OMNI
VEGETARIAN
ACTION NEWSLETTER #38
JUNE 14, 2017.
Edited by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace,
Justice, and Ecology
OMNI’s JUNE VEGETARIAN POTLUCK is Wednesday, JUNE 14, at
OMNI, Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology (2ND Wednesdays). We start eating at 6:00. All are welcome.
You may want to
enjoy and discuss some old or new vegetarian or vegan recipes, to talk about
healthier food, or you are concerned about cruelty to animals or warming and
climate change. Whatever your interest it’s connected to food; whatever
your motive, come share vegetarian and vegan food and your views with us in a
friendly setting.
If you are new,
get acquainted with OMNI’s director, Gladys Tiffany. At OMNI is located at 3274 Lee Avenue
parallel to N. College east of the Village Inn and south of Liquor World.
More information: 935-4422; 442-4600.
Contents: OMNI Vegetarian
Action #38, June 14, 2017
Health,
Nutrition, Industrial Agriculture
Industrial
Agriculture and Pathogens
Eating (or Not)
Fish
Ethics, Industrial
Food System, Protection of Animals, Empathy, Compassion, Do No Harm
Vegan Ethics of
Compassion, Mark Hawthorne
Nonviolence and
Animal Liberation, Cindy Sheehan
Climate
Catastrophe From Eating Meat
More Effective
Communication
Table of
Contents for #37
Health,
Nutrition
|
Industrial agriculture is creating entirely new
"agro-environments" for deadly pathogens to thrive.
BY RURAL AMERICA IN THESE TIMES. In
These Times newsletter June 10, 2017
|
THE FISH ON MY PLATE BY
JASON BRESLOW, APRIL 25, 2017.
Q&A: Why Paul
Greenberg Spent a Year of His Life Eating Fish
Imagine eating fish, every day, for a year. What would that mean
for your health?
It’s a question that journalist Paul Greenberg set out to
investigate in the new FRONTLINE documentary, The Fish on
My Plate.
Greenberg, the
best-selling author of American
Catch and Four Fish, says
this unique one-man study was motivated by a desire to understand which
fish are “good for me and good for the planet.”
A lifelong fisherman, Greenberg began casting lines with
his father when he was just five years old. From a young age, he
says, he began to understand that overfishing carried far-reaching
environmental implications.
Today, more than four decades later, global fish consumption is
at an all-time high, with growing demand increasingly depleting natural
fisheries. As Greenberg notes, “We’re producing about 80 to 90 million metric
tons of wild seafood every year from the ocean … that is equivalent to the
human weight of China.” Fish farming — or aquaculture — is helping to fill the
void, yet critics say the practice creates more problems than it solves.
Ahead of the April 24 premiere of The Fish on My Plate, we spoke with Greenberg about lessons
learned from his year of eating fish, why he says “we’re going to have to
change the kinds of seafood that we eat,” and why he calls the omega-3s
found in fish oil the “Forrest Gump” of molecules. Here’s what he had to say. MORE http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/the-fish-on-my-plate/
Ethics, Protection
of Animals, Empathy, Compassion, Do No Harm
Mark Hawthorne, A Vegan Ethic
Embracing a Life of Compassion Toward All. Changemakers,
2016.
http://markhawthorne.com/project/a-vegan-ethic/
Veganism is a journey, and A Vegan Ethic
explores veganism as an infinite model of social justice.
“If
veganism is about doing your best to not
harm any sentient life, we must logically extend that circle of compassion
to human animals as well,” writes Mark Hawthorne in this practical, engaging
guide to veganism and animal rights. Along with proven advice for going and
staying vegan, an overview of animal exploitation, and answers to common
questions about ethical eating (such as “Isn’t ‘humane meat’ a good option?”
and “Don’t plants feel pain?”), A Vegan
Ethic draws on the work and experiences of intersectional activists to
examine how all forms of oppression - including racism, sexism, ableism, and
speciesism - are connected by privilege, control, and economic power. By
recognizing how social justice issues overlap, we can develop collaborative
strategies for finding solutions.
Mark talks about living as a vegan and his book at https://youtu.be/EXqEjUNqsOw
Reviewed in VegNews Magazine on Jul 1 2016.
Mark talks about living as a vegan and his book at https://youtu.be/EXqEjUNqsOw
Reviewed in VegNews Magazine on Jul 1 2016.
REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS
As a vegetarian transitioning to a vegan
lifestyle I found A Vegan Ethic
extremely thought provoking, informative & comprehensive. The book goes so
much further than dealing with diet & animal cruelty. The author, Mark
Hawthorn also covers human rights and equality issues... something I hadn't
really considered as part of my vegan transition. It has inspired me not only
to stop eating the few animal products I occasionally consume (eggs, cheese,
butter & honey) but to also be mindful about how & where my plant based
foods come from. I would certainly recommend A Vegan Ethic to anyone who is interested in raising their
awareness of cruelty & exploitation to all living creatures (non-human
& human). ~ Ali Thornett, Top 200 Amazon Reviewer
Cindy Sheehan’s SOAPBOX, May 30, 2017: Veganism and the need for animal liberation, Non-violence and its extension into our diets.
