June 2016    
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Meat-eaters Are Not True Environmentalists

 

We just returned from a National Geographic guided tour of Alaska aboard the ship Sea Bird. The food served was all McDougall style: low-fat, vegan, and starch-based (with some very rich desserts—an option). The cruise line, Lindblad Expeditions, referred to us as "the vegan, no oil charter." Every aspect of this McDougall Adventure trip was excellent.

 

This was my third trip to Alaska (1993, 2001, and 2016). Massive melting of the glaciers was obvious and a topic frequently discussed among our group. However, our National Geographic guides, including one national park ranger, seldom mentioned the connection between global warming caused by human activities and the threat to these northern lands. Dwelling on this topic may have detracted from the travelers' enjoyment of their trip. I suppose no one wants to hear about the changes we all need to make in order to keep our planet healthy.

 

However, the "food card" is the most essential one to play now in order for us to have some breathing room so that we can fix other issues like transportation and energy. Overnight the world's human population could change from animal foods to starches (beans, corn, potatoes, rice, wheat, etc.) for the bulk of our calories. We could!

 

I would have thought that our group of 62, practicing various levels of veganism, might have inspired some acknowledgement from our guides about the impact of livestock production on the destruction of the habitats we were visiting. Over half of all greenhouse gasses produced are due to people eating animals. I, unfortunately, heard no mention of this connection during our cruise despite the National Geographic Magazine articles previously addressing this subject, such as, "Vegetarianism: More Than 'Meats' the Eye." Most of the guides ate their meals with us and a few of the ship's crew showed interest. The head chef, who prepared our delicious meals, however, said she would never eat this way.

 

Confusion on this topic is purposefully created by environmentally destructive industries and their alliances. For example, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) accepts financing from the National Cattlemen's Association and JBS, the world's largest beef producer. Various environmentally destructive industries also support non-governmental organizations, such as the Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine Stewardship Council, Rainforest Alliance, and the National Wildlife Federation. The names of these organizations do not accurately reflect their real intention: self-preservation.

 

Because of these ties, most environmental groups don't want to tell people what to eat and, more importantly, what not to eat. The Sierra Club and Environmental Defense rejected offers from Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to promote a report linking animal agriculture, specifically greenhouse gas emissions from animals, to global warming. A review of 15 prominent environmental advocacy organizations found only one, the Center for Science in the Public Interest that recommends a plant-based diet to halt global warming. I believe that calling yourself an environmentalist while eating meat is an oxymoron.

 

My new book, The Healthiest Diet on the Planet, to be released September 27, 2016, begins with this dedication page. Preorder on Amazon.

 

 

Enjoy some of the pictures from our Alaska Adventure of June 18 to 25, 2016.

 

 

 

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