Eating meat is a fundamental part of human evolution and an acceptable norm in our society. The meat industry is vast and has impacts in different aspects of Australian life. However, there are many issues about the consumption of meat, such as; impact on the human health, emission of CO2, and issues with animal welfare. Some Australians are encouraged or aspired to become vegetarians for these reasons. On the other hand, some objected because they believe eating meat is defying the basic law of nature and would not make a huge difference in our environment as well as our health.
Therefore, many aspects of these issues have been rising in our society regarding the intake of meat. Health Impacts Due to our diets, lifestyles disease such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancer have been increasing in Australia. According to the Guardian, Australia has one of the highest meat consuming rates in the world. Public health expert Dr Mike Rayner that eating less will help to save over 450000 people a year. Meat contains a rich source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that are vital for our body.
Nonetheless, Daily Mail Australia reveals that vegetarians live longer and are healthier than meat eaters because of their diets. On the contrary, some studies show contradicting results, claiming that vegetarians have higher possibility to have cholesterol level problems and insufficient levels of mineral, vitamins, and nutrients. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition publishes that vegetarians have higher risks of having colorectal cancer than carnivores. Accordingly, people have to monitor their health regularly to maintain healthy which consume time and money.
Nutrition Australia statement and said a well-planned lacto and lacto-ovo vegetarian diet can deliver approximately equivalent optimal nutritional status as omnivorous diets. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also concluded that, “vegan diets are nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. ” Dr Stanton, a qualified nutritionist says, “Red meat is strongly correlated with bowel cancer and the healthiest intake of meat is a small one” and bowel cancer is the most common cancer in Australia.
Researchers found that hyper-consuming of meat can lead to lifestyle diseases like heart diseases and diabetes. According to US National Institute of Health, the past research shows that eating meat is linked to health risks like heart diseases but some researchers believe that those studies had design flaws or were done in populations with diets other than that of the typical western diets, which may have affected the results. Furthermore, Nutritionist Veronique Droulez supported by saying, “Meat is a nutrient-dense food, and having nutrient-rich foods is good in restricted diets.
Environmental problems Many environmental science experts have pointed out th correlation between the increase in carbon footprints and eating meat that is immensely impacting on the environment. The United Nations stated that meat production is one of the most significant producers of environmental problems. Australia emits 1. 8% of total world greenhouse gas, which makes among the highest emitters for its population in the world. A study found that vegetarians have a 41. 7% lesser greenhouse gas-footprint than non-vegans. Livestock industries contributes vast amount of methane and nitrous oxide as well.
In 2013, Fiona Chambers (Director of the Rare Breed International World Board) mentioned the puzzle to solve the methane released by cattle and sheep. Research done in Sydney discovered that high country-grazing can easily methaneneutral. She pointed out the alternative way to overcome the problem of methane. British farmer and author, Simon Fairlie, says that it’s true the factory farming methods are a leading source of air pollution but changing the factory farming method to organic farming will reduce emission of CO2 in the air. Not only meat-eaters emit greenhouse gases but also use the majority of the landscape and increase water usage.
Additionally, TIME magazine disclosed that out of 40% of land used for feeding world’s population, only 10% is used to raised grain and other vegetables but about 30% of world’s land is utilized to support animals in livestock farming which uses onethird of the freshwater. This evidence is the proof to take off the meat from the menu. Animal-welfare The issue with animal welfare and sentience are significant and important topics. Factory farming is not only bad for the environment but also is a devastating place for animals, as they are kept in cramped conditions and majority of them have never experienced the daylight.
In 2050, it was predicted that population will grow by 54%, which will result in food demand. The population growth is one of the evidences that animal slaughter will be accumulated. In Australia, all animals had to be registered but not all animals are applied to the same law and more than 500 millions of animals are slaughtered annually. Animal Australia revealed abattoir cruelty footage showing turkeys are crudely abused and young calves are viciously shocked with electric rods and sadistically dragged to be slaughtered.
This evidence pointed to the fact that animals are still inhumanely being slaughtered in Australia. In the Sydneydebate, Philip Wollen claimed that animals have rights and sentience, thus human should recognise the injustice and outrages done to them. Chambers’s (Director of the Rare Breed International World Board) statement goes against the proposition of his; claiming animals and humans are supporting each other; humans feed and raise them, which also help to decrease the risk extinction She continues by saying it linked to our future food security due to the increased population.
Others Issues Since Australia is a multicultural country, many different cultures and traditions had been brought into the country. Eating meat or raising animals served as cultural, social and traditions. Chinese and African consider eating meat as a symbol of wealth and luxury and cattle are acknowledged as sacred by Indians. The cultural anthropologists Margaret Mead says, “It is easier to change a man’s religion than his diet” Furthermore, livestock industries in Australia have a great impact on the employment nationwide and approximately 11444000/ 11 millions are employed in 2012.
If it Australia were to stop eating and production the meat means these people will become jobless and alarmingly impact the financial stability of the country. Australia exports millions of animals overseas, thus, it would also affect world widely as TIME magazine stated, “Livestock production contributes 40% of global agricultural gross domestic product, this provides income for more than 1. 3 billion people.
Conclusion Regarding all the information gathered, to contrast the negative and positive impact of livestock industries is a difficult task and there is no right answer. Most research shows eating less meat will help improve our health and environment; nonetheless, no research shows that it will have guaranteed results. Additionally, becoming vegans will largely impact on the nation’ economy. Therefore, I believe rather than Australians becoming vegetarians will be a better alternative solution for the majority of the population.
