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milestogo

(18,274 posts)
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 05:54 PM Oct 2018

Are you willing to consider giving up meat to reduce greenhouse gases causing climate change?


86 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
I'm already a vegan.
7 (8%)
I'm already a vegetarian.
19 (22%)
I already do meat-free Mondays.
1 (1%)
I'm willing to cut back on the amount of meat I eat.
34 (40%)
No, animal agriculture has nothing to do with climate change.
2 (2%)
No, I love meat.
4 (5%)
No fucking way.
11 (13%)
OTHER
8 (9%)
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
139 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Are you willing to consider giving up meat to reduce greenhouse gases causing climate change? (Original Post) milestogo Oct 2018 OP
My consumption is already largely limited to small additions to other cooked foods for flavor hlthe2b Oct 2018 #1
Me too, I have been this way since college. BigmanPigman Oct 2018 #4
I am willing to look at eating more vegan fare. Blue_true Oct 2018 #2
Next April will be fully thirty years Codeine Oct 2018 #3
I've been vegetarian for 10 and vegan for 5. MLAA Oct 2018 #21
Next April will be fully thirty years. LenaBaby61 Oct 2018 #54
I started as soon as I had my own place Codeine Oct 2018 #121
I'm vegan. Mendocino Oct 2018 #76
There is NO hostility to eating vegetarian... brooklynite Oct 2018 #100
I've been vegan for almost 30 years, too. Cha Oct 2018 #125
even though I am a vegetarian... IcyPeas Oct 2018 #5
Yes +1 BeckyDem Oct 2018 #7
Almond breeze is great for milk. Much better than silk in my opinion. Joe941 Oct 2018 #51
I cut way back and will do more to help relieve us from the greater harm. BeckyDem Oct 2018 #6
so what will happen to the farm animals? do they go extinct? samnsara Oct 2018 #8
As things stand, climate change is going to make all of us extinct. milestogo Oct 2018 #9
I avoid eating mammals but I could easily give up all meat. democratisphere Oct 2018 #10
Can't afford it, but the answer is NO anyway Puzzledtraveller Oct 2018 #11
Vegetables, legumes, and grains are much cheaper than meat. athena Oct 2018 #97
Yes, and also because I choose not to eat anything with a face (aka The Tommy LaSorta diet c-rational Oct 2018 #12
To folks who don't think they can give up animal products.... MLAA Oct 2018 #13
"do you love meat more than your kids" handmade34 Oct 2018 #55
That's nothing compared to the open hostility towards meat eaters dansolo Oct 2018 #134
this is the shit... handmade34 Oct 2018 #135
Yes, that's it right there. Most folks don't even see this, for some reason. JudyM Oct 2018 #72
I don't eat meat, rusty fender Oct 2018 #14
I have the same problem. milestogo Oct 2018 #15
My dog hates kibble - only wants meat womanofthehills Oct 2018 #80
Yeah, I'm a vegetarian TeapotInATempest Oct 2018 #91
It would be animal abuse if we tried to rusty fender Oct 2018 #95
I'm vegan at home, but only vegetarian at restaurants. Joe941 Oct 2018 #16
I say, good for you! That is understandable. MLAA Oct 2018 #19
I've drastically reduced my meat consumption cally Oct 2018 #17
Good! That is wonderful. MLAA Oct 2018 #20
No, but I will volunteer to be child-free. The_jackalope Oct 2018 #18
Weird, who said you couldn't eat what you wanted?? It was a poll!! nt USALiberal Oct 2018 #22
In that case, I changed my vote to "No fucking way." The_jackalope Oct 2018 #24
LOL, wow, you need a nap. nt USALiberal Oct 2018 #25
And you need to become OK with others holding strong opinions. The_jackalope Oct 2018 #28
LOL, even weirder response. nt USALiberal Oct 2018 #30
Whatevs, bro. The_jackalope Oct 2018 #31
Cool Dude, like WOW man. nt USALiberal Oct 2018 #32
Your mockery is devastating. The_jackalope Oct 2018 #34
Pointing out the child factor is a big contribution. Hortensis Oct 2018 #56
social engineering isn't automatically a bad thing. Kurt V. Oct 2018 #66
Quite the creative allegation. LanternWaste Oct 2018 #73
Aw, is someone trying to make you feel guilty? Iggo Oct 2018 #89
I am doing both (child-free and vegetarian). milestogo Oct 2018 #23
I'm child-free and have been vegan for over five years. athena Oct 2018 #98
I never said you couldn't do both The_jackalope Oct 2018 #109
I have greatly limited our household consumption of factory meat GulfCoast66 Oct 2018 #26
Better for health, better for the environment, eliminates animal cruelty. milestogo Oct 2018 #38
I am obviously not vegetarian, but respect those who chose to be GulfCoast66 Oct 2018 #39
Agree and same here. Except for fish, though, our meat comes Hortensis Oct 2018 #57
How many would eliminate using air conditioning ? MichMan Oct 2018 #27
Or refrigeration? The_jackalope Oct 2018 #29
I have yet to convince my wife we could do without a refrigerator... hunter Oct 2018 #126
I think we may have to consider a lot of things that seem difficult. milestogo Oct 2018 #36
I take that you do not live in Central Florida? GulfCoast66 Oct 2018 #40
Well they don't have air conditioning in many poor countries in Africa. milestogo Oct 2018 #41
Have you ever lived in a hot climate without AC? GulfCoast66 Oct 2018 #42
Yes, I have lived in SubSaharan Africa. milestogo Oct 2018 #48
Conditions required to sustain marginally decent life Hortensis Oct 2018 #59
Does climate change only affect Americans? milestogo Oct 2018 #67
