Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Pescatarian?
Not everyone can drop meat, I'm aware of that. But maybe more people could try to become pescatarian? Pescatarian means that the only meat you consume is fish. I, myself, being a pescatarian, find that a lot of fish can substitute meat like beef, pork, or chicken. Ocean fisheries also have a smaller economical impact. Maybe try it. Thoughts?
As much as I love fish and would totally try it, I just can't give up meat, Seriously I'm eating beef jerky right now.
I would not give up meat
Fish is meat. You couldn't give up beef pork or chicken.
Fish are extremely healthy for you and provide extremely high protein and fats at little economic and carbon cost. Other meats like turkey are also considerable as they are more efficient and lean then some meats such as pork or beef.
I mean, people actually need that as a part of there diet. You cannot convert me. I am eating beef jerkey as I type this soooo.....
I eat salmon somewhat often, and I only really eat meat other than salmon about 1-3 times a week, I'd say that's a normal amount and more people should try eating fish, I don't think we should give up meat entirely, only lower how much we eat it.
I think that is the point of pescatarianism ^
MEAT IS GOOD TO GET IRON , PROTEIN, AND VITAMINS
It is proven that people do not need meat in their diet, in fact eating more meat throughout your life can increase your risk of heart disease. There is proof that vegetarian/pescatarian people and their meat-eating counterparts are just as healthy and have the same amount of nutrition. So if you're going to bring up the argument that people "need" meat to survive, it will be disproven.
Look it up
It is a fact. This aint fake news bro. This is real. People DO need meat in there diet.
You are right, we don't NEED meat to survive, some people are just addicted and "can't" give it up, although I kind've doubt that there is no possible way for some people to give up meat, but if it is true then I do support vegetarian diets, and pescatarian diets, people should participate in them, but we can't make everybody do it. The best we can hope for is for people to eat less meat and more fish, but we can't fully convert them.
Pescatarianism is actually pretty good substitute for eating meat, especially for people who feel guilty about eating animals that they think are cute or friendly. But I, unfortunately, am allergic to fish so I cannot eat any without passing out from extreme stomach pain. If you find out you are allergic to fish, DO NOT EAT IT. I have a family member who is pescatarian and she is plenty happy with it. Fish can provide the protein and nutrients that you can also find in other meats, but with less guilt. If you want a healthier life without eating popular meats like beef or chicken, go pescatarian!
I agree. Not everyone can commit to a fully vegan/pesca/vegetarian diet. But if even 25% of Americans switched to fish instead of pork or beef, our footprint would decrease drastically. (Maybe I'll make a post including links to show the inside of the meat industry, maybe that'll make you want to stop.)
sam I'm sorry but you are not correct. there are millions of vegans on the planet (including me) and we are not dying early. In fact we have lower rates of heart disease which is the number one cause of death in the USA.
Having said that, I don't think that a vegan diet is for everyone. I know of vegans who were having health issues when they went vegan, and when they added back eggs and fish they started feeling better.
I think that there is a great diversity in the dietary needs of people -- there is no singular diet that would work for every human. But for many of us a vegan diet is not only healthy and safe, it is healthier than the diets of most omnivores.
In my opinion pescatarianism is pointless. Sure it's semi smart, because you get access to omega 3 fatty acids, but soon the ocean will be almost devoid of fish. And the point of going vegan or vegetarian is to help the environment and reduce carbon emissions, and going pescatarian is not truly helping it. It's about the mindset, not health.
Ok @JasonHodin, so I read what you posted and I have been positively fazed by what I saw. I realize we don't need meat, we just like it because of it's extra value. just like we don't need protein shakes and protein powder, we just like it for it's additional health benefits.
I personally don't like protein shakes, but I love beans and rice and avocado
I was using that as an example
If you want to go to vegan, but you still don't want to give up cheese, eggs, milk etc, then try having pea protein, and rice protein. It may sound disgusting but it's a way better choice to reduce carbon emissions and it doesn't taste that different. The other day I had a burger that was made using pea protein, and I am just going to say it tasted exactly like beef or pork. Also I agree with going to the side of Pescetarianism because besides just getting protein from fish you can get protein from rice, peas, etc...