The Omnivore’s Delusion: Against the Agri-intellectuals

2

Comments

  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623

    The way I understand this issue is that more than half of the crops grown in the U.S. are used to feed livestock. If the crops were all eaten by people, then the amount of food available to the world would be multiplied. Sorry, I don't have any statistics in front of me, so I can't quote any figures.

    Of course, many Americans think they need to consume massive amounts of protein every day or they'll suffer malnutrition. The men who invented the RDA of 60 grams admitted that they purposely DOUBLED the human requirement of 30 grams per day to encourage people to eat enough protein. The irony is that it's almost impossible for anyone who eats a healthy number of calories to not get enough protein. The most dedicated vegans, who never take in a drop of dairy, get at least 70 grams of daily protein. Protein deficiency is only a problem in people who go hungry.

    Excess protein contributes to osteoporosis. Protein is acidic, calcium is alkaline. As the blood becomes acidic with protein, calcium leeches out of the bones to neutralise the body's pH. Taking calcium supplements does little good: The intestinal wall blocks excessive calcium from being absorbed so that internal organs don't calcify (turn into rock!)

    That's great info, Travis, thanks. Being vegetarian for the past 15 years has consumed me with dedication to protein intake each day. I'm happy to hear that my concerns have been overstated.
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    polaris_x wrote:

    Interesting read, thanks.
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery? It seems no one thinks they deserve to live a life without suffering, or to live period. Mankind is just royally fucked up imho. :evil:
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    weenie wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    Interesting read, thanks.
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery? It seems no one thinks they deserve to live a life without suffering, or to live period. Mankind is just royally fucked up imho. :evil:
    Has the neutron bomb been field-tested???? :twisted:
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    Interesting read, thanks.
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery? It seems no one thinks they deserve to live a life without suffering, or to live period. Mankind is just royally fucked up imho. :evil:
    Has the neutron bomb been field-tested???? :twisted:

    More than likely. But I can practically guarantee that you and I will never know about it. :evil:
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    weenie wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery?

    Africa doesn't need bombs... they need condoms. And a great big famine to wipe out about half their population. The sad fact of the matter is that there to are too many people in Africa for their agricultural sector to ever sustain them on their own.
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,500
    weenie wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    Interesting read, thanks.
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery? It seems no one thinks they deserve to live a life without suffering, or to live period. Mankind is just royally fucked up imho. :evil:


    We could pass on the gift of abortion?
    hippiemom = goodness
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    We could pass on the gift of abortion?

    Won't work. For the same reason other forms of birth control don't over there. Too many backwards cultures. The best thing to do is let nature take its course.
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    weenie wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    Interesting read, thanks.
    Those poor Africans, why doesn't someone just drop a bunch of neutron bombs on the continent and be done with it? Why prolong their misery? It seems no one thinks they deserve to live a life without suffering, or to live period. Mankind is just royally fucked up imho. :evil:
    Has the neutron bomb been field-tested???? :twisted:

    More than likely. But I can practically guarantee that you and I will never know about it. :evil:
    Excellent point, pardner
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    Has the neutron bomb been field-tested???? :twisted:

    More than likely. But I can practically guarantee that you and I will never know about it. :evil:
    Excellent point, pardner

    thanks professor..... :)
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    weenie wrote:

    thanks professor..... :)
    Does that make you Mary Ann or Ginger? :twisted:
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:

    thanks professor..... :)
    Does that make you Mary Ann or Ginger? :twisted:

    I was thinking one of you HAD to be Gilligan :roll:
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:

    thanks professor..... :)
    Does that make you Mary Ann or Ginger? :twisted:

    You're too kind; I'm probably more like Mrs. Howell :shock:
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    arthurdent wrote:
    We could pass on the gift of abortion?

    Won't work. For the same reason other forms of birth control don't over there. Too many backwards cultures. The best thing to do is let nature take its course.

    this has got to be one of the most nauseating comments i've ever read ... saying half the population should be wiped out ... i don't know if you've noticed or read the article but none of the big economic countries can feed themselves domestically - everyone relies on imports ... just because colonialism and corruption have exploited africa for years doesn't mean these people should die ... WTF?

    do you actually think the lifestyle we live in western countries is sustainable? ... it's not and it's only through exploiting poorer countries that we live the standard of life we do ...

    backwards cultures?

    this is fucking sad
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    polaris_x wrote:
    backwards cultures?

