For quite a while now I have held the opinion that choosing to be vegetarian is more ethical than choosing to eating meat, and yet I have continued to eat meat just as eagerly as always.
You see, I was brought up on a farm, where meat was plentiful and the natural cycle of life was very much accepted. I have no problem with the idea of where my meat comes from, and if need be, I have no problem killing an animal so that I can eat.
I still hold that position in regards to meat eating, and often suggest that anyone who eats meat should be prepared to take responsibility for their choices and be prepared to slaughter an animal if the need, or even opportunity arises.
So why go vegetarian?
As time has gone by an overwhelming amount of information has crossed my path that leads me to believe that the current agricultural model is unsustainable and that the production of meat is largely responsible for a lot of the worlds ecological problems. There is so much evidence of this ( If you are prepared to look at it) that is seems to me that it is no longer ethical to consume meat that has been farmed in a monocultural system.
If you are unfamiliar with this information and are blessed with an open mind, this video presents some of this information along with other issues in a very entertaining and informative manner:
http://youtu.be/jqxENMKaeCU
Now, despite being overwhelmed by the weight of this information I am still not overly keen to change my meat eating ways. You see, I like meat. It tastes great! I see no moral problem killing an animal for my own sustenance and I have been brought up in a culture in which meat eating has played a central role.
A couple of days ago my partner Melissa was given a book called "a higher taste"a recipe book full of dishes prepared to hare krishna specifications . Great, I thought. Hare Krishna food tastes FANTASTIC and I wouldn't mind replacing a few meat dishes a week with some krishna food, y-know, to be more ethical and all that.
Then Melissa started reading the embedded literature about vegetarianism and arguments against meat eating, and before long she had decided that she wanted to take the leap and go full on vegetarian.
Every part of my emotional self wanted to shriek in opposition. I don't want to give up meat! I enjoy eating meat! Why would we want to change something that is so normal and natural to us!
I struggled to hold back all of the irrational arguments that were swelling up inside clutching to a past that the subconscious would prefer to see preserved and propagated.
But in reality I had no logical argument against a move to vegetarianism. Apart from the fear of change (which is a false fear) I had nothing to cling to.
I had already formed the opinion that vegetarianism was a more ethical way of life, so what could I possibly say in opposition to the suggestion of adopting it?
Nothing. Thats what.
And so it begins.
A steadfast meat eaters journey into Vegetarianism.
I hope to update this blog with some kind of regularity with reports on our progress.
health effects, budget effects, temptations, difficulties, and successes.
Its great to have you along for the ride. Maybe some of you will join me in this experiment and adopt vegetarianism yourself?
No pressure or judgment if you don't but it would be cool to have some company on the journey :)
First vegetarian shop / budget and first vegetarian meals coming up shortly
