| Let us start with a brief background on some the | | | | vegetarianism either out of necessity, lack of funds for |
| reasons people have chosen a vegetarian diet in our | | | | instance, or because of a conscious or philosophical |
| history: | | | | viewpoint that the consumption of meat is |
| The idea of vegetarianism is not a new one, by any | | | | economically unsound and that vegetarianism will help |
| stretch of the imagination. Indeed man has in one way | | | | improve public health and curb many starvation issues. |
| or another eaten vegetarian diets since his beginnings. | | | | Environmental |
| Granted, the first vegetarians did so only out necessity. | | | | Environmental Vegetarians are similar to Economic |
| Meat may not have been available due to harsh | | | | Vegetarians. According to the United Nations, the |
| winters, animal migrational patterns or even poor tribal | | | | livestock sector (cows, chickens, pigs, etc) is one of |
| leadership. Only foraged food would have been | | | | the three most significant contributors to our most |
| available under such circumstances. | | | | serious environmental problems, at every scale from |
| As man evolved and became more able to manipulate | | | | local to global. It is one of the largest sources of |
| his environment, so came the option to choose. | | | | greenhouse gases. The use of feedlots, for cattle |
| Available facts point to the first vegetarian ideologies | | | | feeding, is one of the most inefficient and |
| being practiced in Egypt around 3,200BC where some | | | | environmentally harmful ways of producing meat; yet |
| religious groups abstained from eating flesh, as they | | | | they still remain widespread throughout cattle farming. |
| believed it produced bad karma with regards to their | | | | Religion |
| reincarnation. | | | | Many religions support vegetarianism including |
| Around 2000BC Hindus, on the Indian sub-continent, | | | | Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Taoism. They offer |
| began practising vegetarianism in the belief that a | | | | similar teachings which stress the value of all life and |
| vegetarian diet is needed to reach spiritual | | | | forbids the act of destroying life simply for human |
| enlightenment. Even today, Hindus make up the largest | | | | gains. |
| percentage of vegetarians on the Earth. | | | | Distaste |
| Also from the Indian sub-continent, around 600BC, | | | | Some people genuinely do not enjoy the taste of |
| came the religion of Jainism. In its teachings, Jainism | | | | meat, suggesting it tastes sweaty or fatty. Others |
| insists that we honor the spiritual nature of all life. | | | | choose to be vegetarian because they find meat |
| Extemely dedicated Jainists go to the extent of | | | | products aesthetically unappetizing. An example being, |
| straining insects from drinking water and even wearing | | | | the carcass of a herd animal lying in a field would |
| masks to avoid inhaling small, airborne creatures. They | | | | attract real carnivores such as big cats or wolves, but |
| will only eat fruits that have natually fallen from trees | | | | the mere sight would disgust most humans. |
| and are not supposed to eat honey or rooted plants. | | | | Animal Welfare |
| Janism is the only religion requiring their monks to be | | | | Many vegetarians, especially western vegetarians, are |
| vegetarian. | | | | motivated by animal welfare. They see animals as our |
| Vegetarianism was also popularised in Ancient Greece | | | | friends, with whom we share the world and not as |
| by many of the great philosophers including Plato, | | | | mere food. The fact that most parents actively |
| Socrates, and Aristotle. Indeed vegetarians in Europe | | | | encourage their children to love and appreciate animals |
| were originally referred to as Pythagoreans, after the | | | | is totally contradictory to the way in which humans |
| Greek Philosopher Pythagoras advocated a | | | | really respect and treat animals. |
| vegetarian diet for its nutritional and ethical values. He | | | | Personal Health |
| claimed, | | | | Possibly the single most reason more and more |
| "As long as Man continues to be the ruthless | | | | people are turning to vegetarianism, current studies are |
| destroyer of lower living beings he will never know | | | | showing that vegetarians are living longer and healthier. |
| health or peace. For as long as men massacre | | | | A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in |
| animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows | | | | 1999 found that the mortality ratio in fish eaters was |
| the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and | | | | lowest (0.82) then followed by vegetarians (0.84) |
| love." | | | | occasional meat eaters also at (0.84) compared to |
| It was not until 1847, when the first vegetarian society | | | | regular meat eaters at (1.0). |
| was formed in Ramsgate, Kent UK, that the name | | | | A recent study shown in the British Medical Journal |
| Vegetarian was first conceived. Contrary to popular | | | | concluded that, |
| belief, the word Vegetarian arose from the Latin word | | | | "Higher IQ at age 10 years was associated with an |
| `vegetus`, meaning `lively` which was how early | | | | increased likelihood of being vegetarian at age 30...IQ |
| vegetarians claimed their diet made them feel. | | | | remained a statistically significant predictor of being |
| Many reason have been voiced in favour of | | | | vegetarian as an adult..." |
| vegetarianism in our history including the long held | | | | Conscience |
| philosophy that vegetarians are living longer, healthier | | | | Conscience is a conglomeration of all the other |
| lives than their meat eating counter-parts. Much | | | | reasons. It is our moral conscience, which allows us to |
| evidence has already been accumulated to support | | | | weigh up what we see, hear and know. It is our choice |
| these claims. | | | | whether we allow it to influence out daily life. Those |
| Now let us look at some of the reasons that justify | | | | who are able to suppress their consciousness, |
| becoming vegetarian in our modern society. | | | | deliberately or otherwise, will ultimately make a decision |
| Necessity | | | | that will not favour the miss-fortunes of animals. |
| The case of necessity speaks for itself really; anyone | | | | I hope, that in some way, this article will encourage |
| unable to find a supply of meat sufficient to sustain life | | | | people to explore vegetarianism as a real option. |
| must find an alternative until such time that meat | | | | Whatever reasons for becoming vegetarian, one thing |
| becomes available again. | | | | is not in doubt; vegetarianism is here to stay and it |
| Economic | | | | looks likely to become the preferred diet of choice for |
| An Economic Vegetarian is someone who practices | | | | all humans in the not too distant future. |