Fast Food

[Gold Knight]

If all of the cropland in the U. S. were used to produce crops for a vegetarian diet, it is estimated that around 1.8 billion animals would be killed annually. And these animals would not even be able to be used for food. Also, a human small intestine is not designed for a strictly herbivore diet, and can lead to severe digestive problems.

You speak about how feeding animals with our grains is destroying the ecosystem, but i seem to recall a factor that contributes most to our crumbling ecosystem, which would be the discoveries on industrialization. Cars, factories, and other machinery produces more than 5 times the damages that feeding livestock has on our environment. Shouldnt we worry about these factors first before we worry about livestock? Wait, no, lets just get rid of all that and go back to the Stone Age. Then there will be no damage to the environment and everyone will be happy, right? Wrong, face facts, there's no way to avoid harming the environment while being a modernized society.

[Anarkistsdream]

But we could at least have as little impact as possible...

Don't brush it away by saying that since we can't stop it all, we shouldn't stop any...

[Gold Knight]

But we could at least have as little impact as possible...

Don't brush it away by saying that since we can't stop it all, we shouldn't stop any...

But it would make a whole lot more sense to fix the major problems then problems that have both positive and negative imapcts.

[Anarkistsdream]

But we could at least have as little impact as possible...

Don't brush it away by saying that since we can't stop it all, we shouldn't stop any...

But it would make a whole lot more sense to fix the major problems then problems that have both positive and negative imapcts.

Actually, it would make the most sense in the long term to fix the things that are easiest to fix, even if they do not have as large of an impact.

[Gold Knight]

But we could at least have as little impact as possible...

Don't brush it away by saying that since we can't stop it all, we shouldn't stop any...

But it would make a whole lot more sense to fix the major problems then problems that have both positive and negative imapcts.

Actually, it would make the most sense in the long term to fix the things that are easiest to fix, even if they do not have as large of an impact.

So to put it in an car analogy, if your brake line broke and your windshield wipers broke, itd be better to fix the wipers cause its easier? I would think to fix an important problem first would make it less neccessary to solve the smaller problems. If we didnt have so many industrial factors affecting our environment, this whole feeding cows thing wouldnt be an issue at all...

[Anarkistsdream]

Bad analogy, as you obviously don't NEED windshield wipers...

The feeding cows is an issue that is fucking ridiculous. Did you know that since China has allowed American fast food chains to startup, they have had a dramatic increase in heart disease?

It's because that was a culture that ate very little beef. Beef has NO good effects that can not be reproduced by other more inexpensive and safe means.

Check out the links I posted above. It would be VERY easy to quit eating beef. And with the impact that it would make- a huge one- the world would naturally be a safer place.

[wicked]

How can you be sure it's the beef and not the fatty french fries or other greasy foods?

And I work with a girl from China, and she eats, and has eaten previously a lot of beef, so maybe her part of China was more modernized?

mmm.. all this talk has me craving a burger. think we'll grill out tonight... yum!

[Dmunster]

If all of the cropland in the U. S. were used to produce crops for a vegetarian diet, it is estimated that around 1.8 billion animals would be killed annually. And these animals would not even be able to be used for food. Also, a human small intestine is not designed for a strictly herbivore diet, and can lead to severe digestive problems.

What??? Where did you hear that nonsense? Link please.

You speak about how feeding animals with our grains is destroying the ecosystem, but i seem to recall a factor that contributes most to our crumbling ecosystem, which would be the discoveries on industrialization. Cars, factories, and other machinery produces more than 5 times the damages that feeding livestock has on our environment. Shouldnt we worry about these factors first before we worry about livestock? Wait, no, lets just get rid of all that and go back to the Stone Age. Then there will be no damage to the environment and everyone will be happy, right? Wrong, face facts, there's no way to avoid harming the environment while being a modernized society.

Like AD said, it takes only a little effort and a little self sacrafice and we can all reduce our ecological footprint. I take the bus/train regularly to work even though I own a car. I have all flourescent bulbs in my house. I buy energy star appliances when possible. I have recycled religously since I was a kid. When I purchase a house I will look to become unhooked from the grid via renewable energy sources. I dont eat meat. These things are not that hard to do. They do not detract from my enjoyment of life. On the contrary, they probably enhance my ability to enjoy the finer things without the guilt of being wasteful.

[Bertros Bertros]

Like AD said, it takes only a little effort and a little self sacrafice and we can all reduce our ecological footprint. I take the bus/train regularly to work even though I own a car. I have all flourescent bulbs in my house. I buy energy star appliances when possible. I have recycled religously since I was a kid. When I purchase a house I will look to become unhooked from the grid via renewable energy sources. I dont eat meat.

I'm with you bro, I like what I'm hearing, this is my kinda guy... and then in case you missed it

I dont eat meat.