    Read up on human rights violations in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation. Backwards? Damn right I think they're backwards.


    Cultural relativism is nothing more than PC bullshit.
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    polaris_x wrote:

    this has got to be one of the most nauseating comments i've ever read ... saying half the population should be wiped out ... i don't know if you've noticed or read the article but none of the big economic countries can feed themselves domestically - everyone relies on imports ... just because colonialism and corruption have exploited africa for years doesn't mean these people should die ... WTF?


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthus
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    arthurdent wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    backwards cultures?

    Read up on human rights violations in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation. Backwards? Damn right I think they're backwards.


    Cultural relativism is nothing more than PC bullshit.

    this has nothing to do with PC - it has everything to do with humanity ... look at the list of countries that Amnesty cites for human right violations, treatment of women - the list is long - should they all die? ... have you been to Africa? ... i have ... and i can tell you that what you propose lacks the morality and any kind of understanding of what it is to live in africa ...
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    arthurdent wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:

    this has got to be one of the most nauseating comments i've ever read ... saying half the population should be wiped out ... i don't know if you've noticed or read the article but none of the big economic countries can feed themselves domestically - everyone relies on imports ... just because colonialism and corruption have exploited africa for years doesn't mean these people should die ... WTF?


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthus

    again - what country can sustain itself solely on the resources it has domestically?
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    arthurdent wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    backwards cultures?

    Read up on human rights violations in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation. Backwards? Damn right I think they're backwards.


    Cultural relativism is nothing more than PC bullshit.
    ...and they elect worse leaders than we do in the U.S. :twisted:
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • arthurdentarthurdent Posts: 969
    tybird wrote:
    arthurdent wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    backwards cultures?

    Read up on human rights violations in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation. Backwards? Damn right I think they're backwards.


    Cultural relativism is nothing more than PC bullshit.
    ...and they elect worse leaders than we do in the U.S. :twisted:


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(Liberia)
    Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
    Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    arthurdent wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    ...and they elect worse leaders than we do in the U.S. :twisted:


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(Liberia)
    That's one......poster child for backwards culture too....drug-addicted children soldiers and gang rape as a weapon of war/terror
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    tybird wrote:
    arthurdent wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    ...and they elect worse leaders than we do in the U.S. :twisted:


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(Liberia)
    That's one......poster child for backwards culture too....drug-addicted children soldiers and gang rape as a weapon of war/terror

    Do they actually hold elections or does some war lord just blow away the current government and step in? :twisted:

    It's all so shameful... such a beautiful country with so much cultural history in its people, all exploited for hundreds of years. I suppose I should quit putting off that planned visit and get over there before all the animals, the people and the beauty is gone. (except for South Africa of course........)
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    weenie wrote:
    Do they actually hold elections or does some war lord just blow away the current government and step in? :twisted:

    It's all so shameful... such a beautiful country with so much cultural history in its people, all exploited for hundreds of years. I suppose I should quit putting off that planned visit and get over there before all the animals, the people and the beauty is gone. (except for South Africa of course........)

    no dictator in africa survives without some western support
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    polaris_x wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    Do they actually hold elections or does some war lord just blow away the current government and step in? :twisted:

    It's all so shameful... such a beautiful country with so much cultural history in its people, all exploited for hundreds of years. I suppose I should quit putting off that planned visit and get over there before all the animals, the people and the beauty is gone. (except for South Africa of course........)

    no dictator in africa survives without some western support

    Could you explain that statement please? I know it's off topic, maybe a pm?
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • Pepe SilviaPepe Silvia Posts: 3,758
    weenie wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    Do they actually hold elections or does some war lord just blow away the current government and step in? :twisted:

    It's all so shameful... such a beautiful country with so much cultural history in its people, all exploited for hundreds of years. I suppose I should quit putting off that planned visit and get over there before all the animals, the people and the beauty is gone. (except for South Africa of course........)

