis, a dowager's hump and lots more other problems.. because she went into this without any thought and half-cocked...

while sticking to your beliefs are to be commended, your body needs more...

may you all stay healthy...

Show your aunt who is a vegetarian with such problems, it will also to bring up people with such problems who are not vegetarians!

Osteoporosis, is due to lack of bone density, due to inability to build up bone density. There many reasons, deficient mineral intake or ratio,insufficient exercise, mainly high impact ones.

Plant calcium and other minerals in the body is relatively well absorbed without side effects, you won't suffer from lactose intolerance! Also, a vegetarian is important for blood alkalinity.

Weychin SG

Also, we tend to forget, most of the poorer countries subsist on mainly vegetarian diet owing to poverty. Also, the subcontinent of India, there people who are vegetarians for generations for thousands of years!

Disman SG

Plant calcium and other minerals in the body is relatively well absorbed without side effects, you won't suffer from lactose intolerance! Also, a vegetarian is important for blood alkalinity.

you are right

meat very acidic

animals produced toxin, when they are being slaughter

becos they struggle

if i am not mistaken, caixin provide good source of protein

Kuali Baba SG

Show your aunt who is a vegetarian with such problems, it will also to bring up people with such problems who are not vegetarians!

Osteoporosis, is due to lack of bone density, due to inability to build up bone density. There many reasons, deficient mineral intake or ratio,insufficient exercise, mainly high impact ones.

Plant calcium and other minerals in the body is relatively well absorbed without side effects, you won't suffer from lactose intolerance! Also, a vegetarian is important for blood alkalinity.

"Blood alkalinity" is another myth. Blood has buffers that prevent its acidity from changing drastically. Otherwise, why is lemon juice good for you?

Cattle, chickens and sheep that are reared in most farms are fed grains which are not part of their natural diet, hence they produce more methane and fewer nutrients. Look for free range chickens and eggs, pasture/grass-fed meat and dairy products and wild game and fish. That would improve the situation far more than a vegan diet.

While you're at it, you should still eat plenty of fruit and vegetables for fibre and antioxidants, as well as nuts (if you're not allergic to them) for unsaturated fats. Oh, by the way, did you know that padi fields also produce plenty of methane?

And read up about strontium. It's more effective than calcium as a bone-strengthening nutrient.