WTF? Now before you misunderstand me lets be clear. I fully understand and empathise with the decision many people take not to eat meat. There can be health, vitality, financial and moral benefits but these do not extend to being "eco-friendly" or living a green lifestyle. This is terrible misinformation. Your confusing eating meat with intensive livestock farming practices. I eat meat regularly and not a great deal but when I do buy it and cook at home it is organic, free-range and fully traceable. I don't eat at McDonalds et. al.

To blame the impact of intensive farming, bad animal husbandry and fast food chains on eating meat per se is absolutely unfounded. I wholly respect and admire your decision not to eat meat but take great umbrage in your implication that anyone who does is being socially irresponsible.

[Dancing Mustard]

mmm.. all this talk has me craving a burger. think we'll grill out tonight... yum!

Must....... Feed...... Must........ Feed...... On sweet sweet juicy animal muscles, made warm on an open fire ........... slobber....

[Anarkistsdream]

Yeah, I am all with Munster, but I eat chicken and fish like a motherfucker.

[NOHIBBERTNO]

Too many Americans clearly in this forum. You have a 1 in 4 chance of being fat so if you are reading this GO FOR A JOG FATTY AND STAY OFF THE BURGERS!

[Stopper]

Too many Americans clearly in this forum. You have a 1 in 4 chance of being fat

1 in 4? 25%? As opposed to Britain, where only 22% of adults are obese...

[Hitman079]

Too many Americans clearly in this forum. You have a 1 in 4 chance of being fat so if you are reading this GO FOR A JOG FATTY AND STAY OFF THE BURGERS!

in truth one would have to jog for about 6 hours straight to lose a pound of fat. so go away.

[radiojake]

Also, a human small intestine is not designed for a strictly herbivore diet, and can lead to severe digestive problems.

Uhh.. this is so incorrect. Our intestines are actually suited for a herbivore. Carnivore's (such as lion's etc) have very short intestines so that rotting meat isn't stuck in their body for too long. You will never hear of a vegetarian with bowel cancer, because their intestines will be regularly cleaned out.

[Hitman079]

humans are meant to be omnivores. aren't they?

[Gold Knight]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_eating_meat#Ethical_discussions_between_vegetarians_and_meat_eaters which supports arguments for and against eating meat...

Some meat eaters suggest that vegetarianism doesn't actually reduce the number of animals killed, although as a group, vegetarians must reduce the demand for meat. For example, critics like Steven Davis, professor of animal science at Oregon State University, argues that the number of wild animals killed in crop production is greater than those killed in ruminant-pasture production. Whenever a tractor goes through a field to plow, disc, cultivate, apply fertilizer and/or pesticide, and harvest, animals are killed. Davis gives a small sampling of field animals in the U. S. that are threatened by intensive crop production, such as: opossum, rock dove, house sparrow, European starling, black rat, Norway rat, house mouse, Chukar, grey partridge, ring-necked pheasant, wild turkey, cottontail rabbit, gray-tailed vole, and numerous species of amphibians. In one small example, an alfalfa harvest caused a 50% decline in the gray-tailed vole population. According to Davis, if all of the cropland in the U. S. were used to produce crops for a vegetarian diet, it is estimated that around 1.8 billion animals would be killed annually.[5]

However it should be noted that human biology shows that several essential nutrients are far easier to obtain from a diet that includes meat and meat products. Furthermore, some scientists have concluded that the human small intestine is far too short to indicate a solely herbivorous diet, as compared with other primates such as the gorilla (which is almost solely herbivorous).[10] Chimpanzees eat portions of meat (approximately 4-10% of their diet, mostly coming from termines) and will organize hunts to catch and eat prey such as colobus monkeys[11]

[muy_thaiguy]

Mickey D's! (Mc Donald's)! Best fries in town! By the way, meat is good and goo-ood for you!

[Capt Killroy]

jack in the box is the best because you can get a bacon and egg sandwich anytime

[btownmeggy]

Anyway, who else put Dairy Queen?

You have impeccable taste in dairy products and fried savory foods!

[dustn64]

is 75 votes alot?

[2dimes]

3/4 of a hundred.

[radiojake]

ehh.. atleast the 'i'm a loser and don't eat fast food' came in 2nd..

McDonald's people??? come on, even when i ate meat and didn't give a shit i never liked McDonalds... it tastes gross

[Honibaz]

Who could ever resist KFC? I love their fried chicken! A newspaper article once said that the secret recipe was shared 50-50 by two companies. Since they only have 50% of the recipe, nobody can manipulate the fried chicken prices.

Honibaz

[Skittles!]

ehh.. atleast the 'i'm a loser and don't eat fast food' came in 2nd..

McDonald's people??? come on, even when i ate meat and didn't give a shit i never liked McDonalds... it tastes gross

I eat meat, and I hate McDonalds.