Protecting animals and the environment through a plant-based diet
Today, I’m on a rant over one of the worst human activities in modern times … Factory farming.
Factory farming is one of the worst atrocities of the last century apart from the activities of the last two world wars. Factory farming has caused more harm to people, animals and the environment than any other human action. Yet, we still don’t learn.
Our planet has already suffered enough at the hands of humans through industrialisation without the mass farming, fishing, and deforestation issues. Scientists continue to warn us against our disruptive actions yet most of us continue to believe what the media and our doctors tell us. Opting for a whole foods plant-based diet is one of the most important ways that we can protect our planet, animals, and ourselves too.
Apart from the health benefits that a plant-based diet offers there are other reasons to opt for a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet can not only lead to animal protection but it can also help to provide a healthy environment in which everything and everyone can flourish. Scientists have stated that if we cut down or cut out consuming meat products, more people can be fed using less land.
Did you know that each year 80 billion animals are killed for humans to eat and 70 % of all soya grown on the planet is to feed these animals? 11% of the world’s population go hungry every day… why, when there is enough food to go round?
Around one-third of the world’s land is used for grazing and growing feed for the animals. This results in destroying the natural habitats of other species. It also destroys the existence of communities such the indigenous people of the Amazon basin. This type of human behaviour which is fueled by greed leads to the destruction of jungles and extinction of 100s if not 1000s of species every year.
Check this video out, it’s an eye-opener.
On another point, factory farming leads to the harmful toxicity of the land. It creates diseases and poses health problems for the environment, animals, and humans too.
The amount of manure that animals produce is very high and is normally absorbed naturally by the land as fertiliser. However, there is also an amount that goes unabsorbed and contains toxins that make their way into groundwater, rivers and oceans thus causing the death of marine life, destroying natural ecosystems and causing pollution to human drinking water.
The amount of water consumed in factorial farming is incredibly high. One hamburger alone requires 660 gallons of water to produce. Modern animal farming is based on feeding grain crops to animals. This grain could be the main source of food for humans instead of the barbaric factory farming practices that have become business as normal.
Thousands of wild animals are also killed each year because they are considered a threat to livestock. This practice has caused the extinction of various foxes, bears and coyotes, and plenty of other species. We really need to start thinking about what we eat and where it comes from. How it is produced and the long-term effects that it has on humans, animals, and the environment. The emission of greenhouse gases are increased by factory farming and as the demand for meat products increases so do the greenhouse gases.
To stop humans from facing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer we need to change our relationship with food and the environment.
To protect the environment and animals we need to re-establish the connection between the natural world including us, pastural grazing and animal welfare. These three have evolved to live in harmony with each other. When one system breaks down the other two will follow. We can see this today in action. Don’t sit back and watch it happen. Act and become plant-based for your own health, that of your families, of animals and the environment.
One person is never too small to make a difference. Make the connection and take action. Make Veganuary your first step . . .
Rant over x
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