Yet somehow our ancestors survived without it for decades MichMan Oct 2018 #63
AC saves older people's lives... Joe941 Oct 2018 #69
They also survived without making petulant, irrelevant responses on the internet. LanternWaste Oct 2018 #74
"Designed to make themselves appear clever" Tipperary Oct 2018 #86
we survived without a lot of things qazplm135 Oct 2018 #84
I hate air-conditioning violetpastille Oct 2018 #81
Solar panels work great to offset ac... Joe941 Oct 2018 #52
Dont they still expel hot air into the environment? MichMan Oct 2018 #65
ACs will move hot air... Joe941 Oct 2018 #68
I used to be a vegetarian, but now I eat some meat. marylandblue Oct 2018 #33
Vegetarian for 26 years Sprite Oct 2018 #35
give up your car and your AC, buying crap you don't need made in China - Kali Oct 2018 #37
I'm a hospice nurse driving around several counties I do have a hybrid car. mucifer Oct 2018 #53
I own a construction company with heavy equipment, trucks, cars, john657 Oct 2018 #71
Going vegan is a lot easier than giving up one's car or AC. athena Oct 2018 #104
so taking the easy way out is your recommendation? Kali Oct 2018 #113
Willing to give up a lot, cut back (which I already do), but end of the day JCMach1 Oct 2018 #43
And give up eating meat loaded with hormones? ProudLib72 Oct 2018 #44
Already have, I'm vegan davekriss Oct 2018 #45
I would give up meat to feed the starving. I'll go electric to cut carbon McCamy Taylor Oct 2018 #46
Going vegan does more for the environment than switching to an electric car. athena Oct 2018 #102
It's not an 'or' thing. It's going to take many paths, and you can take many at once, mahina Oct 2018 #108
I've raised beef cattle most of my life jcgoldie Oct 2018 #47
I've been a vegetarian Raine Oct 2018 #49
I gave up meat over 25 years ago PatSeg Oct 2018 #50
as long as i can have gravy. broccoli does not make gravy. pansypoo53219 Oct 2018 #58
I make vegetarian gravy all the time. Codeine Oct 2018 #75
i am not a fan of mushrooms. pansypoo53219 Oct 2018 #110
I make mine without Codeine Oct 2018 #116
i can fake a sauce. not gravy. i did buy mushroom POWDER for stroganoff. pansypoo53219 Oct 2018 #139
99% of the animal products at your grocery store come from the factory farm industry. athena Oct 2018 #101
buy WI organic eggs & milk. think my one butcher gets meat from the UWM ag program. pansypoo53219 Oct 2018 #111
The mind is willing, the body not so much. MyNameGoesHere Oct 2018 #60
We cut back big on portion size, which was amazingly easy actually. Hortensis Oct 2018 #61
I spent a long time honing my pitmaster skills. BlueTsunami2018 Oct 2018 #62
Slowly moving that way ..more expenses over ideology dembotoz Oct 2018 #64
NO!!!! john657 Oct 2018 #70
We're still meat eaters, but far, far less. mountain grammy Oct 2018 #77
Are vegetarians giving up beans? Sneederbunk Oct 2018 #78
Why would they? TeapotInATempest Oct 2018 #92
Plants are living things with feelings. I read this long ago----- panader0 Oct 2018 #96
Hey! I gave up smoking so I can give up meat lunatica Oct 2018 #79
Try Beyond Burgers TeapotInATempest Oct 2018 #93
Thanks! I will lunatica Oct 2018 #114
Sprouts carries the Beyond Burger patties. Codeine Oct 2018 #118
Great. I shop in both places lunatica Oct 2018 #124
Do you have a Whole Foods near you? TeapotInATempest Oct 2018 #137
When I wake up... SimpleC Oct 2018 #82
Because you are fucking awesome! Iggo Oct 2018 #90
Already a vegetarian (health reasons) crazycatlady Oct 2018 #83
Actually, I don't see how free range chickens would effect climate change womanofthehills Oct 2018 #85
Chicken manure produces methane. And grass-fed beef is actually worse for the environment. athena Oct 2018 #99
I agree with you handmade34 Oct 2018 #136
I eat very little meat Raven123 Oct 2018 #87
I wouldn't cry if it became generally unavailable. Iggo Oct 2018 #88
Yes.... but.... Adrahil Oct 2018 #94
I gave up meat in 1994. I don't miss it at all. I am a very healthy 72 yr old. wasupaloopa Oct 2018 #103
Going vegan cuts one's risk of Alzheimer's disease to zero. athena Oct 2018 #106
you are spreading a lot of manure in this thread but vegan cutting risk of Alzheimers to zero is Kali Oct 2018 #112
That's utterly absurd. Codeine Oct 2018 #117
You might be thinking of Mad Cow Disease... Phentex Oct 2018 #119
Two cows are standing in a field. Codeine Oct 2018 #122
First of all, post a poll that has a definite question. Not "willing to consider". bitterross Oct 2018 #105
Other: I already did cut back. raging moderate Oct 2018 #107
I'm down to fish and chicken now, and I could probably drop the chicken. VOX Oct 2018 #115
Fish only Pescatarian (sp?). That's what I want to be ! Remember reading Laura PourMeADrink Oct 2018 #123
Humans do that from time to time as well. VOX Oct 2018 #138
Is there such a thing as a part-time vegan? Phentex Oct 2018 #120
I'm already cutting back Calculating Oct 2018 #127
Becoming vegan, vegetarian, carless or even a hermit isn't going to solve climate change. roamer65 Oct 2018 #128
Extermination? milestogo Oct 2018 #129
Aggressive birth control promotion and monetary incentives for voluntary sterilization. roamer65 Oct 2018 #130
Imagine 10 billion trying to survive after this happens. Welcome to Earth 2100. roamer65 Oct 2018 #131
I eat eggs from pasture-raised chickens and about four ounces of chicken a week. femmedem Oct 2018 #132
No beef, but... RichardRay Oct 2018 #133

