Another political masterpiece!
British Health Minister Andy Burnham is urging us to give up meat; this will apparently help to save the planet.
Now, it is very noble of the Minister to try to help save the planet. However, his efforts do raise some questions.
- The thing is, if it is essential to stop eating meat then shouldn’t the government put its money where its mouth is and DO something about it? Such as tax it? (usually the first instinct!) Or do they only do things that are electorally favourable? (this is a rhetorical question, by the way – feel free not to answer it …)
- Or is this perhaps a long process of “educating the electorate”? Well, there are plenty who leave school hardly literate already, so he’s being a bit optimistic, isn’t he? And why start with poor, little Britain? There are tens if not hundreds of millions of our American buddies to convince ….
And at the same time as we are being sermonised about our meat-eating the the USA is edging towards the opening-up to oil-exploration of previously off-limit areas.
In our quaint British lingo this is known as “not singing from the same song-sheet”. And as for oil, I wish they would make up their minds once and for all; either we have to reduce its use or we don’t.
At the moment, all they seem to be doing is organising conferences (at vast carbon footprint) where they promise to reduce emissions. This is schizophrenia, isn’t it?
Re the British sermon, one wonders whether the noble minister is himself a vegetarian, and of course whether he is among the vast government contingent attending the international climate conference. And does he drive the car 50 metres to the baker’s on Sunday mornings?
Personally, I’d be prepared to give up meat if: A) I were convinced it would do any good and B) I thought that the great and good (and rich) would make a similar sacrifice.
These are two VERY big “ifs” ………
Must go – got some burgers in the pan …..
By Chris Snuggs
Learning from Dogs 
Animals are natural, eating animals is natural. Intensive agriculture is not natural at all.
Serious studies show that herding can be much more correct than phosphate based intense agriculture, which can be outright deleterious to the environment on a never seen before scale.
Solution: farm in special buildings (see latest Scientific American).
OK, I shall go devour something, for relaxation…
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Your post reminds me of the government’s actions regarding cigarette smoking. Here in the US there is massive government spending on TV ads encouraging people to quit an unhealthy habit. But if it’s so unhealthy, why not just ban it? Of course, there are many reasons not to, but it brings up the broader question: what level of government action is the right level when it comes to unhealthy behavior?
And I agree with Patrice’s comment above. There is a way to raise animals that is not so environmentally damaging. Unfortunately it is also not so efficient, and would certainly raise the cost of beef dramatically.
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Quite right – where does the government’s “right” to nanny us start and stop? Personally, I feel that if adults want to smoke knowing it is extremely bad and will kill them then they have to right do do so.
They are stupid, but people have a right to be stupid ONCE they are adults. Smoking has now in Europe been banned in public places, and rightly so. Smokers have the right to kill themselves, but not other people.
However, with GW we are taling about the survival of the planet. IF (a big if) this is what it takes, then my right to die knowing that my son won’t freeze, fry or be murdered as GW trips in SUPERSEDES the meat-eaters’ rights.
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Oh dear, I’ve discovered this blog only this week and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it – until now!
I know this is an old post, but in answer to your points:
A) I were convinced it would do any good:
There is a huge amount of evidence out their of the environmental, social, and animal welfare issues of the livestock industry, and a good place to start is: http://www.raw.info/
B) I thought that the great and good (and rich) would make a similar sacrifice.
If this was everyone’s attitude to everything how would we achieve any positive change in any form?
And eating less meat is not just about eating carrots! I discovered a fascinating new world of food when I stopped eating meat.
That said, I do agree with Patrick: eating animals is natural, just not in the way we do it…
http://atlasembraced.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/why-we-are-all-secretly-vegans_1875.html
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Joel, thanks for the comment – comments are always appreciated. Especially when they link our viewers to other interesting thoughts, such as your own writings. Paul
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