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Should you go vegan? Should you go vegan?
Eating animal products is ethical Eating animal products is ethical
Eating animal products is unethical Eating animal products is unethical
Humans need meat in their diet Humans need meat in their diet
We support the animal species by farming them We support the animal species by farming them
It is ethical to eat meat as secondary consumers It is ethical to eat meat as secondary consumers
Meat has a place in Culture and Tradition Meat has a place in Culture and Tradition
Animals do not have souls Animals do not have souls
Eating meat causes animal cruelty Eating meat causes animal cruelty
Eating meat has devastating effects on the environment Eating meat has devastating effects on the environment
Not eating meat could prevent world hunger Not eating meat could prevent world hunger
The meat industry exploits migrant workers The meat industry exploits migrant workers
Eating meat can lead to health problems Eating meat can lead to health problems
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Should you go vegan?
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Eating animal products is unethical

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Eating meat has devastating effects on the environment

The Union of Concerned Scientists lists meat-eating as the second-biggest environmental hazard facing the Earth
Jessica Fanzo
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The Argument

Eating meat is not sustainable for the planet. Meat production leads to pollution through fossil fuel usage, animal methane, effluent waste, and water and land consumption. By not eating meat we greatly reduce our carbon footprint and general damage to the environment. The land, water and energy needed to produce meat are much higher than those for producing crops for food. According to PETA, Cows must consume 7 pounds of vegetation in order to convert them into 1 pound of flesh.[1] Raising animals for food consumes more than half of all water used in the U.S. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat.

Counter arguments

Some of the factors causing environmental damage are inevitable. The land taken up by animals is necessary even if we did not eat them and methane emission is natural. Also, there are many other causes of environmental damage that would - if regulated or stopped - have the effect of making our planet sustainable.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Producing animal products puts significant strain on the environment. [P2] This needs to stop so that we can address climate change.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Stopping the production of animal products would not fix climate change.

References

  1. https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/how-does-eating-meat-harm-the-environment/
This page was last edited on Thursday, 10 Sep 2020 at 11:04 UTC

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