I look at groups like PETA and whatever vegan organizations that are out there as havens for the mentally imbalanced. Sure there are sane people and those that think before they act, but there are enough whack jobs in those groups to give them a bad name. Its another form of religious extremists, which in my mind is evil in its own right.

If you haven’t seen this show or this episode I recommend it. I love these guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inFtOMx8nDU

http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/09/review-of-the-vegetarian-myth.html

“Well informed registered dietician” is a contradiction in terms.

Where do they get the blood? Do they all donate a pint?

Ha, I never thought of that. Maybe they saved it from their one member who had the guts to accost a biker wearing leather instead of a woman wearing fur.

http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/faqs/

Hope others find it useful.

I am currently vegan, quite healthy… and have been for the past ten years. I chose this diet under Lierre’s “Moral” category… making zero claims that it is nutritionally a better choice- I just can’t be convinced of that even though I subscribe to veganism right now.

I have never thought that killing was wrong… never been squeamish about the blatant reality that life requires death AND also knew that I could never support the meat industry… that that form of mechanical indifference to life is perhaps the most violently cruel practice- in its banal detachment- that could be concocted.

And…. I certainly resonated with Lierre’s book… I consider myself animist and cannot argue with the adult, life-cycle position she presents around the necessity of death for life… brutal, and violent at times and still fraught with beauty and creation.

I am also currently working through both the “Omnivore’s dilemma” and the work of Gary Francione…

Folks, I truly am on a fact finding mission such that I can make some balanced choices for myself that resonate with where I’m at.

With that, I would love to have a list of the points that people have taken issue with in Lierre’s book, and possibly replies to them therein. Crop rotation? Kelp fertilizers? Let’s talk through the nitty gritty. I would really appreciate it if you’re up to it.

I am left with a “Now what?” type feeling after reading her book… I still don’t feel to eat meat… living in a major Canadian city, with zero ability to hunt, no land to participate in the type of land use she supports…

I have started looking into “ethical”, grass fed meats in my area… trying to decipher what edibles are top-soil lovin’ and producin’… and…. but….

I worry that as a planet we have gone too far in the direction of mono-crop sustenance and factory farming to ever reach the dreamy place that Lierre sees as ideal (as do I). I wonder if technology and bizarre products… extremes of diet… will need to be the answer to a too far gone system?

I am far more comfortable will the “natural violence” of the honourable killing of an animal as may have been the case on my great-grandmother’s farm or in the traditions of some of north america’s first peoples… but wonder how to live that out “now”.

Veganism at least attempts to set forth with the intentionality to reduce suffering… as misguided as Lierre notes it to be (she is right).

Intentionality, I believe, is so important… I cringe at the thought of those who have never paused to consider their impact… their role… the respect that should be afforded every morsel of what we eat using Lierre’s book as an excuse to just go ahead and continue doing what they’ve always done or start eating meat without a second thought… Flipping to her scathing criticism of farming vegans and using that as fodder to bash unbelievably well-intentioned people (complete with all their flaws) doing their best to grapple with deep ethical questions and live a better life. (I don’t know any vegans like the “pie throwing” ones… am embarrassed by them to be true…)

I think Lierre’s book is a long time needed and essential part of a vital debate- but that there is more required. Wish I knew what that was.

I welcome any and all information, comments, questions etc. and would especially appreciate any thoughts on the question of soundness of Lierre’s book and the specific debates occurring around those points.

Also- I would love to hear more about how people are applying Lierre’s work into their daily lives on any and all of an individual, family, community or global scale.

Many thanks.

Well, damn, you caught us! The only reason anyone would suggest that eating the foods we ate for millions of years might actually be good for us is to support the evil meat industry, as you surmised. And as you also figured out, there are no scientists anywhere who believe animal protein is good for us … only feminist activists believe that. Brilliant analysis, my tofu-eating friend.

I’ve gone on pretty long here, but the actual bottom line is that education should be the goal, for everyone. It’s a sign of educational depravity that anyone would Pie in the face someone who challenges their beliefs.

P.S. I once woke up to my little brother and his buddy putting raw steak on my face. He was 8. real adults, as described by lierre, would not have pie faced anyone.

If your moral code says don’t eat meat, then I agree, you shouldn’t. Lierre discusses the morality quite in her book, so if you haven’t read that section yet, I suspect you’ll find it intriguing. Bottom line is that we should all respect each other’s decisions on the matter.