hlthe2b

(106,778 posts)
1. My consumption is already largely limited to small additions to other cooked foods for flavor
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:02 PM
Oct 2018

(like chili) and a actual serving (usually) chicken or turkey 1-2 x weekly.

I gave up fast food some time ago, so, while I eat eggs and considerable dairy, my meat consumption is down at least 90%.



Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
2. I am willing to look at eating more vegan fare.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:05 PM
Oct 2018

The issue that I need is a vegan cook that understands nutrition and issues like body size. I really would not want to deal with ideologues.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
3. Next April will be fully thirty years
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:06 PM
Oct 2018

of veganism for me. I’m always surprised by the amount of hostility that the simple act of avoiding meat generates here.

MLAA

(18,676 posts)
21. I've been vegetarian for 10 and vegan for 5.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:13 PM
Oct 2018

When you think of the animal cruelty, harm to the planet and the fact that choosing only plants is even healthier....there really is no reasonable excuse so I think folks react strongly since logic isn’t on their side. I was thinking it like smoking, that with more education more will stop eating animals. There are still smokers but lots more ex smokers (including myself 20 years ago). I just don’t think the shift will happen fast enough to save the planet.

LenaBaby61

(6,991 posts)
54. Next April will be fully thirty years.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 04:38 AM
Oct 2018

Same here (Except I began in my birth month, May)

I'd been toying around with low meat consumption since about 1978. But it wasn't until 1988 that I gave up meat & dairy for good. I eat raw foods, beans, nuts, grains. I love fruit & veggie smoothies and I do my fair share of baking, and I love any kind of greens, Kale Bok Choi, veggies in general. I haven't eaten a candy bar, potato chips or drank a soda or anything like it in 30 years. I also extend my veganism to the clothing/make-up/hair care products I purchase/use as well. I have another friend who considers herself vegan, but she wears leather goods. Uh no I tell her, she's not a vegan

The oddest thing about being a vegan is that when I began, I lost several friendships over it and a potential love interest, and to this day I still never got explanations from so-called friends/acquaintances as to WHY. There are still those who think I'm nuts for being a vegan ...

Oh well ....Their LOSS .. HA!

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
121. I started as soon as I had my own place
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:55 PM
Oct 2018

at 18. I didn’t lose any friends, in fact most of them tried veganism at one time or another, though none of them stuck with it. I guess I’m just more stubborn.

My wife and kids (stepkids, more accurately) aren’t vegan, but they eat quite a bit of what I prepare, and they all use almond milk because they have some level of lactose intolerance.

My FIL tried my vegan ribs once and kept telling the kids “He’s some kind of food genius! This is amazing!”

 

brooklynite

(96,882 posts)
100. There is NO hostility to eating vegetarian...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:27 PM
Oct 2018

There is annoyance at the recurring "holier than thou" posts BY vegetarians.

Cha

(305,861 posts)
125. I've been vegan for almost 30 years, too.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:07 PM
Oct 2018

Much better for my health.. I missed all that other but I chose health.

Now it turns out it's better for our Planet.. and there's still lots of healthy food to eat.

IcyPeas

(22,754 posts)
5. even though I am a vegetarian...
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:07 PM
Oct 2018

I know that dairy farms are problematic also. So I would - and could - cut down on dairy also. There are many alternatives these days.

BeckyDem

(8,361 posts)
6. I cut way back and will do more to help relieve us from the greater harm.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:10 PM
Oct 2018

The latest report should freak out everyone.

samnsara

(18,300 posts)
8. so what will happen to the farm animals? do they go extinct?
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:16 PM
Oct 2018

..I am a reluctant vampire.. the bloodier the better. I do give a silent thanks to the animal that sacrificed itself. I wish they could produce meat from non living things tho..

athena

(4,187 posts)
97. Vegetables, legumes, and grains are much cheaper than meat.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:04 PM
Oct 2018

If you look at the poorest countries, they're semi-vegan. It's the richest countries that eat the most animal products. But we're supposed to ignore all that and pretend that veganism is what's expensive.

At least, there is karma. Those who seek to save the animals end up also saving themselves. And those who couldn't care less about hurting innocent beings end up getting heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's.

c-rational

(2,886 posts)
12. Yes, and also because I choose not to eat anything with a face (aka The Tommy LaSorta diet
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:41 PM
Oct 2018

-he was a baseball manager). Much better for the Planet. I will also admit it was not till recently that I learned all protein is plant based. A good movie to watch regarding our diets is "What the Health"on Netflix. It speaks to our corporate diet, a push for curing disease and not preventing and much more. Worth the time.

MLAA

(18,676 posts)
13. To folks who don't think they can give up animal products....
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 06:46 PM
Oct 2018

I ask do you love your meat more than you love your kids. It really is that serious.

