Personal Responsibility and Animal Consumption
I had a turkey sandwich and Greek pasta with feta cheese in it for dinner today. It was delicious.
I tend to limit my meat consumption. ~80% of the time when I eat meat, it is because there are not good meatless options available. They are too expensive or too bland. And if I want dairy-free vegan options the pickings get a lot worse.
~20% of the time when I eat meat, it is because I am craving it, because I want it, because it is delicious.
I'm here to talk about climate change.
You probably know that oil companies greenwashed recycling to make plastics pollution a consumer problem, so that oil companies could just keep producing plastics.
You've probably been told this by somebody who uses plastics all the time. I use plastics all the time. Everything I buy is packaged in plastic. Why? Because I buy packaged food, not fresh produce.
But this is easier to connect with when it comes to meat.
You probably are concerned about global warming. You might be concerned about animal welfare. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of global carbon emissions (or is it global warming? Whatever), and a significant portion of the pollution comes from animal agriculture. Plant-based foods produce significantly less pollution.
Also, Chicken produces significantly less pollution than beef or pork. Chickens are also typically raised in horribly inhumane conditions.
Are you responsible for the pollution created by the production of the meat you consume?
Yes. In part, at least. It isn't your fault that dairy is in almost every product at the grocery store. It isn't your fault that you grew up in a beef-rich environment.
But companies farm cows and sell beef because people buy and consume it. And you are probably one of those people.
You can't end cow farming by switching to a plant-dominant diet. It requires mass buy-in.
And I'm not trying to shame you or tell you never to have a steak.
I'm just asking for self-awareness, and informed decision making.
Is a couple-steaks-per-year worth the carbon, methane, and other pollution it creates? Probably. Is a daily ground-beef dinner worth it?
That's a personal choice for you to make. But it's not a choice without consequence.
I am in total-agreement with those who are mad at the governments and the companies and the industries for all the pollution they create and allow.
But I also think we are each, individually, responsible for our contribution to it.
When I drive my truck instead of riding my bike, I'm responsible for the emissions, even though it's not my fault my city is unwalkable.
When I buy a meat-based TV dinner instead of cooking rice & beans, I'm responsible for the killing of an animal, even though it's not my fault the vegan pickings at the grocery store are slim.
When I buy a Dr. Pepper in a bottle, I'm responsible for the plastic it was put in, the gas it took to transport it, and whatever other pollution comes from it.
I still do it. I try to limit it. I try to be aware of my impact. But I still contribute to the harm.
This is a tough post to write. I don't know how to balance my interest in change with my interest in respecting people and their personal choices. I don't want to shame you, or to shame myself.
And I'm no perfect being who's perfectly living by my suggestions here. I just keep thinking about this stuff and hope that it will progressively move me toward less meat and less pollution in other areas too.
I hope you'll move in that direction too. You and billions of other people.
And I don't believe for a second that we can stop the climate catastrophe without sacrifice. Buying fewer toys is a sacrifice. Upgrading your phone less often is a sacrifice. Saying no to a bigger-and-better TV is a sacrifice. Riding the bus instead of driving is a sacrifice. Eating less meat is a sacrifice. Sorting your trash for recycling and composting is a chore, a sacrifice.
There is no magical future where tech or policy solves all of the problems without impacting us, without requiring some sacrifice.