raise your hand if you yourself are vegetarian raise your hand if you know
vegetarian raise your hand if you know
vegetarian raise your hand if you know someone who’s vegetarian now raise your
someone who’s vegetarian now raise your
someone who’s vegetarian now raise your hand if you know someone who’s
hand if you know someone who’s
hand if you know someone who’s vegetarian but only half the time I
vegetarian but only half the time I
vegetarian but only half the time I myself have been vegetarian for five
myself have been vegetarian for five
myself have been vegetarian for five years family and Buddhist tradition
years family and Buddhist tradition
years family and Buddhist tradition dictates that after the death of a loved
dictates that after the death of a loved
dictates that after the death of a loved one their closest kin should refrain
one their closest kin should refrain
one their closest kin should refrain from eating meat for the next forty nine
from eating meat for the next forty nine
from eating meat for the next forty nine days but what should i do after those
days but what should i do after those
days but what should i do after those forty nine days there began a personal
forty nine days there began a personal
forty nine days there began a personal journey to find those reasons in that
journey to find those reasons in that
journey to find those reasons in that time I have spoke with friends with
time I have spoke with friends with
time I have spoke with friends with family with vegetarians and
family with vegetarians and
family with vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike to find the
non-vegetarians alike to find the
non-vegetarians alike to find the reasons and I have narrowed it down to
reasons and I have narrowed it down to
reasons and I have narrowed it down to four the first reason why most people be
four the first reason why most people be
four the first reason why most people be become a vegetarian is due to faith we
become a vegetarian is due to faith we
become a vegetarian is due to faith we often associate vegetarianism with
often associate vegetarianism with
often associate vegetarianism with Eastern faiths of Buddhism of Jainism of
Eastern faiths of Buddhism of Jainism of
Eastern faiths of Buddhism of Jainism of Hinduism but it’s also important to note
Hinduism but it’s also important to note
Hinduism but it’s also important to note that many early early sects of
that many early early sects of
that many early early sects of Christianity also preached vegetarianism
Christianity also preached vegetarianism
Christianity also preached vegetarianism they preached a form of non-violence a
they preached a form of non-violence a
they preached a form of non-violence a sense of respect for all living things
sense of respect for all living things
sense of respect for all living things even if we go back to the ancient Greeks
even if we go back to the ancient Greeks
even if we go back to the ancient Greeks Pythagoras yes the scholar that created
Pythagoras yes the scholar that created
Pythagoras yes the scholar that created the Pythagorean theorem he himself was
the Pythagorean theorem he himself was
the Pythagorean theorem he himself was vegetarian and asked his students to
vegetarian and asked his students to
vegetarian and asked his students to refrain from eating meat as well the
refrain from eating meat as well the
refrain from eating meat as well the second reason why most become vegetarian
second reason why most become vegetarian
second reason why most become vegetarian is due to health many medical studies
is due to health many medical studies
is due to health many medical studies and science scientific journals have
and science scientific journals have
and science scientific journals have looked into the relationship between
looked into the relationship between
looked into the relationship between reducing meat and health and these
reducing meat and health and these
reducing meat and health and these studies show that a reduction meat and
studies show that a reduction meat and
studies show that a reduction meat and meat intake is correlated with a
meat intake is correlated with a
meat intake is correlated with a reduction in the chances to develop
reduction in the chances to develop
reduction in the chances to develop heart disease cancer obesity and
heart disease cancer obesity and
heart disease cancer obesity and diabetes and I’m sure much more the
diabetes and I’m sure much more the
diabetes and I’m sure much more the third reason why individuals choose to
third reason why individuals choose to
third reason why individuals choose to be vegetarian are due to moral concerns
be vegetarian are due to moral concerns
be vegetarian are due to moral concerns many men individuals
many men individuals
many men individuals now begin to understand and are
now begin to understand and are
now begin to understand and are recognizing the way industry raises as
recognizing the way industry raises as
recognizing the way industry raises as well as slaughters thousands of animals
well as slaughters thousands of animals
well as slaughters thousands of animals each year factory farming for example
each year factory farming for example
each year factory farming for example the process in which thousands millions
the process in which thousands millions
the process in which thousands millions of chickens are squeezed into
of chickens are squeezed into
of chickens are squeezed into unimaginable confinements raised moral
unimaginable confinements raised moral
unimaginable confinements raised moral and ethical issues and each and every
and ethical issues and each and every
and ethical issues and each and every one of us and the last reason why
one of us and the last reason why
one of us and the last reason why individuals choose to be vegetarian and
