Thursday 27 November 2008

All these Veges!!

It's the American thanksgiving today, so a friend from the US celebrated it-but had a Vegan one. So I decided to go over with some friends to try it out, and see how Tofu taste like. After the meal and the usual mashed sweet and common potatoes, boiled carrots and scallops, Tofurkey all topped with mushroom and onion gravy, I thought the meal (most especially the Tofurkey was quite a delightful surprise- and I'm not being sarcastic). It did not taste like Turkey that it was supposed to simulate, but it did taste good and different, yet similar to something I had tried before (spiced Salmon, beans or Moi-moi? couldn't quite place it)...Regardless, it was good.

And that silly, half-thought notion I had, that questioned the sense in people simulating the same foods that they were against its excessive consumption, cropped up in my head again. I mean why try to simulate beef, Turkey, chicken with Soya and the other stuff they use, and call it all these names that try to allude to the real thing. Why don't you just eat the real things in small proportions, or better still make entirely new foods. But now I'm coming to realize and see the reason and concern in these people and even the courage (hope I'm not exaggerating, here)in them. The decision to eat differently from what ones been weaned, really, to eat and crave must be a tough one. Apart from the cruelty some claim eating animal products cause on animals, I was a bit perplexed on how exactly consumption of meat and animal products deteriorates the environment. Then I learnt of this concept Environmental Footprint in one of my Environmental Science classes. This concept measures the impact and demand humans have on the environment in relation to how much the earth can accommodate. So each individual's ecological footprint is dependent on how much resources he uses and the consequent impact on the environment. When I first arrived here in Canada, my footprint and most people from Nigeria as measured by the EC. Ft. website was really moderate, if not small, as compared to other Canadians.But after a few months here, it increased.

So after this my lecture, what I'm getting at is that the more meat one consumes, the higher ones impact on the environment. Also, the higher society's collective demand for meat, the more land is cut down for rearing livestock and then the more "cruelty" on animals.

So now, do I intend to become vegetarian or vegan, NOPE!! and I don't expect anyone to become one, neither do I see any kind of righteousness or uprightness in the people who do. I do admire them for their concern and courage, but as for me I feel that if I ever move towards that green path, it won't be because I truly care for animals or want to save the environment. I think I might be doing it because I want to lead some kind of alternative lifestyle. But who knows, a few years from now, I could become truly concerned. I am not an advocate for saving the environment through the avoidance of certain things like meat (I eat, like it) as I feel the deterioration of the environment can be reduced, through individual self-awareness. That awareness should take form in one knowing that the simple and everyday things one does, adversely affects the environment. Does one really need to spend more than 10minutes in the shower, sleep with the lights on, eat meat products for every meal? I myself am guilty for all the things mentioned above. But, I think I should really try to reduce my impact and I really don't have to follow blindly this western bandwagon of wastefulness and consuming more than what one needs and even expected to want.

11 comments:

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

I understand the 'lowering one's environmental impact' completely. However, I do not eat enough beef as is living with the people I live with.

I want some steak , right this minute.

happy Thanksgiving!

Afolabi said...

Happy thanksgiving Solomonsydelle....lol..Hypocritical me...I'm eating a steak right now..but I haven't had any meat through out the whole day..so I guess I'm not that overly contradicting what I'm saying..

Jaja said...

Am turning vegan because I dont quite like meat. And I hope to have a healthier life murdering and eating the lives of vegetables. I refuse to acknolege the intelligence and and suffering of plants. Its better for me that they have a completely different way of expressing pain.

NaijaBabe said...

I love my vegetables, not to say though, that I can walk into a restaurant and order a salad...No! It has to be accompanied with that rice and stew.

I dont eat beef produce either...milk, cheese, nor eggs, not to say once again that I dont lovve a bit of Haagen Daz or cake...Yes I'm a weirdo like that, It just so happens I stopped eating alot of things at age 11.

Do I miss it? Nah! so I hope I've done my bit for the environment.

How have you been?

Afolabi said...

@ jaja:It'll be so cool, if you can stay vegan. Heard it takes sometime to get used to (as in gradual change in the meals you have), so I'll like to know how you fare in it.


@ naijababe: I'm not doing bad, just been swamped with so much work, as my exams start next week.It's interesting that you haven't had any beef produce (except ice cream-sure that must be hard to leave..hehee) since you were a child. So I guess you're party/naturally vegetarian, which is still a feat I wish I could achieve...

Tigeress said...

I for one can never become a vegetarian. But for health reasons i have drastically cut down on my meat intake.

NaijaBabe said...

Lol...No ice cream is the best!!!!

I start exams next week too, on monday...Good luck

Anonymous said...

Well as for me, since i came into the UK, i have subconsciously gotten used to some things, like doing my washing at night cos electricity is lower then, recycling things, using energy saving bulbs and equipment, but one thing i cant change is to change what i eat cos of its impact on the environment

Allied said...

UPDATE!!!!!

Jennifer A. said...

LOL @ "why don't you just eat the real thing?"

Lol...

Jennifer A. said...

God gave us meat and plants to eat...although, we have decided to use some of them as "pets" (e.g. I have a puppy).

Anyways, I admire vegetarians sha. But people who eat meat are not unrighteous...that's just the order of things on earth: Lion eats Cow, Cow eats grass, humans eat cow (or lion)...etc.

PS: Don't mind me...cracking myself up. But I get the point...lol.

PSS: Our ecological footprint will keep increasing as far as we're alive. If we don't increase them, someone else will. Eyahh!