Today is World Vegan Day. What are you going to do about it? Ignore the message [see graphic above]? Scoff and eat a fast-food burger with your middle finger aloft? Or maybe read this Twitter thread, scope out a few of the articles linked therein (e.g., here and here), and perhaps reassess your dietary decisions?
With dire climate predictions reinforcing a sense of urgency about what people can do to halt the planet’s demise, now would be a good time to go vegan, if you haven’t already. I’ve yammered on about the benefits of cutting out meat and dairy from one’s diet here, here, and here. You know—and likely hate—the drill. Many of you will resist till the end. I get it. Some people just can’t enjoy a meal unless they know that some suffering and death led to that food arriving on their plates. Some people believe their taste buds take precedence over doing what’s best for the environment… and then will gloat about it on social media.
But let’s say you actually want to start leading a vegan lifestyle: Where can those who live in the Portland area eat quality vegan foodstuffs? This shouldn’t be that hard to do. According to WalletHub, we are currently ranked second in the country for vegetarian/vegan-friendliness. WH arrived at this decision by tallying the number of restaurants serving meatless options and salad shops per capita, as well as tabulating the cost of groceries for vegetarians and vegans.
Here’s a list of some local restaurants that have vegan options.
This is why people hate vegans: “Some people just can’t enjoy a meal unless they know that some suffering and death led to that food arriving on their plates. Some people believe their taste buds take precedence over doing what’s best for the environment…”<<<<
There is plenty of damage done to the planet by agriculture in general, including the growing of all food vegans eat; there are millions of people on this planet who need to eat what is available to them and that includes animal products (mostly animal products people in first world countries won’t touch); and even if the entire world went vegan (which isn’t even remotely possible or in any way sustainable) damage to the planet and the climate will continue, unabated, until human beings have ceased to exist ~ but don’t let any of those facts disrupt your sanctimonious narrative.
Oh and let’s not forget all of the human exploitation and suffering that is involved in growing plant foods.
Christina Rae has an opinion on everything