On the soapbox this week Cindy speaks with committed animal
liberation and environmental activist Bob Linden. Bob speaks with
Cindy about non violence against animals and the planet in the form of
veganism- abstaining from eating anything that comes from the exploitation of
animals.
Audio interview here: http://cindysheehanssoapbox.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-people-speak-w-cindy-sheehan-bob.html
Climate
Catastrophe, Carnivorism, Corporate/Industrial Food System
(At May Vegetarian Potluck we showed the new film What the Health! created by the makers of Cowspiracy. Info: http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2017/05/omni-vegetarian-action-newsletter-37.html
)
MenuScientific Amer
ican
People Still Don't Get the Link between Meat
Consumption and Climate Change By Annick de Witt. Scientific
American, April 11, 2016. SUBSCRIBE
A new kind of messaging could make it easier to appreciate the enormous benefits of moving away from
a meat-heavy diet
Credit: Westend61/Getty
Images
ADVERTISEMENT
|
REPORT
AD
Over
the last decade or so, the media have slowly but steadily fed the public
information about the staggering impact of our meat-eating habits on the
environment, and on climate change in particular. For instance, one recent study found that a global
transition toward low-meat diets could reduce the costs of climate change
mitigation by as much as 50 percent by 2050. From scientific reports and
articles in magazines, to viral Facebook videos to documentaries like Cowspiracy and Meat the Truth, the
news about the exorbitant contribution of a carnivorous to the greenhouse
problem is clearly spreading.
However,
despite all these messages, new
research by my colleagues and myself shows that most
people are still not aware of the full extent of meat’s climate impacts.
We examined how citizens in America and the Netherlands assess various
food and energy-related options for tackling climate change. We presented
representative groups of more than 500 people in both countries with three
food-related options (eat less meat; eat local and seasonal
produce; and eat organic produce) and three energy-related options (drive
less; save energy at home; and install solar panels). We asked them
whether they were willing to make these changes in their own lives, and whether
they already did these things. While a majority of the surveyed people
recognized meat reduction as an effective option for addressing climate change,
the outstanding effectiveness of this option, in comparison to the other
options, was only clear to 6% of the US population, and only 12% of the Dutch
population.
That
is remarkably low! Considering that climate change is one of the greatest
challenges of our time, wouldn’t we want people to know the power of
a simple solution that is in their own hands?
In
terms of communication efforts for behavioral change, the outstanding
effectiveness of reducing meat consumption could be a game-changer: knowing
that it makes such a big difference may
motivate people to change. This is particularly so, because the research
results also show a direct relationship between this knowledge and people’s
willingness to consume less meat as well as their actual meat consumption. So
knowledge does seem to be power, in this case.
However,
to put that last finding in perspective, this may not be a causal relationship.
People who already eat less meat may be more open to hear and retain
information on the climate impacts of meat, while people who eat lots of meat
may be more inclined to deny or downplay it. That is, behaviors may inform
knowledge as much as knowledge informs behavior. And as many studies have
shown, although knowledge is an important aspect of behavioral change, it alone
is rarely enough for people to change their lifestyles. Changing behaviors as
intimate and culturally engrained as people’s daily dietary habits therefore
demands a careful consideration of the psychological and cultural dynamics at
play.
Currently,
most communications around meat and climate change are in the category of ‘the
pointing finger’, thereby creating guilt, shame, and stigmatization among
committed carnivores, and activating psychological mechanisms of denial and
downplay. Stating that eating meat is ‘bad’ therefore doesn’t seem to work that
well.
However,
for people who already identify as environmentalists, this strategy can be very
effective. They tend to embrace this message, especially if the finger is
pointed at an external other they are suspicious of (e.g., ‘the capitalist
system’, ‘the meat-industry’). We see this in the success of Cowspiracy, which readily convinced countless
people to ‘go vegan.’ Many of these people have a postmodern worldview, are
aligned with environmental values, and are suspicious of the corporate
influences in our economic system ~ so the message is easy to digest.
However,
if these communications are hoping to convince the rest of the population, we
urgently need to move beyond finger pointing tactics. This counts particularly
for people with more traditional and modern worldviews, who generally don’t
identify as environmentalists or hold strong green values. Perhaps this is the
reason environmental organizations have been remarkably silent on the issue of
meat consumption, and why the topic is still often lacking in discussions on
climate change. Since we haven’t quite figured out how to communicate it in a
non-paternalistic, non-judgmental way, most institutions stay away from
meddling in affairs as personal as what is on one’s plate.
