[Thor]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

As for Africa and 3rd world countries, you will find that their meat and dairy consumption is far, far, far below North Americas. They are surviving (barely) on staples such as rice and wheat.

Right, cause Africa has such vast rice and wheat fields. Bush meat is the biggest threat to extinction in Africa today, its the reason for most endangered or 'warning' alerts in that continent.

Most of the rice/wheat is mostly from humanitarian sources, but your point is valid.

Ever read "Religion Explained: The Human Instinct That Fashion Gods" by Pascal Boyer? It suggests that it goes against human nature to be atheist. There are many, many parts of human nature that we may or may not want to hold onto.

I have not, but its I hear a fascinating book. I'd recommend a video:

And I certainly agree regarding differing people and differing needs. I went to a joint conference between the Nova Scotia Environmental Network and the Nova Scotia Aboriginal Network. NSEN wanted the conference to be vegetarian as a plant based diet has a smaller ecological impact than a meat based diet. NSAN objected on grounds that many aboriginals are suffering from a low meat diet. Given that, more than most people around the world, they traditional ate high levels of meat, switching from meats to breads and sugars has led to a horrible rate of obesity and diabetes in their communities.

Whats led to a massive amount of obesity isn't the increased protein consumption in our diets, its the massive increase in sugars, salts, and fats.

Its the fact our daily diet has increased in volume, in worse ingredients and mostly under the increasing damage of mass media.

But yeah we're preaching to a choir here.

There is scientific proof that people of aboriginal decent are less able to process breads and sugars. We came to a compromise - NSAN could bring in venison or other hunted meat and fish they caught, which they were more than happy to agree to.

Of course, environmental situations, evolution. Eskimo's in the north aren't growing crops of wheat and other vegetables, they are under the constraints of their surroundings.

Its the 'natives can't handle liquor' syndrome, we examine isolated tribes in continents and specific abrupt changes to there diet be it oranges or liquors has a real affect that they have not evolved to deal with.

Like I said, I'm for minimizing suffering. If there are medical reasons why someone needs meat then so be it, but for most of us it isn't a requirement needed for existence and is a unnecessary luxury.

Medical reasons? That's a dubious claim. The fact is for a large portion of this world protein from animal sources is a NECESSITY not a choice.

Its simply a matter of luxury that humans can decide not to eat meat, or not rely on animal protein in their normal lives.

Again, even in this day and age, Iceland my home, cannot go vegan no matter what, they would simply cease to exist.

Iceland is not a rare case, in this world denying eating meat is akin to starvation and anti evolutionary.