Truly, giving up animal and animal products is the single biggest thing most of us can do to save the planet. I’m nearly 60 and have no kids....but gave up meat 10 years ago and all animal products 5 years ago when I learned about the cruelty, impact on our planet and as a side benefit the health benefits.

You can do it, the stakes are that high 😉

handmade34

(22,950 posts)
55. "do you love meat more than your kids"
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:16 AM
Oct 2018

appears many here on DU do... I am constantly amazed at the open hostility that meat eaters display here and elsewhere... it is proven, it is science, it is REAL... animal agriculture is very large part of climate change and we must do something!


at least I hope meat eaters are walking instead of driving, planting trees, reducing consumption elsewhere, etc...


yes, the stakes are that high!

dansolo

(5,385 posts)
134. That's nothing compared to the open hostility towards meat eaters
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 06:00 AM
Oct 2018

"Do you love meat more than your kids?" What the fuck is that shit?

handmade34

(22,950 posts)
135. this is the shit...
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 07:09 AM
Oct 2018

the results are in... have been for decades.... climate change is real.... climate change is seriously affected by animal agriculture….

I have been trying to educate people for decades about the effects of animal agriculture on the environment... trying in a very polite, nice way (just cut consumption a little at a time)... the hostility has always come from the meat eaters who refuse to accept that they are part of the problem

we are all part of the problem and we make our choices... I am constantly trying to be better and accept my responsibility


we can cut down on meat consumption, we can consume locally, as much as possible, we can drive less, we can plant trees, we can support politicians who understand the dire nature of climate change and vote accordingly, etc....


silly to be hostile towards me it will not make me do any different, I will continue to try to encourage action in myself and others to help the planet, help the environment, to help our communities, our Children.


just a very, very few articles and information about climate change, what is causing it, what we can do about it and how it affects us and our children....

90% drop in meat intake needed to avoid crippling Earth's ability to sustain projected population
https://gulfnews.com/culture/environment/stop-eating-meat-to-halt-climate-change-study-1.2288646


Global Warming May Harm Children for Life
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609629/global-warming-may-harm-children-for-life/



more than 88 percent of the existing global burden of disease due to climate change occurs in children
https://www.ecowatch.com/how-climate-change-impacts-children-1881782625.html

Climate change is already having a devastating impact on the world’s children
https://www.uncclearn.org/sites/default/files/inventory/unicef203.pdf

Climate change poses threats to human health, safety, and security, and children are at particularly high risk. The effects of climate change on child health include:
Physical and psychological sequelae of weather disasters (e.g. hurricanes, flooding, wildfires)
Increased heat stress
Decreased air quality
Altered vector-borne disease patterns
Food, water, and nutrient insecurity
https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/climate-change/Pages/Climate-Change-and-Childrens-Health.aspx



TeapotInATempest

(804 posts)
91. Yeah, I'm a vegetarian
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:46 PM
Oct 2018

But I have cats (all rescues) and cats are obligate carnivores. I roll with it, because what else can I do? It's not the cats' fault, nor mine, since we rescued them of the streets and spayed/neutered them so they won't produce more of the fuzzy little meat eaters.

 

rusty fender

(3,428 posts)
95. It would be animal abuse if we tried to
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:03 PM
Oct 2018

convert them to vegetarianism, and it wouldn’t work, but someday science may develop a nonmeat alternative that they would actually eat, like, and provide for their physiological needs. This likely will not happen in our lifetimes so we need to continue to feed them meat-based dog and cat food.

MLAA

(18,676 posts)
19. I say, good for you! That is understandable.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:06 PM
Oct 2018

For now I live in a large city with more vegan restaurants than I could dream of. However living in a small or even a medium town can sure limit your options. As long as you don’t eat out every night, I say you are doing your part to save the planet 😉👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

cally

(21,716 posts)
17. I've drastically reduced my meat consumption
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 07:09 PM
Oct 2018

Mostly just in soups out or if I’m at someone’s house but I do eat a little fish now and then. I’m cutting back more.

The_jackalope

(1,660 posts)
18. No, but I will volunteer to be child-free.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 07:37 PM
Oct 2018

Forgoing one child saves 60 times more CO2 per year than switching to a plant-based diet. A couple who remain child-free save, on average, over two childs'-worth of CO2, or the equivalent of 120 people going vegan. My choice is clear. I prefer to do things that will actually make a difference. I will eat what I want, thanks.

Want to fight climate change? Have fewer children

The greatest impact individuals can have in fighting climate change is to have one fewer child, according to a new study that identifies the most effective ways people can cut their carbon emissions.

The next best actions are selling your car, avoiding long flights, and eating a vegetarian diet.

The_jackalope

(1,660 posts)
24. In that case, I changed my vote to "No fucking way."
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:23 PM
Oct 2018

The implication of the poll title is that meat-eating is a choice that is strongly discouraged by good environmentalists. In other words, the poll itself is an attempt at social engineering.

No fucking way.

The_jackalope

(1,660 posts)
28. And you need to become OK with others holding strong opinions.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:30 PM
Oct 2018

This topic is one that always gets my goat.
And then roasts it on a spit over a low fire and carves it for dinner.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
56. Pointing out the child factor is a big contribution.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:25 AM
Oct 2018

USALiberal, you and others should take note of that simple reality. It'll be too late for everyone to act on it, of course.

For those it's not but are unwilling to take that giant step, maybe have only one child. And of course raising him or her veggie/vegan would help offset the additional global burden.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
73. Quite the creative allegation.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 11:46 AM
Oct 2018

"the poll itself is an attempt at social engineering..."

