UK MPs urge us to eat less meat.

Originally Posted by Belle

Back to to the topic - I am not really convinced about the article.

Whilst eating less meat might be a good and healthy thing - perhaps, it's not the key to end global poverty.

I would far rather that the government focused eating nutritiously, encouraged organic crops, better supermarket relationships with farmers so they had a better deal. But that is me on my soap box.

I agree with you about being sceptical that less meat eating would impact on global poverty. A director of Oxfam told me (admittedly decades ago) that, even if we stopped eating meat, the poor couldn't afford to buy the hyped up price of food in their country anyway. A more even playing field sounds a bit dubious/somewhat theoretical to me.

Yes, better availability and conditions regarding healthier foods would be very welcome to so many people. Even a sterner stance on GM foods....but then that's me on my soapbox (a case of don't get me started!).

[knightofalbion]

And there could be up to two billion extra (human) mouths to feed by the middle of this century... Quite apart from any compassionate argument, the Livestock Industry is unsustainable at the present rate, never mind with an extra two billion people to feed.

[Belle]

I'm sure the answer is more about sharing what we do have a bit more - which would result in many of us eating less meat.

I also believe that GM food makes us obese - I don't think - i don't know why I think this - probably making it up - but it doesn't provide nutrients in the way that organic / natural food does. ANd hence you need to eat more to gain the correct nutrients. This may be nonsense but certainly I feel much more satisfied after eating organic food as opposed to non-organic.

knightoffablion, I'm in agreement with your philisophy.

[7luminaries]

Originally Posted by amy green

I agree with you about being sceptical that less meat eating would impact on global poverty.A director of Oxfam told me (admittedly decades ago) that, even if we stopped eating meat, the poor couldn't afford to buy the hyped up price of food in their country anyway. A more even playing field sounds a bit dubious/somewhat theoretical to me.

Yes, better availability and conditions regarding healthier foods would be very welcome to so many people. Even a sterner stance on GM foods....but then that's me on my soapbox (a case of don't get me started!).

In truth I have heard the same thing many time and from many in academia, economics, government, business, and logistics. And from persons in developing and developed countries. The amount of dollars invested in infrastructure and growth and agriculture/food aid needed in the developing world could be found regardless of whether we eat meat...but our doing away with it in no way guarantees their solutions. They simply need political will, above all else.

Now our doing with less meat, and doing it locally and organically and as humanely as possible, that I do agree with.

Peace & blessings,
7L