It's Buddhist Action Month, and you may well be reflecting on the choices you make and the impact they have on the world around you. It is clear that humanity is facing into an unprecedented situation of human caused global warming, and, without taking adequate and immediate action, runaway climate change is imminent- which would ultimately make most of our planet uninhabitable for humans. So far, so alarming. What is one to do in such a situation?
Well, obviously, there is no one simple answer to that question, which must be tackled at all levels: by policy makers, world leaders, communities - including spiritual communities - businesses and more. But it seems increasingly the case, based on the evidence, that the single most effective thing an individual can do is to give up meat and dairy. A recent article in The Guardian newspaper highlights (following extensive research) that quite apart from the inefficiency of using land for livestock, as it uses a lot more land than that needed for growing food crops, "even the very lowest impact meat and dairy products still cause much more environmental harm than the least sustainable vegetable and cereal growing." This personal change would have a greater impact than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.
So, for those worried about climate change, that is one compelling reason to seriously consider moving towards, or sticking to, a vegan diet!
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