individuals choose to be vegetarian and
individuals choose to be vegetarian and perhaps the most common now is due to
perhaps the most common now is due to
perhaps the most common now is due to environmental reasons right me
environmental reasons right me
environmental reasons right me production is one of the most one of the
production is one of the most one of the
production is one of the most one of the greatest contributors of greenhouse gas
greatest contributors of greenhouse gas
greatest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions for example the amount of
emissions for example the amount of
emissions for example the amount of energy and water it takes to produce one
energy and water it takes to produce one
energy and water it takes to produce one pound of meat far surprises that in
pound of meat far surprises that in
pound of meat far surprises that in which it takes to produce one pound of
which it takes to produce one pound of
which it takes to produce one pound of crops and moreover seventy percent of
crops and moreover seventy percent of
crops and moreover seventy percent of all agriculture is used in the
all agriculture is used in the
all agriculture is used in the production of meat and so it’s important
production of meat and so it’s important
production of meat and so it’s important note of these four reasons two of them
note of these four reasons two of them
note of these four reasons two of them have to deal with reasons motivated by
have to deal with reasons motivated by
have to deal with reasons motivated by the self write a personal alignment
the self write a personal alignment
the self write a personal alignment between faith and the individual person
between faith and the individual person
between faith and the individual person or a personal desire to eat more
or a personal desire to eat more
or a personal desire to eat more healthily the other two have to do with
healthily the other two have to do with
healthily the other two have to do with the relationship between the person and
the relationship between the person and
the relationship between the person and someone else for the more reason it’s a
someone else for the more reason it’s a
someone else for the more reason it’s a sense of compassion and care between the
sense of compassion and care between the
sense of compassion and care between the person and all living things and for
person and all living things and for
person and all living things and for those who subscribe to the environmental
those who subscribe to the environmental
those who subscribe to the environmental reason it’s the sense that we are a part
reason it’s the sense that we are a part
reason it’s the sense that we are a part of a larger world we are part of a
of a larger world we are part of a
of a larger world we are part of a larger society and we have a duty to
larger society and we have a duty to
larger society and we have a duty to respect many people share one two three
respect many people share one two three
respect many people share one two three or all four of these reasons and allow
or all four of these reasons and allow
or all four of these reasons and allow me to share the story of one of my
me to share the story of one of my
me to share the story of one of my friends who subscribes to all four she
friends who subscribes to all four she
friends who subscribes to all four she believes in non-violence towards all
believes in non-violence towards all
believes in non-violence towards all living things she recognizes the health
living things she recognizes the health
living things she recognizes the health benefits of eating vegetarian she
benefits of eating vegetarian she
benefits of eating vegetarian she understands and is concerned about the
understands and is concerned about the
understands and is concerned about the cruelty in which animals are
cruelty in which animals are
cruelty in which animals are raised and lastly she is passionate and
raised and lastly she is passionate and
raised and lastly she is passionate and committed to doing her part in
committed to doing her part in
committed to doing her part in addressing the global climate change
addressing the global climate change
addressing the global climate change crisis and so she has devised the
crisis and so she has devised the
crisis and so she has devised the following dietary restrictions she is
following dietary restrictions she is
following dietary restrictions she is she refrains from eating meat but
she refrains from eating meat but
she refrains from eating meat but chooses to eat seafood and fish she is
chooses to eat seafood and fish she is
chooses to eat seafood and fish she is also okay with eating meat based bra
also okay with eating meat based bra
also okay with eating meat based bra like chicken broth and beef broth and is
like chicken broth and beef broth and is
like chicken broth and beef broth and is also okay with eating vegetables that
also okay with eating vegetables that
also okay with eating vegetables that have been cooked in the same dish as me
have been cooked in the same dish as me
have been cooked in the same dish as me and lastly she gives herself to cheat
and lastly she gives herself to cheat
and lastly she gives herself to cheat days per month and on those days she’s
days per month and on those days she’s
days per month and on those days she’s free to eat whatever she so chooses and
free to eat whatever she so chooses and
free to eat whatever she so chooses and so the question I asked and the question
so the question I asked and the question
so the question I asked and the question i’m sure you are thinking about is is
i’m sure you are thinking about is is
i’m sure you are thinking about is is she a vegetarian or is she not what do i
