My comments were questioning the logic of the comparison between usage of a product (deciding between a Prius or a Canyonero, resulting in personally contributing more or fewer carbon emissions) with production of a product (BeefCo producing n tonnes of meat, resulting in a specific cost to the environment before it even hits the supermarket shelf, and therefore whether we buy it or not).

Individuals do have power… they have power to decide what car they will buy… and they have power to decide what they will eat… and they have power to speak up about wasteful use of resources – such as those used for the production of meat. My point was that they don’t have power to prevent the expenditure of resources that have already been used.

I thought that you might have cause imply that the individual has no power.

I am sure I am wrong…

xx aa

But if an individual becomes Vegan, the corporations are still producing, feeding, killing, transporting, and processing the same amount of meat. Corporations take notice of much larger trends than an individual – or a few – making a change. Therefore I would contend that the idealistic view that “the average American does more to reduce global warming emissions by going vegetarian than by switching to a Prius” is, regretably, a delusion.

(Unfortunately, this analysis of the comparison is struck by the very same problem that taints the comparison itself: Comparing usage of a product with production of a product.)

I am not saying that people should not try to make whatever difference they can. What I am saying is that by far the most carbon emissions are generated by corporations. For them to change, there needs to be an exremely profound change in society’s view of consumerism on a broad scale.

unlike my other friend who is in love with animals and ‘forces’ her opinion onto everyone to ‘not eat a life,’ i’m vego for different reasons. I mean, we were born to eat animals, werent we? Didn’t we learn that from Charles Darwin? But times have changed. We don’t hunt for meat, we now harvest it. And yes, it’s ruining the world.

I started being vegetarian in October last year, and I know that I should have started sooner, but at least I’ve started.

To go vegan is hardcore Andrew. never doubt that. (it’s a compliment) =)

Once I finish uni I really do hope that I can maybe start a business or a company to get the word out. Or maybe I’ll just write a letter to the new Australian of the Year.

if you’re a hybrid car, i guess im still public transport. :/

thanks for the insightful blog.

=Deb=

We want bigger, cheaper, and more of it. One house is not enough. The meat we buy has to be the biggest for the cheapest price, and is eaten as often as possible. McDonalds is another example of this mind set.

There is so much wastage. Think about all the meat, fruit, and vegetables that are thrown away when they are no longer fit for consumption; and packaged food when they have reached their use by date. We only consume a fraction of what is on display.

If we practice a more self sufficient way of living we would cause much less of an impact on the environment. Organic farming is really important because the chemicals sprayed on plants have far reaching effects on the habitat of animals. We often forget that we are sharing this planet with other organisms, and they don’t have a voice.

Not only is the climate changing, lifestyle related disease is prevalent, and a growing list of animals are going extinct.