Be a vegetarian this Easter!

[Bubbles]

Hi everyone,

The issue of morality does arise in vegetarianism....especially when we consider animal rights. Britishers may consider eating dogs as wrong....but beef is ok. In India even non vegetarian Hindus will not eat beef because killing cows is considered wrong.

Many confirmed non vegetarians will not themselves kill cows or sheep or chicken for their meal.  They would happily pick it up from the supermarket but will not be associated with any killing. I am sure many people will give up meat if they visit a slaughter house. Many children would react very dramatically to killing of any animal that they have played with earlier. They may refuse to eat that meat. I am sure many of you would cringe at the idea of eating monkey brain cooked with boiling oil while the animal is still alive.

So...there is a moral issue involved with killing of animals. However, people have been eating meat for millennia and so it is a natural part of human diet in most parts of the world. So...it cannot really be considered immoral also. This is a dilemma.

The point is that morality does not remain constant through long periods of time and is not the same in every part of the world. It is relative. Morality changes. And we should be willing to accept this change....and not stick to a lifestyle merely because of some ancient religious text.  Morality is what we feel today, not what someone did thousands of years ago.

If large sections of society today consider it wrong to eat animals, then that is today's morality in that society.  We should be able to go along with that. We don't have to necessarily hold on to our habits and lifestyle.

Cheers.

Sriram

Ok

So the majority of the world eats meat sees nothing wrong in it ( even beef) , are you going to change your morality? Or is that only something others should do?

Can you change? Or again is that only for others to do?

[jeremyp]

Hi everyone,

The issue of morality does arise in vegetarianism....especially when we consider animal rights. Britishers may consider eating dogs as wrong....but beef is ok. In India even non vegetarian Hindus will not eat beef because killing cows is considered wrong.

Where do Indians get their cricket balls from?

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Check this out....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/germany-meat-ban-environment-ministry_us_58ae1b24e4b01406012f962b

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Animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and environmental degradation, which is why a German ministry says it’s taking a stand for vegetarianism in a new — and controversial — ban.

Barbara Hendricks, Germany’s environment minister, announced that her ministry would no longer be serving meat, fish or meat-derived products at official functions. Hendricks said her ministry must serve as a “role model” on environmental and sustainability issues.

“We want to set a good example for climate protection, because vegetarian food is more climate-friendly than meat and fish,” the ministry said in a statement this week, according to The Daily Telegraph. The ban reportedly took effect at the end of January.

The ministry mandate also states that meals served at official functions should be organically sourced, with a preference for seasonal, local and fair-trade products, reported German newspaper Bild. Ingredients should only be transported a short distance, the mandate said.

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Not bad at all, I must say.

'There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come'.....

This is exactly the sort of thing that vexes me.

[Rhiannon]

This is exactly the sort of thing that vexes me.

But this is about the sustainability of eating meat, not the morality of eating other living creatures.

[Robbie]

I don't see why that would vex anyone it makes sense! If there was far less consumption of meat but not doing away with it altogether, there's be a considerable difference.

Following on from what someone said about manufactured meat-type products, today I read an article about laboratory-made meat, specifically hamburger type meat like beef & how it was tested on various people who thought it was beef. Bill Gates had something to do with the manufacture. Chicken &pork type stuff can also be made but  they concentrated of beef substitute because minced beef is so widely used. Apparently the people who sampled it couldn't tell the difference but producing it is quite a lengthy difficult procedure. They put plant fluid in to mimic blood  .

I'd have to taste it to know for sure and not sure I'd trust the manufacturing methods - who knows what chemicals would go into it - interesting though.

No need for that, I'm going to try making a spicy beanburger containing no meat - or bread - but lots of good veggies like onion, chili, tomatoes & spinach & two types of beans. (if I could buy one ready made it would be preferable due to lazyness).

Maybe it's already been asked but if we all became vegetarians which is not likely but possible, what would happen to all the animals? I understand that if demand for meat lessens, so will the need for breeding farm animals.

[Sriram]

I don't see why that would vex anyone it makes sense! If there was far less consumption of meat but not doing away with it altogether, there's be a considerable difference.

Following on from what someone said about manufactured meat-type products, today I read an article about laboratory-made meat, specifically hamburger type meat like beef & how it was tested on various people who thought it was beef. Bill Gates had something to do with the manufacture. Chicken &pork type stuff can also be made but  they concentrated of beef substitute because minced beef is so widely used. Apparently the people who sampled it couldn't tell the difference but producing it is quite a lengthy difficult procedure. They put plant fluid in to mimic blood  .

I'd have to taste it to know for sure and not sure I'd trust the manufacturing methods - who knows what chemicals would go into it - interesting though.

No need for that, I'm going to try making a spicy beanburger containing no meat - or bread - but lots of good veggies like onion, chili, tomatoes & spinach & two types of beans. (if I could buy one ready made it would be preferable due to lazyness).

Maybe it's already been asked but if we all became vegetarians which is not likely but possible, what would happen to all the animals? I understand that if demand for meat lessens, so will the need for breeding farm animals.

Bean burgers or veggie burgers are available in MacDonalds and Burger King in the UK. I have had them myself.   In India both of them have many veggie options, one being a spicy paneer burger and wrap, crispy and tasty.   Mac, Subway, Pizza Hut and others have some only veggie outlets in India. 

