Science and veganism

[Guest guest]

I did Environmental studies at college a few years ago. The teach

broadcast before the class that if everyone was vegetarian there

wouldn't be enough land to feed everyone! We all know that is the

exact opposite of the truth (it takes ten times more space to feed a

Meat eater than a veggie, or something like that). I couldn't let

her get away with it, so I corrected her, while the rest of the class

hissed at me (they often did this as I was always taking them all on

for their silly anthropocentrism), but she insisted she was right, so

I told her I would photocopy the information I had (from an

environmental science text book; ie. nothing to do with 'biased'

veggie/AR material) and give it to her the following week. When I

gave her the info (descretely, before the class) she apologized to me

and then to the whole class, saying that indeed I had been right and

she had made a mistake and she would copy the info I had given her

and give each pupil a copy of it; though she didn't, and the others

were guiltily glad she didn't and acted as if I had been terribly

mean to the teacher! Well its lucky that teacher isn't in charge of

the atom? !!!

 

Although English and critical textual analysis is my subject, I

actually love biological science (did GCSE Biology yrs ago, but

didn't pass as I missed half the course. I lost my virginity and went

wild with hormones and raving about at nightclubs!). Not keen on the

chemistry and physics, just the anatomical and eco stuff. I'm going

to do Botany soon.

 

Pity there's not more vegan teachers like you around :-(

 

Pandora

 

, " Angie Wright " <angiewright@n...> wrote:

> Science at secondary level 11-16 It can be done subtly when

> doing diet or food chains but they should do it in Home economics

> (cookery )

>

> Angie

>

>

> ladymorphia [ladymorphia]

> 04 September 2002 22:25

>

> to Angie

>

>

> Hi Angie, mind me asking what you teach? and what age the pupils

are?

> T'would be lovely if you could teach veganism as the way of the

human

> diet!

>

> Pandora

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>I did Environmental studies at college a few years ago. The teach

>broadcast before the class that if everyone was vegetarian there

>wouldn't be enough land to feed everyone!

 

There are, though, valid environmental concerns about widespread adoption

of a vegetarian diet. If Graham is on the list he would do a much better

job of explaining them than I could.

 

One such though is to do with the mixed use of land for both grazing and

crops and the damage that would be caused if animals weren't kept on the

land. Sorry that sounds vague I really can't remember it too well.

 

It is worth pointing out that the prominent early environmentalists

(Leopold etc.) were definitely not vegetarians,

 

Personally though I don't think such arguments are in surmountable, and of

course it also depends on whether you give primacy to the animal

rights/welfare position, or the ecological one.

 

Michael

[Guest guest]

I also make this point I tell them that those at the top of a food chain are few in number (more herbivores below them ) and I ask them about us at the top of the food chain and the implications .

One has to be subtle , unless a pupil brings it up ,then more time can be spent on it

 

I'm surprised she made such an error at least she corrected it Many teachers would not admit to being wrong

 

 

ladymorphia [ladymorphia] 04 September 2002 22:52 Subject: Science and veganism

I did Environmental studies at college a few years ago. The teach broadcast before the class that if everyone was vegetarian there wouldn't be enough land to feed everyone! --------- I couldn't let her get away with it, so I corrected her,

 

I told her I would photocopy the information I had (from an environmental science text book; ............ she apologized to me and then to the whole class, saying that indeed I had been right and she had made a mistake mean to the teacher! Pandora

 

---

 

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[Guest guest]

Some land cannot be cultivated and could be used for animals But there are still too many humans and therefore too many herbivores being eaten (Hence all the waste polluting the place ) Trees are removed for growing crops eg McD's and others ,for cattle feed for burgers

 

Lots of environmentalists are just bothered about the world affecting Human existance (and their own )imo so the need to consider animals is only important if it affects humans and a balance . Early environmentalists may have lived at a time when animal eating was not so frequent and before factory farming. My mum hardly ever eat animals as a child ---lack of money --also the war came in her teens

 

 

Mavreela [nec.lists] 04 September 2002 23:01 Subject: Re: Science and veganismOne such though is to do with the mixed use of land for both grazing and crops and the damage that would be caused if animals weren't kept on the land. Sorry that sounds vague I really can't remember it too well.It is worth pointing out that the prominent early environmentalists (Leopold etc.) were definitely not vegetarians,Michael~~ info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Please remember that the above is only the opinion of the author, there may be another side to the story you have not heard.---------------------------Was this message Off Topic? Did you know? Was it snipped?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guidelines: visit <site temporarily offline>Un: send a blank message to -

[Guest guest]

>Early environmentalists may have lived at a time when animal eating was

>not so frequent and before factory farming.

 

Certainly they are against factory farming. Leopold for one though was a

hunter, and made a big thing out of it. Indeed he was respecting the

environment in killing, or so he thought.

 

Michael

[Guest guest]

Angie Wright wrote:

 

 

I'm surprised she made such an error at least she corrected it Many teachers would not admit to being wrong

 

mmmm, but she couldn't argue with a text book which the college itself had set as part of the course! nor could she argue with the wealth of info from Kathleen Jannaway and others that veganism goes hand in hand with ecology. Keep up the good work.

 

Pandora

 

 

 

 

ladymorphia [ladymorphia] 04 September 2002 22:52 Subject: Science and veganism

I did Environmental studies at college a few years ago. The teach broadcast before the class that if everyone was vegetarian there wouldn't be enough land to feed everyone! --------- I couldn't let her get away with it, so I corrected her,

 

I told her I would photocopy the information I had (from an environmental science text book; ............ she apologized to me and then to the whole class, saying that indeed I had been right and she had made a mistake mean to the teacher! Pandora~~ info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Please remember that the above is only the opinion of the author, there may be another side to the story you have not heard.---------------------------Was this message Off Topic? Did you know? Was it snipped?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guidelines: visit <site temporarily offline>Un: send a blank message to -