LONDON: October 1 marks the beginning of the month when vegetarians make an extra effort to bring awareness to the cause. A movement that goes back to the English Romantics led by Percy Shelley, the husband of Mary Shelley, who authored Frankenstein, which has been interpreted by some as a vegetarian manifesto. In 1944, the vegetarian movement gave birth to the vegan movement and these days in countries like the U.S. and the U.K. between 3 and 5% of people claim to live on a plant-based diet. People go vegetarian for several reasons. First and foremost, for the animals. Around 55 billion land animals get brutally killed every year for their flesh, milk and eggs. Boycotting such products decreases demand for animal farmed products and therefore weakens the exploitation of sentient beings. Vegetarians are pacifists, for the most part. By refusing to partake in the slaughter and exploitation of animals, vegetarians help to build a non-violent world. We can't have peace while the killing goes on. Vegetarianism is good for the environment. It's a widely known fact now that animal farming is the single major source of greenhouse emissions. Livestock drives deforestation, pollutes waterways and degrades the soil. It is a major stumbling block on the way to sustainability. There are also health benefits in adopting a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian lifestyle can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and prevent some forms of cancers. Also, vegetarians are less prone to obesity, which has become a global pandemic due to the animal protein rich diet type that has been relentless promoted for decades. Some insurance companies have even introduced policies with discounts for vegetarians. Vegetarianism is also a way to show solidarity with hungry people everywhere. A great bulk of grain production goes to feed livestock in rich countries, perpetuating a wasteful, uneconomic and unfair cycle of food production and distribution. The United Nations recommend a vegetarian diet; prominent philosophers have and continue to recommend a vegetarian diet and the increasing number of people who adopt it on a moral, health or green basis send a strong message to those currently living on an omnivorous diet. October 1st is the day to make the switch and embrace the vegetarian lifestyle. Official website BM