We
seem to be in dire need of an inspiring and empowering narrative about
climate change and the impact of our diets. The good thing is, the situation
around meat is empowering, as it puts the
power back in our own hands (and mouths). We are not at the mercy of the
system, but have substantial influence ourselves. Likewise, it is that
the most effective way by far for individuals to do their part tends
to also lead to better health, weight control, creativity in the kitchen, and
animal welfare. While environmental behaviors often involve sacrifices, the
meat-reduction option offers a range of personal benefits.
According
to a 2015 Chatham House Report “Changing climate, changing diets”, people in
industrialized countries consume on average around twice as much meat as
experts deem healthy. In the US the multiple is nearly three times. Adoption of
a healthy diet would therefore generate over a quarter of the emission
reductions needed by 2050! The invitation for people is thus not to give up
their delicious steak and become vegetarian (something they may consider
‘extreme’), but rather to do something that serves themselves: eat a little
less meat and get healthier. Become ‘flexatarian’, as people call this new
trend. For a world that is also struggling with obesity and many other health
problems, the news couldn’t be better; address two massive problems for the
efforts of one.
In
addition, this meat-reduction option fits seamlessly with an era in which the
‘consciousness movement’ increasingly influences mainstream culture. People pay
more attention to the origins of their food, value their connection with
nature, and generally show more concern for their health and well-being,
including food habits and body awareness. We see this for example in the
countless yoga studios popping up in big cities, the 'hipness' of organic food,
the super foods that are nowadays also found in
conventional supermarkets, and struggling fast food corporations like
MacDonald’s. It also resonates with the ubiquitous search for 'balance'. This
means that the cultural evolution of society is moving in the right direction: we
have the Zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, working in favor of
us.
This
is of crucial importance. As many authors have argued, the greatest potential
for a shift towards sustainable lifestyles is through a change in culture and
worldview—a shift in assumptions about human nature, our relationship with the
(natural) world around us, and our aspirations for the ‘good life’. Food
touches on social habits and norms; plays a role in mediating power and status;
is often key to social participation and acceptance; and is expressive of
collective values and identity. Consumption and lifestyles therefore tend to be
shaped more by people collectively than individually. The most effective
strategies thus engage people in groups, and give them opportunities to develop
their understanding and narratives about food in dialog together.
One
of my master students, Lena Johanning, translated this idea by developing
postcards that humorously depict "flexitarian" superheroes on
the front, with an invitation for a veggie dinner on the back, coupled
with some amazing fact about meat and climate change. In that way, she framed
plant-based dinners not only as environmentally effective, but also as fun and
social, an opportunity for people to get together and explore.
Concept
by Lena Johanning, design by Rutger Cox
Developing
a range of approaches, including framing plant-based dinners around creative
cooking and the deliciousness of vegetables, around the health and weight loss
benefits, or around what it means for animals and our connection with nature,
could be an effective way to speak to a wide range of people. Although no
studies have been done to scientifically examine such approaches, considering
what is at stake, it is certainly worth the experiment. Then, policy makers and
environmental organizations can start to tap into and reinforce the changing
culture and Zeitgeist. In that way, the change
can start to accelerate, supporting us to collectively get better at creating
the world we want.
References:
De
Boer, Joop, De Witt, Annick, & Aiking, Harry. (2016). Help the climate,
change your diet: A cross-sectional study on how to involve consumers in a
transition to a low-carbon society. Appetite, 98, 19-27.
Michaelis,
Laurie. (2007). Consumption behavior and narratives about the good life. In S.
C. Moser & L. Dilling (Eds.), Creating a Climate for Change.
Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
The
views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of
Scientific American.
Contents: Vegetarian
Action Newsletter #37, May 10, 2017
Vegan Poetry
Dr Ravi P Bhatia. Seeking Peace in Vegetarianism
Health, Nutrition
VegNews each
number packed with articles, recipes, ads for products about veg/vegan food.
What the Health! New
film about meat eating/carnivorism vs. health.
Marta
Zaraska. “Vegetable Regimen Can Aid
Weight Loss, Researchers Show.” NADG (March 27, 2017).
Masterson,
“Science, Not Emotion.” NADG (April
29, 2017). Vs. CAFOs.
Protection of Animals, Compassion
Wayne
Pacelle. The Humane Economy: How Innovators
and Enlightened Consumers Are Transforming the Lives of Animals. From the Humane Society of the United
States. Dolores Proubasta, “Lawmakers
Target Free Speech to Protect Industry.”NADG
(3-17-17). Arkansas’”Ag-gag” Bill.
Brian Bolton.
Evangelicals Inconsistent on Animal Care. Freethought Today · March 2017.
Chicago Tribune Editorial. “Attacking Animal
Cruelty.” NADG (May 8, 2017).
OMNI Vegetarian
Newsletter (October 2017)
Hawthorne, A Vegan Ethic
PETA Global (Spring 2017)
Climate, Carnivorism
Bourdain,
Documentary Wasted! The Story of Food
Waste
Climate and Eating Meat Google Search, May 2, 2017.
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