Jean,

//How can we expect these companies and government to change if we aren’t even willing to change ourselves?//

I too had that question. But it was pointed out to me that vegan/vegetarian diet could be expensive for a segment of society. For instance McDonalds does not carry a vegan/vegetarian sandwich and some people may only have enough money (and more importantly time) to consume food at such places. Demanding them to change is unfair.

Just what I heard.

All of the responses could have been released by an oil, coal or gas company as a justification for their continued damage to the planet, “Don’t be so extreme, it’s too hard to change, one person’s habits can’t do anything anyway, I’m not a good enough person to change!”

How can we expect these companies and government to change if we aren’t even willing to change ourselves?

Adam,

//Much like any meal, the diet could be unhealthy, but can be extremely healthy if eaten in proper balance just like any other diet. //

Yes. A non-vegetarian diet can be equally healthy or even healthier than a Vegan/Vegetarian diet. To me this line of argument is peripheral to the key issues at hand, animal suffering and global warming.

Anyway, my only suggestion to my fellow (am one too) vegan/vegetarians was to stop making silly arguments. You give me a vegan meal I can make it healthier by adding just a few meat servings to it.

And I agree with you; this does not have to be an all or nothing effort. Less consumption is still better than lot of consumption.

I disagree with you on the content of the calls though. The first two calls were ridiculous.

In response to C M’s comment "But please do not sell [a vegan diet] as healthy. It need not be.], I’m confused by your statement. Much like any meal, the diet could be unhealthy, but can be extremely healthy if eaten in proper balance just like any other diet. Your “problem” with the vegan/vegetarian gang is…that some people might not eat a balanced diet?

In regards to the voicemails, they were all very polite, as Jay pointed out, in sharp contrast to the meat/vegetarian debate several years ago, which shows how far many people have come on this subject. Unfortunately, the calls were mostly alone the lines of “I still eat meat because it’s inconvenient to do otherwise”, which is still an excuse and not a valid reason for keeping meat in their diet. And, guess what, that’s okay. We can do things that are bad for us/environment sometimes without attempting to justify those things to ease the guilt in our hearts.

I eat meat because I find it delicious and don’t want to cut it out of my diet. That doesn’t make me a monster nor am I solely responsible for all of the ills related to our environment caused by the raising and slaughtering of livestock. It does make me a contributor and I do (some) things to limit my impact. I eat less red meat, I actively pursue vegetarian/vegan restaurants, and I talk about the benefits of drastically cutting back on animal-based diets. I’m working at the level that I can and am comfortable with to make a difference. Could I do more and be better? Yes. It’s a goal to strive towards rather than something to bemoan or explain away when I haven’t lived up to the current expectations.

Only problem with Vegan/Vegetarian gang.

That diet is certainly better for environment. But please do not sell it as healthy. It need not be.

Fourth caller was good!

Suggestion to the second caller.

Use google

Wow! What passive aggression on the first call!