Quite the creative allegation. Although I realize in the here and now, providing objective evidence to support a premise is simply too inconvenient.

milestogo

(18,274 posts)
23. I am doing both (child-free and vegetarian).
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:23 PM
Oct 2018

But I still have a carnivorous dog.

However, he has volunteered to be on a prey diet of squirrels and rabbits if I just let him off the leash, thereby avoiding factory farming.

athena

(4,187 posts)
98. I'm child-free and have been vegan for over five years.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:07 PM
Oct 2018

It's possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
26. I have greatly limited our household consumption of factory meat
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:29 PM
Oct 2018

We still eat some. But ways less than we used to. We catch and eat lots of our own fish. I hunt and kill 2-3 deer a year which is the most humane and healthy meat possible.

And we pay extra to eat locally small farmed chicken and pork.

It is almost impossible to find local beef in Florida so we eat less beef.

All this because we like good food. The environment is an additional benefit.

We should sell environmental eating as better eating. Because it truly is.

milestogo

(18,274 posts)
38. Better for health, better for the environment, eliminates animal cruelty.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:54 PM
Oct 2018

When people ask me why I became a vegetarian I give all three reasons.

I've been vegetarian for over 8 years and have never been tempted to go back to eating meat. Its because I have all three reasons, although the fate of the planet weighs the most heavily on me.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
39. I am obviously not vegetarian, but respect those who chose to be
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:05 PM
Oct 2018

We eat 1-2 meat free meals a week because it is good eating.

The meat we eat is either what we kill, or hopefully raised locally and humanely treated. Not always, but we try. Because the quality is better. We do not stress about it.

But I am upper middle class. And eating like we do is expensive.

I just spent 2 weeks in Europe. Vegetables are cheap and high quality and meat is local and expensive. Don’t know how, but we need to find a way to do that here.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
57. Agree and same here. Except for fish, though, our meat comes
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:44 AM
Oct 2018

from the market.

The nearest market for really good produce is nearly an hour away, such a shame. I do have hope that our chain supermarkets will move farther that direction as younger generations become more of their market. There are still plenty of people here in the south who cook veggies into mush, a carryover from the days of no refrigeration, working long hours to just get by, and...relatively little meat.

hunter

(39,059 posts)
126. I have yet to convince my wife we could do without a refrigerator...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:15 PM
Oct 2018

... even though there was a time in my childhood we didn't have one, and times in my young adulthood I didn't have one. We're fortunate to live in a place we don't need air conditioning, much heat, or the typical automobile commute to work.

I'm vegetarian most days of the week, my wife is vegetarian all of the time, but we'd be silly to brag about it because we don't expect the same of our dogs.

I do tend to have a low opinion, however of people who do not spay or neuter their dogs and cats (all our dogs misfits from the animal shelter) and people who do not practice birth control themselves. There's no shortage of dogs, cats, or people on this planet.

Once upon a time my parents and my wife's parents thought it their religious duty to have many children, so they did and were celebrated for it in church, but there came a point they had more children than they could comfortably support and then they became advocates of sex education and birth control. (I knew all about sex and birth control years before it started to interest me...)

We and our siblings never thought it would be a good idea to have a station wagon full of kids. Statistically if everyone had the same number of kids we and our siblings do the human population of earth would be shrinking.




milestogo

(18,274 posts)
36. I think we may have to consider a lot of things that seem difficult.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:50 PM
Oct 2018

People survived for eons without air conditioning.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
40. I take that you do not live in Central Florida?
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:10 PM
Oct 2018

That said, if we used solar power like we should we would need limited fossil fuels.

Living an environmental friendly lifestyle does not, and cannot mean suffering, which living without AC means here.

milestogo

(18,274 posts)
41. Well they don't have air conditioning in many poor countries in Africa.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:15 PM
Oct 2018

However a lot of them are going straight to solar power for electrification, which is pretty cool.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
42. Have you ever lived in a hot climate without AC?
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:19 PM
Oct 2018

I have. It sucks and is not a winning strategy.

We can live in an environmental world and still be comfortable.

milestogo

(18,274 posts)
48. Yes, I have lived in SubSaharan Africa.
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 10:07 PM
Oct 2018

You can get used to a lot of sacrifices if you need to or want to.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
59. Conditions required to sustain marginally decent life
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:49 AM
Oct 2018

are not negotiable in this age, so why argue as if they were?

The fact is that many millions of Americans now live where they once did not -- because of AC. We don't accept people dying from extreme temperatures the way we once did, climate change means far more would do just that than they once did, and giving up AC is not an option.

milestogo

(18,274 posts)
67. Does climate change only affect Americans?
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:33 AM
Oct 2018

No, it affects the whole planet, regardless of where you live.

Who contributed the most to global warming? Was it developed countries or the third world?

So are we really in a position to say there are some sacrifices we won't even think about?

 

Joe941

(2,848 posts)
69. AC saves older people's lives...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:55 AM
Oct 2018

The old are not able to cope with the heat as well as younger healthier people. Yeah the human race would survive without AC, but life expectancy would decrease.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
74. They also survived without making petulant, irrelevant responses on the internet.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 11:49 AM
Oct 2018

They also survived without making petulant, irrelevant responses on the internet designed only to make themselves and their own selfishness appear clever.

qazplm135

(7,529 posts)
84. we survived without a lot of things
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:17 PM
Oct 2018

doesn't make it optimal or the right choice.