she a vegetarian or is she not what do i
she a vegetarian or is she not what do i call someone like her which i think that
call someone like her which i think that
call someone like her which i think that question reveals and highlights the
question reveals and highlights the
question reveals and highlights the fundamental issue with vegetarianism the
fundamental issue with vegetarianism the
fundamental issue with vegetarianism the term vegetarianism forces us to classify
term vegetarianism forces us to classify
term vegetarianism forces us to classify individuals as either vegetarian or
individuals as either vegetarian or
individuals as either vegetarian or non-vegetarian it forces us to use a
non-vegetarian it forces us to use a
non-vegetarian it forces us to use a binary in which one is either a
binary in which one is either a
binary in which one is either a vegetarian or non-vegetarian when more
vegetarian or non-vegetarian when more
vegetarian or non-vegetarian when more options exist it is inflexible it
options exist it is inflexible it
options exist it is inflexible it doesn’t allow us to accommodate those
doesn’t allow us to accommodate those
doesn’t allow us to accommodate those that choose not to eat a particular type
that choose not to eat a particular type
that choose not to eat a particular type of meat or those that choose not to eat
of meat or those that choose not to eat
of meat or those that choose not to eat meat during certain times of the day or
meat during certain times of the day or
meat during certain times of the day or of the month take for example those that
of the month take for example those that
of the month take for example those that participate in the meatless Monday’s
participate in the meatless Monday’s
participate in the meatless Monday’s movement are they vegetarian or are they
movement are they vegetarian or are they
movement are they vegetarian or are they not and so one could easily respond by
not and so one could easily respond by
not and so one could easily respond by saying whoa you can just easily create
saying whoa you can just easily create
saying whoa you can just easily create more classifications create more
more classifications create more
more classifications create more categorizations I was recently on a
categorizations I was recently on a
categorizations I was recently on a flight and when I got the flight menu
flight and when I got the flight menu
flight and when I got the flight menu there were many options and of course
there were many options and of course
there were many options and of course vegetarian and vegan were two listed but
vegetarian and vegan were two listed but
vegetarian and vegan were two listed but there were also other options vegetarian
there were also other options vegetarian
there were also other options vegetarian Jane a vegetarian lacto-ovo raw
Jane a vegetarian lacto-ovo raw
Jane a vegetarian lacto-ovo raw vegetable vegetarian oriental Asian
vegetable vegetarian oriental Asian
vegetable vegetarian oriental Asian vegetarian I’d even know this many
vegetarian I’d even know this many
vegetarian I’d even know this many options existed but this seems like a
options existed but this seems like a
options existed but this seems like a very inefficient method to addressing
very inefficient method to addressing
very inefficient method to addressing underlying issue more importantly though
underlying issue more importantly though
underlying issue more importantly though this doesn’t address the fact that we
this doesn’t address the fact that we
this doesn’t address the fact that we view vegetarianism as some as a deviant
view vegetarianism as some as a deviant
view vegetarianism as some as a deviant behavior as somehow by being a
behavior as somehow by being a
behavior as somehow by being a vegetarian you are different and you are
vegetarian you are different and you are
vegetarian you are different and you are not normal right and this is shown in
not normal right and this is shown in
not normal right and this is shown in many ways take for example my friend I
many ways take for example my friend I
many ways take for example my friend I often see that her friends whenever
often see that her friends whenever
often see that her friends whenever they’re planning a particular event they
they’re planning a particular event they
they’re planning a particular event they often plan it around those cheat days as
often plan it around those cheat days as
often plan it around those cheat days as if somehow those days were different
if somehow those days were different
if somehow those days were different than the other days or me personally
than the other days or me personally
than the other days or me personally when I introduced myself as a vegetarian
when I introduced myself as a vegetarian
when I introduced myself as a vegetarian a common response i get is oh you poor
a common response i get is oh you poor
a common response i get is oh you poor thing oh oh you’re missing out on so
thing oh oh you’re missing out on so
thing oh oh you’re missing out on so much so it’s clear that we have to
much so it’s clear that we have to
much so it’s clear that we have to redefine reframe how we perceive the
redefine reframe how we perceive the
redefine reframe how we perceive the dietary choices that we make every
dietary choices that we make every
dietary choices that we make every single meal we have to move away from a
single meal we have to move away from a
single meal we have to move away from a system where we assign now where we call
system where we assign now where we call
system where we assign now where we call people vegetarian and vegan and move to
people vegetarian and vegan and move to
people vegetarian and vegan and move to a method in which we are actively
a method in which we are actively