    no dictator in africa survives without some western support

    Could you explain that statement please? I know it's off topic, maybe a pm?

    who do ya think sells them weapons? when Clinton was in office the US was responsible for more than 1/2 the arms sales in the 3rd world. there's also business ties, like Nestle who buys their cocoa from plantations that use child slave labor in Africa. Also, we give aid to some of them

    this is a year old but a good read

    http://nativenotes.net/mugabe-africas-o ... tates.html

    'the United States currently provides economic aid and security assistance to such repressive African regimes as Swaziland, Congo, Cameroun, Togo, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Gabon, Egypt, and Tunisia. None of these countries holds free elections, and all have severely suppressed their political opposition.'

    and mentions other countries in Africa who we call 'good friends' and such
    don't compete; coexist

    what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?

    "I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama

    when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
    i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    polaris_x wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    Do they actually hold elections or does some war lord just blow away the current government and step in? :twisted:

    It's all so shameful... such a beautiful country with so much cultural history in its people, all exploited for hundreds of years. I suppose I should quit putting off that planned visit and get over there before all the animals, the people and the beauty is gone. (except for South Africa of course........)

    no dictator in africa survives without some western support
    True....both sides in the Cold War sent many a arms and soldiers to Africa.....I suspect all players are still sending arms.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    Thanks, that was eye-opening. It also confirmed for me that no matter what people "pledge", the world will never be freed from its addiction to oil. The balance of power and it's greedy pockets are far too delicate to be tampered with over something as silly as clean air or global warming.
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • PearlJainPearlJain Posts: 565
    tybird wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    [
    And don't try to tell me that if we ended livestock production how much more farming of crops could take place....saving the masses from starvation....a lot of land used for livestock is not what the big-brains call arable land....look the word up.

    First, I thought I was clear on the fact that I didn't expect the world to become vegetarian. Second, I'm not suggesting that we end livestock production, I KNOW people are going to WANT meat, poultry, pork, fish etc. What I WOULD appreciate is some humanity being incorporated into the greedy industries that find it necessary for living creatures to suffer during their harvesting. And third, it's not necessary for me to "look up" the word arable. I'm fairly-well educated and I know what it means. There's no need to insult me because you disagree with my lifestyle choice. :?
    Not aimed at you, Dearie....this goes back a bit to a PETA fanatic that used to post here....Sorry, if I accidentally hit you with a bit of that toss...he had drunk enough of the Kool-aid to regularly broadcast those ideas. Again, I pubically apologize if I offended you .

    Excuse me - I hope I'm not the PETA fanatic that used to post here - whom you were referring to. I read some of the things on here - and my eyes bleed (metephorically speaking.) There are so many individual freaks on this websight, that there is little room to be judging each other.
    The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated - Gandhi

    "Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
  • PearlJain wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    Not aimed at you, Dearie....this goes back a bit to a PETA fanatic that used to post here....Sorry, if I accidentally hit you with a bit of that toss...he had drunk enough of the Kool-aid to regularly broadcast those ideas. Again, I pubically apologize if I offended you .

    Excuse me - I hope I'm not the PETA fanatic that used to post here - whom you were referring to. I read some of the things on here - and my eyes bleed (metephorically speaking.) There are so many individual freaks on this websight, that there is little room to be judging each other.
    Paranoid much? Since when did you become a he?
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    PearlJain wrote:
    tybird wrote:
    Not aimed at you, Dearie....this goes back a bit to a PETA fanatic that used to post here....Sorry, if I accidentally hit you with a bit of that toss...he had drunk enough of the Kool-aid to regularly broadcast those ideas. Again, I pubically apologize if I offended you .

    Excuse me - I hope I'm not the PETA fanatic that used to post here - whom you were referring to. I read some of the things on here - and my eyes bleed (metephorically speaking.) There are so many individual freaks on this websight, that there is little room to be judging each other.
    Paranoid much? Since when did you become a he?
    Nice catch on my use of the pronoun....I was referencing a male poster indeed.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
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