Just google for some veggie recipe options.  There are plenty on the net.

[BeRational]

Why not be an omnivore for easter instead?

[jeremyp]

Bean burgers or veggie burgers are available in MacDonalds and Burger King in the UK. I have had them myself.

Indeed they are but they taste rubbish compared to meat burgers.

In India both of them have many veggie options, one being a spicy paneer burger and wrap, crispy and tasty.   Mac, Subway, Pizza Hut and others have some only veggie outlets in India. 

Just google for some veggie recipe options.  There are plenty on the net.

The problem is that meat tastes nice. It's also easier to get a balanced nutritious diet if you eat some meat.

[Robbie]

Bean burgers or veggie burgers are available in MacDonalds and Burger King in the UK. I have had them myself.   In India both of them have many veggie options, one being a spicy paneer burger and wrap, crispy and tasty.   Mac, Subway, Pizza Hut and others have some only veggie outlets in India. 

Just google for some veggie recipe options.  There are plenty on the net.

I did and some look good! I know about McDonalds and Burger King but wanted something a bit less bready. Morrisons sell them frozen but would ideally like to try to make my own even though I'm not usually much of a one for burgers. I wouldn't serve with bread roll but with salad & maybe new potatoes.

[Sriram]

Indeed they are but they taste rubbish compared to meat burgers.

The problem is that meat tastes nice. It's also easier to get a balanced nutritious diet if you eat some meat.

Taste is cultivated and depends on our background.  If I even so much as smell any meat cooking or even an omelette for that matter...I could throw up.

If human flesh tasted good would you eat it? 

[jeremyp]

Taste is cultivated and depends on our background.  If I even so much as smell any meat cooking or even an omelette for that matter...I could throw up.

That's just you though.

If human flesh tasted good would you eat it?

No. There are lots of reasons not to eat human flesh other than taste.

[Rhiannon]

I did and some look good! I know about McDonalds and Burger King but wanted something a bit less bready. Morrisons sell them frozen but would ideally like to try to make my own even though I'm not usually much of a one for burgers. I wouldn't serve with bread roll but with salad & maybe new potatoes.

Cauldron Foods do good veggie stuff. And although I don't shop there often I'm having a boy's night in with my son (I'm an honorary bloke for the occasion) and we have some tofu weiner from Waitrose for dinner, to have with chips, buns and ketchup. And he does eat meat, and prefers these to the meat version. You can even slice them cold and have them in salads.

[Robbie]

Thanks Rhiannon. I laughed when I read about your tofu weiners, which I'd not heard of, because weiner or wiener is American slang for a little willie (learned from the Simpsons)! So I looked up tofu weiner & saw they are frankfurters which figures. I've had tofu and didn't like it one bit,plus not sure about healthiness of bean curd and soy but hope you enjoyed.

I had three cheese and kale rice pasta bake from Waitrose at lunchtime. Very nice. 4mins in microwave.

[Rhiannon]

Thanks Rhiannon. I laughed when I read about your tofu weiners, which I'd not heard of, because weiner or wiener is American slang for a little willie (learned from the Simpsons)! So I looked up tofu weiner & saw they are frankfurters which figures. I've had tofu and didn't like it one bit,plus not sure about healthiness of bean curd and soy but hope you enjoyed.

I had three cheese and kale rice pasta bake from Waitrose at lunchtime. Very nice. 4mins in microwave.

Tofu needs to have things done to it to be edible. I go by the fact that Japanese women have very healthy hormones thanks to eating soy - important at my age. 

I have to be the only person on the planet who has never really watched The Simpsons.

[Robbie]

Ah right, didn't know that about tofu and hormones. Might give it another whirl and see if it regenerates me!
(The Simpsons make good social comment, quite satirical. I'm a recent convert & now I watch old ones when I get the chance.)

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Soy sauce is good. Could drink the stuff.

[Robbie]

Oooh you macho man, you.
I like marmite.

[Sriram]

No. There are lots of reasons not to eat human flesh other than taste.

Exactly! There are lots of reasons not to eat animal flesh too! Its not just about taste. 

[Robbie]

I'm feeling virtuous today with my vegetarian efforts. The fact that what I've been eating is much the same as I eat every day during the week is not relevant! I have to continue it when not on my own during evenings and weekends.

Seriously though, I actually don't fancy meat right now.

[Aruntraveller]

I have to be the only person on the planet who has never really watched The Simpsons.

No you're not.

[Robbie]

Going off the point but this bit of your signature which I had not noticed before - So many homophobes turn out to be secretly gay... - I agree with completely!

[Rhiannon]

No you're not.

Ok, so there's probably some Amazonian tribespeople that haven't.

[floo]

Going off the point but this bit of your signature which I had not noticed before - So many homophobes turn out to be secretly gay... - I agree with completely!

I agree too. I have often wondered if that chap St Paul was a gay in denial.

[Aruntraveller]

Ok, so there's probably some Amazonian tribespeople that haven't.

And me. Never seen a complete episode. Seen 10 minutes here and there over the last however many years.

[Robbie]

I agree too. I have often wondered if that chap St Paul was a gay in denial.

We know he wasn't a vegetarian.