a method in which we are actively deciding and thinking critically about
deciding and thinking critically about
deciding and thinking critically about the ethical the moral the environmental
the ethical the moral the environmental
the ethical the moral the environmental and the health implications of every
and the health implications of every
and the health implications of every single meal that we eat we need to move
single meal that we eat we need to move
single meal that we eat we need to move to a framework of eating ethically and
to a framework of eating ethically and
to a framework of eating ethically and I’ll give you three reasons why why this
I’ll give you three reasons why why this
I’ll give you three reasons why why this framework is more as much more powerful
framework is more as much more powerful
framework is more as much more powerful the first reason is that it gives us the
the first reason is that it gives us the
the first reason is that it gives us the flexibility to include individuals who
flexibility to include individuals who
flexibility to include individuals who much is to not eat a certain type of
much is to not eat a certain type of
much is to not eat a certain type of meat or choose to refrain from eating
meat or choose to refrain from eating
meat or choose to refrain from eating meat during certain times of the year it
meat during certain times of the year it
meat during certain times of the year it also is flexible in that it recognizes
also is flexible in that it recognizes
also is flexible in that it recognizes that sometimes the adoption of a
that sometimes the adoption of a
that sometimes the adoption of a plant-based diet is very challenging it
plant-based diet is very challenging it
plant-based diet is very challenging it may not be easy to go vegetarian or it
may not be easy to go vegetarian or it
may not be easy to go vegetarian or it may not be easy to reduce your intake of
may not be easy to reduce your intake of
may not be easy to reduce your intake of me and this new framework allows for
me and this new framework allows for
me and this new framework allows for that flexibility the second reason why
that flexibility the second reason why
that flexibility the second reason why this new framework is more powerful is
this new framework is more powerful is
this new framework is more powerful is that it inspires and encourages dialogue
that it inspires and encourages dialogue
that it inspires and encourages dialogue and conversation when I introduce myself
and conversation when I introduce myself
and conversation when I introduce myself as a vegetarian
as a vegetarian
as a vegetarian the other individual often has
the other individual often has
the other individual often has assumptions about who I am about what I
assumptions about who I am about what I
assumptions about who I am about what I can eat about why I choose to be a
can eat about why I choose to be a
can eat about why I choose to be a vegetarian and lastly about my ethical
vegetarian and lastly about my ethical
vegetarian and lastly about my ethical values and moral values and how they
values and moral values and how they
values and moral values and how they interact with my dietary choices however
interact with my dietary choices however
interact with my dietary choices however if I introduce myself as someone who
if I introduce myself as someone who
if I introduce myself as someone who eats ethically the first question that
eats ethically the first question that
eats ethically the first question that comes to mind is what does eating
comes to mind is what does eating
comes to mind is what does eating ethically mean how does eating ethically
ethically mean how does eating ethically
ethically mean how does eating ethically convey itself in this person’s dietary
convey itself in this person’s dietary
convey itself in this person’s dietary choices why might this person eat
choices why might this person eat
choices why might this person eat ethically and so the framework of eating
ethically and so the framework of eating
ethically and so the framework of eating ethically allows for these conversations
ethically allows for these conversations
ethically allows for these conversations to happen and it encourages other
to happen and it encourages other
to happen and it encourages other individuals to think about the choices
individuals to think about the choices
individuals to think about the choices in which they are making when they have
in which they are making when they have
in which they are making when they have a meal and the last reason why eating
a meal and the last reason why eating
a meal and the last reason why eating ethically is important is that it
ethically is important is that it
ethically is important is that it nurtures a sense of compassion if you
nurtures a sense of compassion if you
nurtures a sense of compassion if you recall I earlier stated for reasons why
recall I earlier stated for reasons why
recall I earlier stated for reasons why most individuals eat vegetarian two of
most individuals eat vegetarian two of
most individuals eat vegetarian two of those reasons were due to self that was
those reasons were due to self that was
those reasons were due to self that was the faith reason as well as a desire to
the faith reason as well as a desire to
the faith reason as well as a desire to eat healthily the other two reasons had
eat healthily the other two reasons had
eat healthily the other two reasons had to do with a sense of care for something
to do with a sense of care for something
to do with a sense of care for something that wasn’t them a sense of care for the
that wasn’t them a sense of care for the
that wasn’t them a sense of care for the plight of animals and the belief that
plight of animals and the belief that