Quality and length of life matters.

violetpastille

(1,483 posts)
81. I hate air-conditioning
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:05 PM
Oct 2018

I'd give it up happily.

Just don't take away my red lipstick and I'll be alright.

 

Joe941

(2,848 posts)
52. Solar panels work great to offset ac...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 03:50 AM
Oct 2018

The times you need ac are usually the times the sun is shining most. Solar has come a long way recently. But it is expensive. Trump cut solar subsidies which really hurt solar affordability.

 

Joe941

(2,848 posts)
68. ACs will move hot air...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:52 AM
Oct 2018

from inside the house to outside. No additional heat is generated than what is absorbed in energy from the panel. Its conservation of energy. A solar panel is no worse for global warming than a dark area of ground. Now I don't know about what resources it takes to make the panel - that is a different question I don't know the answer to. Someday I hope to set up a solar panel array.

Kali

(55,876 posts)
37. give up your car and your AC, buying crap you don't need made in China -
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 08:52 PM
Oct 2018

that will have more effect than quitting "meat" whatever that means. livestock are probably the best tool we have to actually do something about CO2. look into it.

http://www.soilcarboncowboys.com/

 

john657

(1,058 posts)
71. I own a construction company with heavy equipment, trucks, cars,
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:08 AM
Oct 2018

how am I supposed to operate my company if I give up all those?


Giving up AC is not much of a problem in Wyoming, it only gets hot about 2 months a year.

athena

(4,187 posts)
104. Going vegan is a lot easier than giving up one's car or AC.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:49 PM
Oct 2018

It's a lot easier than lots of other things, as well, especially these days with veggie burgers, vegan butter and cheese, and plant milks. It's a little difficult at first while you figure out what to eat, but help is available online. Once you learn a few recipes, it only gets easier over time. Anyone can go vegan, and they'll save money and improve their health in the process. Most people, on the other hand, are not in a position to be able to give up their car or go without air conditioning without losing their job.

Kali

(55,876 posts)
113. so taking the easy way out is your recommendation?
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 03:46 PM
Oct 2018

why bother at all? tell you what, I will use my cows to heal and preserve open landscapes, put carbon back into the soil, all while producing natural, tasty, healthy protein from the sun and the plants they eat directly and you can go ahead and ride your virtue pony to the store and purchase lots of well traveled and packaged processed crap to help prop up your fantasy of making one whit of difference while eating that garbage.

JCMach1

(28,139 posts)
43. Willing to give up a lot, cut back (which I already do), but end of the day
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:22 PM
Oct 2018

I'm an omnivore...

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
44. And give up eating meat loaded with hormones?
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:25 PM
Oct 2018

Who cares if a few cow farts warm up the world a couple of degrees? Who cares if pig shit lagoons get washed away in floods and contaminate hundreds of acres of land and a city's water supply? I admire Don Jr, and I want to kill as many animals as possible!

davekriss

(4,974 posts)
45. Already have, I'm vegan
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:25 PM
Oct 2018

Three reasons I choose to be vegan:

1) ever hear a truck full of pigs on their way to slaughter? Sounds like terrified children. I don’t have to contribute to that.

2) it significantly reduces the ecological footprint necessary for me to eat (the focus, I think, of the op).

3) it’s healthier.

athena

(4,187 posts)
102. Going vegan does more for the environment than switching to an electric car.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:36 PM
Oct 2018
A recent study by scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden confirmed that cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from transportation and energy use alone won’t be enough to curb climate change. Dr. Fredrik Hedenus, the lead scientist of the study, believes that “reducing meat and dairy consumption is key to bringing agricultural climate pollution down to safe levels.” Similarly, Ilmi Granoff from the Overseas Development Institute has urged officials to “[f]orget coal. Forget cars. The fastest way to address climate change would be to dramatically reduce the amount of meat people eat.


https://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-reiman/electric-cars-arent-enoug_b_5187669.html
Emphases mine.

mahina

(19,048 posts)
108. It's not an 'or' thing. It's going to take many paths, and you can take many at once,
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 02:04 PM
Oct 2018

Or which you will, while we have a choice.

I was veggie for many years, then wasn’t, and now am again. And I’m reducing my CO2 footprint in lots of other ways too, and helping others do the same without harassing them.

Mostly.

Because it’s more effective than being disregarded and closing doors.

jcgoldie

(12,046 posts)
47. I've raised beef cattle most of my life
Tue Oct 9, 2018, 09:43 PM
Oct 2018

About 10 years ago we started raising dairy goats as well. Still have a small herd of Angus cows. We don't do it the mass produced way with hormones and regular antibiotic use and feedlots a foot deep in manure. After reading a lot about environmental impacts my wife and I have given up the steak 3 nights a week lifestyle in favor of switching over to Boer meat goats. Well its still more impact than you vegans. But goats are browsers whose environmental impact is far less than cattle on several levels. We do also keep a lot of bees so I hope that also offsets some of the environmental pressures of meat production. Oh and we also live in humid southern Illinois in a 150 year old farmhouse with no AC. I guess what I mean by that is we all make choices and impact the environment in different ways, it isn't black and white about just eating meat or not.

