Thanks for the feedback...
My main problem with the cross over of environmental and anything else is
that there is so much TIME spent debating what "environmentalism" is and
there is so much infighting in the ranks that issues are clouded and nothing
constructive acheived.
I do agree with vegetarianism in principle and practice but such cloudyness
allows others to more easily dismiss the pleas and (frankly on many
occasions) rational arguments of environmentalists as "woolly bullshit".
Maybe I'm wrong - maybe we need to reassess what environmentalism is today
(its probably been done already) but I fear this would be fruitless as there
are so many diversifications these days.
>From: Ramsy Ayoub <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: RE: Greenpeace and an introduction
>Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 10:21:23 +0400
>
>Just a quick note.
>
>The choice of being a Vegetarian or a vegan is indeed for the most part a
>lifestyle choice. But I would have to disagree that it is not an
>environmental sound choice, as by eating veg we are getting energy lower
>down the food chain and reducing the reliance on high intensive food
>farming
>and increasing the efficiency of transfer of photosynthetic energy. I
>would
>disagree that the veg/vegan choice is a prerequisite to being an
>environmentalist but is should be considered as a step in the right
>direction or perhaps a starting point.
>
>Is there a need for a spiritual dimension to environmentalism ? No I don't
>think it is necessary to relate spiritualism to environmentalism but I can
>see how a religious person(is that is what you mean by spiritual) would
>possibility relate the two. And in my opinion if it furthers the cause of a
>better environment then could it not be used as a tool for promoting
>environmental awareness/responsibility.
>
>The whole reason for my agency being set up in the middle east was the
>passages in the Koran about protecting the environment. i.e.
>
>"The world is green and beautiful and God has appointed you as His stewards
>over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves"
>
>From sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.
>
>Just a few ideas
>
>Ramsey
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: emma fieldhouse [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 4:25 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Greenpeace and an introduction
>
>
>
>Steven Bissell wrote:
>
>Just got to say it Maynard, I disagree on both counts. Vegetarian or Vegan
>lifestyle and opposition to GMO should *not* be used as criteria for
>"greenness" because neither are irrefutably environmentally solid. I'm
>coming to believe GMO is more and more suspect, but I wouldn't hold it up
>as
>an absolute yet. As to vegetarianism, I'll still argue that for most
>situations that is a dietary choice, not environmental. In many cultures
>and
>eco-regions, eating meat is much more sensible. I'm not trying to start the
>old "vegetarianism is more healthy" debate, it might be and still not be
>environmentally sound.
>
>
>I'm not too sure whether I consider the vegetarian issue to be a truly
>environmental issue and I'm quite disturbed by the amount of time spent
>arguing this point... but I am including data collection on vegetarianism
>in
>
>environmental organisations to see whether the connection is made by
>individuals employed by environmental organisations.
>
>At a meeting over the weekend, I met an ex-Greenpeace activist who said
>that
>
>the debates over the "veg/vegan" issue created more warring problems than
>the activists' external fight against corporations. I understand the
>arguments but isn't there a lot more to being green than just changing your
>diet? Is there a need for a spiritual dimension to environmentalism as well
>as a practical one?
>
>Regards,
>
>Emma Fieldhouse
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