Some thoughts on vegetarianism
Amaterra
is not a "vegetarian organization" nor are all its members vegetarian.
We recognize that what one eats is a very personal decision and that the causes
and conditions of each person's life dictate a wide variety of choices as to diet. What
we eat, however, is seldom simply a matter of nutrition for the body. It is also
nutrition for the spirit. Eating has always been a social expression, a central
part of our culture, and the occasion for connection to others. What we eat is
unavoidably a political statement, a moment of art, and an expression of philosophy.
Amaterra wishes to encourage the following simple principle that we believe is
based upon good science:
"Eat
as low on the food chain as is consistent with good nutrition."
To the degree that we are able to practice this simple principle, we will move towards achieving the following results:
1--better health will be created
for the individual
2--more food will be made available to feed
the hungry in the world
3--fewer animals will suffer inhumane
conditions
4--damage to many fragile ecosystems will be lessened
These results might also be stated in the following meal meditation:
"May the food I choose nourish
my body,
help feed the hungry,
relieve the suffering of animals,
and
bring health to the whole Earth."
Suggested
reading:
Fox,
Michael W., Agricide (Schocken Books, 1986)
----------------------
, The Boundless Circle (Quest Books, 1996)
----------------------
, Eating With Conscience (New Sage Press, 1997)
Jacobs,
Lynn, Waste of the West (Lynn Jacobs, 1991. To order 520-791-2913,
or P.O. Box 5784, Tucson, AZ, 85703)
Lyman, Howard and Glen Merzer, Mad
Cowboy (Touchstone, NY, NY, 1998)
Links to vegetarian resources:
From a group in the United Kingdom comes a listing of fifty vegetarian sites. The list is created, and sites rated, by those who access the homepage. Understandably, the site is weighted toward the UK. However, there are always many interesting things to be found here.
"With a little help from my friends..." -the Beatles
R. L. E. Ford, a British entomologist, in his book Studying Insects, tells the story of the attempt to save the Large Blue butterfly from extinction. It seems that there are certain rather narrow ecological conditions necessary for the survival of the Large Blue. First, the Large Blue is so particular that it will lay its eggs only on the wild thyme bush. In turn, the wild thyme is so specialized that it requires anthills on which to grow. The most suitable anthills are those that are made by the small yellow ant Donisthorpea flava. Also required are two other species of ant, Myrmica scabrinodis and Myrmica laevinodis. All three species of ants are so compatible that they take up residence close to each other.
Before the harsh winter sets in, laevinodis and scabrinodis ascend the stalks of the thyme, remove the butterfly eggs, and take them below ground. This, of course, serves to prevent the eggs from freezing.
Sheep, or rabbits, are also required in this community in order to keep the surrounding grasses under control so that the wild thyme can flourish. Too many rabbits, however, are undesirable since they are fond of using the anthills for their natural functions which will, in excess, the the Large Blue's eggs and young larvae.
Ford continues to go on and describe the potential threat from gorse bushes. These bushes tend to grow rapidly and kill off the butterfly colonies. Local farmers, however, would burn off the gorse to improve the grazing opportunities for their sheep. Usually this destruction of the gorse led to an increase of the butterfly population. Unfortunately, the burning might not always be done in the winter when the eggs were safely underground. The fires would get too hot, killing the eggs, the ants, and everything else. Understanding this problem, Ford worked with C. W. W. Hulse on a project in Cornwall to burn the gorse in strips alternating with unburned strips. This careful burning experiment was an overwhelming success and it was reported that the Large Blue appeared "in unbelievable numbers."
In ending his notes on this subject Ford said, "...unfortunately, when matter had reached a climax, Hulse died suddenly and the area became neglected again."
Such a cliffhanger in the saga of the Large Blue leaves us with many questions about relationships. For example, what was most important to the Large Blue's survival: Hulse's untimely death, too many rabbits with overactive bladders, or improper burning? On the other hand perhaps Hulse would have died sooner if he had not had the Large Blue to give meaning to his life. And what are we to say of the neighborly ants?
Ford's narration of the plight of the Large Blue has at least led me to one conclusion. It would seem difficult to find evidence, in nature, of the peculiarly human conceit that we are all independent of each other.
-Roger Irwin
First published in the 1984 Fall-Winter edition
of Earthcare