Raine

(30,633 posts)
49. I've been a vegetarian
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 02:30 AM
Oct 2018

Last edited Wed Oct 10, 2018, 04:26 AM - Edit history (1)

since I was about 9yrs old. I would like to go all the way and become a vegan, I'm working on it.

pansypoo53219

(21,789 posts)
58. as long as i can have gravy. broccoli does not make gravy.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:48 AM
Oct 2018

we are eating less meat. no factory farm stuff.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
75. I make vegetarian gravy all the time.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 11:50 AM
Oct 2018

Not hard at all, and my non-veg family love it.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
116. I make mine without
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:35 PM
Oct 2018

because my whole family is anti-mushroom.

Myself, I could live on the things.

pansypoo53219

(21,789 posts)
139. i can fake a sauce. not gravy. i did buy mushroom POWDER for stroganoff.
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 04:16 PM
Oct 2018

can't make bean stroganoff either.

athena

(4,187 posts)
101. 99% of the animal products at your grocery store come from the factory farm industry.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:31 PM
Oct 2018

Even if you avoid meat and fish, if you buy milk, cheese, or eggs at your grocery store, you are supporting the factory-farm industry with your hard-earned dollars. Don't be fooled by the feel-good words and pictures on the package. It all comes from the factory farm industry that tortures animals and is destroying our environment.

pansypoo53219

(21,789 posts)
111. buy WI organic eggs & milk. think my one butcher gets meat from the UWM ag program.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 03:29 PM
Oct 2018

sadly the new amish chicken tastes like chicken of yore. god i hate plastic wrap.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
61. We cut back big on portion size, which was amazingly easy actually.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:02 AM
Oct 2018

I remember the first time I read, long ago, that a recommended meat portion was about the volume of a pack of cards. What?! Like that's going to happen! Turned out that's a very enjoyable amount, with every bite enjoyed and leaving us feeling satisfied, and a typical supermarket steak will produce 4 nice, thick portions, 2 meals for us.

The biggest shift, though, was to deliberately building dinner menus around, and shifting culinary attention to what were once "side" dishes. I first got this idea from a foodie forum poster who put an end to throwing away unused vegetables this way. When planning dinner, out come the veggies, (in my case planning something as a main and often a second something), then into the freezer for a meat to go with.

Let's face it, we are all living through what has become inevitable and unavoidable societal change to more sustainable levels of meat consumption. And my thanks to those who help by not eating it at all and pushing supermarkets to better produce sections.

Our DIL no longer eats beef or pork, though still eats chicken and fish, and with her and what with someone at every sizable potluck now not eating meat, I've deliberately grown a little repertoire of vegan mains for the latter. I've even served a couple for dinner, though I've never used that word around my husband and won't be.

And so it goes.

BlueTsunami2018

(4,073 posts)
62. I spent a long time honing my pitmaster skills.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:19 AM
Oct 2018

Smoking meat is one of the few true pleasures I have. And it’s so damn tasty.

No, I’ll not be giving up meat.

 

dembotoz

(16,922 posts)
64. Slowly moving that way ..more expenses over ideology
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:39 AM
Oct 2018

Not going organic, but less meat.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
79. Hey! I gave up smoking so I can give up meat
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 11:57 AM
Oct 2018

Although I would love fake meat as long as it tastes good. They’re already working on that by replicating real meat in the lab. It’s like cloning protein, not the cow.

TeapotInATempest

(804 posts)
93. Try Beyond Burgers
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:52 PM
Oct 2018

They are honest-to-god good; even my meat-eating acquaintances say so. (I don't work for them!)

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
118. Sprouts carries the Beyond Burger patties.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:48 PM
Oct 2018

Most stores that stock them keep them in the meat section.

Albertsons has some of the frozen “ground beef” style products. Note that those will not hold together in a patty.

TeapotInATempest

(804 posts)
137. Do you have a Whole Foods near you?
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 08:39 AM
Oct 2018

That's where I get mine. Some restaurants now serve them, too, as their veggie burger.

You can put your zip code into their website to check who carries them: https://beyondmeat.com/products/view/beyond-burger

 

SimpleC

(279 posts)
82. When I wake up...
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:09 PM
Oct 2018

I have bacon for breakfast, for lunch I eat cow, for dinner I eat more cow , covered in Bacon sauce, for snacks it's bacon and cow meat. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I eat more meat and bacon.





womanofthehills

(9,336 posts)
85. Actually, I don't see how free range chickens would effect climate change
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:17 PM
Oct 2018

I have chickens (only for their eggs) and I gather their manure for my garden.

I only buy chicken that is organic free range so I know the chickens lived a humane life and know I'm not putting hormones, antiobiotics, glyphosate and toxins into my body. It's the fkn factory farms that are the problem. OMG! If you ever visited one of these horrible chicken farms you would never eat chicken that is not free range again - and real free range, not coped-up chickens that get to see the sun for only 15 minutes a day.

Same as grass fed beef. I live in a ranching community in the high desert of NM. Cows that get to roam and eat grasses are so different then factory farming cows. I will not touch meat that is not grass fed, and luckily out here in the high desert of NM, I can buy beef from ranchers I know.

I think it's good to support the people who are making a effort to raise animals humanely even if it costs more money. Eat less meat, but higher quality meat. Only eat meat of animals allowed to forage on the land.

athena

(4,187 posts)
99. Chicken manure produces methane. And grass-fed beef is actually worse for the environment.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:24 PM
Oct 2018
http://mentalfloss.com/article/504985/grass-fed-beef-actually-worse-planet-report-finds

To begin with, all cattle are a huge drain on the environment, no matter how you feed them. The report estimates that the livestock supply chain generates around 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and cattle create 65 percent of those livestock emissions. But even compared to cattle in general, grass-fed animals are heavy polluters. Within the global protein supply, grass-fed beef makes up around 1 gram of protein per person, per day, compared to 13 grams from all ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.). But these grazed cattle generate up to a third of all global greenhouse emissions from ruminants. In other words, grass-eating cattle create an outsized cost—emissions-wise—compared to the meat they provide.