plight of animals and the belief that there should be a minimum standard in
there should be a minimum standard in
there should be a minimum standard in which they are respected in addition the
which they are respected in addition the
which they are respected in addition the environmental reason states that a
environmental reason states that a
environmental reason states that a individual should have a sense of
individual should have a sense of
individual should have a sense of compassion a care for the larger
compassion a care for the larger
compassion a care for the larger environment around them and their role
environment around them and their role
environment around them and their role in the larger ecosystem and therefore by
in the larger ecosystem and therefore by
in the larger ecosystem and therefore by shifting to a system in which we think
shifting to a system in which we think
shifting to a system in which we think about our daily meals and we think about
about our daily meals and we think about
about our daily meals and we think about the decisions we make before every meal
the decisions we make before every meal
the decisions we make before every meal we are able to think and remind
we are able to think and remind
we are able to think and remind ourselves of those implications of our
ourselves of those implications of our
ourselves of those implications of our care for something that is not us we are
care for something that is not us we are
care for something that is not us we are able to think and empower ourselves to
able to think and empower ourselves to
able to think and empower ourselves to recommit ourselves to what we believe in
recommit ourselves to what we believe in
recommit ourselves to what we believe in and what we find is right and we are
and what we find is right and we are
and what we find is right and we are able to inspire that compassion in those
able to inspire that compassion in those
able to inspire that compassion in those around
around
around us allow me to conclude with a
us allow me to conclude with a
us allow me to conclude with a comparison many years ago there was a
comparison many years ago there was a
comparison many years ago there was a movement to reduce the general public’s
movement to reduce the general public’s
movement to reduce the general public’s use of plastic bags this movement
use of plastic bags this movement
use of plastic bags this movement encourage individuals to use paper
encourage individuals to use paper
encourage individuals to use paper instead or even better use reusable bags
instead or even better use reusable bags
instead or even better use reusable bags and now I find myself whenever in a
and now I find myself whenever in a
and now I find myself whenever in a checkout line reminded of the
checkout line reminded of the
checkout line reminded of the environmental implications of using a
environmental implications of using a
environmental implications of using a plastic bag but even though I were
plastic bag but even though I were
plastic bag but even though I were reminding I tried my best to avoid the
reminding I tried my best to avoid the
reminding I tried my best to avoid the use of plastic bags sometimes I find
use of plastic bags sometimes I find
use of plastic bags sometimes I find myself using them perhaps out of
myself using them perhaps out of
myself using them perhaps out of convenience or perhaps out of necessity
convenience or perhaps out of necessity
convenience or perhaps out of necessity perhaps the context dictates that I need
perhaps the context dictates that I need
perhaps the context dictates that I need to use a plastic bag for example if I am
to use a plastic bag for example if I am
to use a plastic bag for example if I am buying groceries and I need to take the
buying groceries and I need to take the
buying groceries and I need to take the mass transit back home it would be
mass transit back home it would be
mass transit back home it would be infeasible for me not to use a plastic
infeasible for me not to use a plastic
infeasible for me not to use a plastic bag if I did if I hadn’t already brought
bag if I did if I hadn’t already brought
bag if I did if I hadn’t already brought a bag with me I think F eating ethically
a bag with me I think F eating ethically
a bag with me I think F eating ethically should be the same we should think about
should be the same we should think about
should be the same we should think about the decisions that we make every single
the decisions that we make every single
the decisions that we make every single meal just like we think about the
meal just like we think about the
meal just like we think about the decisions whether or not to use a
decisions whether or not to use a
decisions whether or not to use a plastic bag at every single time we
plastic bag at every single time we
plastic bag at every single time we check out and in doing so we can better
check out and in doing so we can better
check out and in doing so we can better align and recognize the moral the
align and recognize the moral the
align and recognize the moral the ethical the health as was the ethical
ethical the health as was the ethical
ethical the health as was the ethical implications of eating vegetarian and
implications of eating vegetarian and
implications of eating vegetarian and reducing our meat intake and so with
reducing our meat intake and so with
reducing our meat intake and so with that I’m going to conclude just by
that I’m going to conclude just by
that I’m going to conclude just by simply saying it’s time to start eating
simply saying it’s time to start eating
simply saying it’s time to start eating ethically thank you
ethically thank you
ethically thank you [Applause]
”
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