And the carbon sequestration doesn't help enough to offset that. The report estimates that the carbon sequestration that might occur from grazing practices would only offset emissions by 20 percent.


There is no such thing as humane meat. In the end, you are killing, or paying for the killing, of an innocent being who wants to live.

handmade34

(22,950 posts)
136. I agree with you
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 07:26 AM
Oct 2018

small production of meat and products is not the problem... I do not eat meat but I raise a few chickens, turkeys and would like a few pigs and goats... I understand that people eat meat and help to provide some healthy food for those people (mostly family)




 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
94. Yes.... but....
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:00 PM
Oct 2018

I am willing to do so. However, I think other measures we could and should implement would have more impact and be less economically and culturally disruptive.

A question back at ya..... would you be willing to accept nuclear power in order to expedite eliminating fossil fuels for electricity production?

 

wasupaloopa

(4,516 posts)
103. I gave up meat in 1994. I don't miss it at all. I am a very healthy 72 yr old.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:46 PM
Oct 2018

I believe the meat consumption in this country contributes to cancer and reducing meat or eliminating from our diets will cut medical and insurance costs.

athena

(4,187 posts)
106. Going vegan cuts one's risk of Alzheimer's disease to zero.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:53 PM
Oct 2018

Considering how terrified so many people are of heart disease and Alzheimer's, I'm surprised that everyone isn't vegan already.

Kali

(55,876 posts)
112. you are spreading a lot of manure in this thread but vegan cutting risk of Alzheimers to zero is
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 03:38 PM
Oct 2018

complete bullshit.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
117. That's utterly absurd.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:40 PM
Oct 2018

I’m a vegan, have been forever, and I would never make such a ridiculous claim. No reputable researcher would ever say anything that over-the-top.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
122. Two cows are standing in a field.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:59 PM
Oct 2018

This first cow asks the second “So, what do you think of this whole Mad Cow Disease situation?”

The second cow says “What do I care — I’m a tractor!”

 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
105. First of all, post a poll that has a definite question. Not "willing to consider".
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:50 PM
Oct 2018

Make the question more clear please. Almost everyone is "willing to consider" something. I just gave in to the possibility of considering it and scheduled it for 9pm tonight. Done.

Ask a question like "Will you give up meat to reduce greenhouse gases causing climate change?"

That's a real question, not some mealy-mouthed, kinda-sorta question.

Yes, we should cut back on consumption. There are too many people on the earth to continue eating meat in the same proportion we have been.

I also think we can find better ways to produce the meat. I'd like to see some comparisons between the factory farms here in the US and the way production is done in other parts of the world where they generally are better at considering the environment.

raging moderate

(4,518 posts)
107. Other: I already did cut back.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:56 PM
Oct 2018

It took awhile to convince my husband that I wasn't causing malnourishment in myself. Now he has cut back, too.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
115. I'm down to fish and chicken now, and I could probably drop the chicken.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:18 PM
Oct 2018

There are so many genuinely tasty and nutritious meat alternatives now, that such a move wouldn’t be that difficult.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
123. Fish only Pescatarian (sp?). That's what I want to be ! Remember reading
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:00 PM
Oct 2018

long ago that eating fish is rationalized because they eat each other.

Phentex

(16,561 posts)
120. Is there such a thing as a part-time vegan?
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:53 PM
Oct 2018

Because ever since my son moved back home, we eat vegan all week. Then on the weekends, we might grill chicken or fish. Sometimes, we eat just vegan then too.

Calculating

(2,996 posts)
127. I'm already cutting back
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:25 PM
Oct 2018

Never gonna go fully veg, but I've cut the meat in my diet by about 70% over the past few years.

roamer65

(37,231 posts)
128. Becoming vegan, vegetarian, carless or even a hermit isn't going to solve climate change.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:33 PM
Oct 2018

There is only one way to reverse it. Sorry folks, it’s called population reduction.

You have to reduce the amount of human carbon footprints.

Realize one thing...the greater the population and the larger the depletion of resources...the leaner the population will have to be on the other side of the collapse.

roamer65

(37,231 posts)
130. Aggressive birth control promotion and monetary incentives for voluntary sterilization.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:39 PM
Oct 2018

Male or female.

If you commit to one child, you should have NO worries in your retirement.

There are ways to do it without genocide or even worse...war.

But my gut feeling is it will happen through world war.

femmedem

(8,455 posts)
132. I eat eggs from pasture-raised chickens and about four ounces of chicken a week.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:55 PM
Oct 2018

Climate change/animal cruelty were the two reasons. I was vegan for several years, but I hate to admit I feel better now that I've reintroduced a limited amount of eggs and chicken.

RichardRay

(2,613 posts)
133. No beef, but...
Thu Oct 11, 2018, 04:55 AM
Oct 2018

...elk. Two members of my 5 person household get tags each year. That puts 2, sometimes 3, elk in the freezer. The elk are usually taken within a 30 minute drive of the house, usually after no more than two days hunting. All processing is done at home. We usually have roasts and burger until the next season. We trade some for chicken, and it’s common to give as a gift.

Clearly not possible in many places, but it works where I live.

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