FACTS AND FIGURES

Health and Hunger
Environment and Ethics
World Religions
Physiological Comparisons

Health and Hunger

Health

The Journal of Medical Association states, "Ninnety to ninety-seven percent of heart disease, the cause of more than half of the deaths in the United States, could be prevented by a vegetarian diet."

Nineteen out of twenty-five nations, in which meat was a substantial part of the diet, had an extremely high cancer rate. Out of thirty-five nations, in which little or no meat was consumed, none had a high cancer rate.

Hunger

A 1972 report to the UN World Food Conservation stated, "The over-consumption of meat by the rich means hunger for the poor."

Number of people who will die of starvation this year : 60 million
Number of people who could be adequately fed if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10% : 60 million

Percentage of corn grown in the US eaten by people : 20%
Percentage of corn grown in the US eaten by livestock : 80%
Percentage of oats grown in the US eaten by livestock : 95%

Back to top

Environment and Ethics

Environment

The US Agricultural Research Service calls the heavily contaminated runoff and sewage from America's thousands of slaughter-houses and feed-lots a major source of pollution of the nation's rivers and streams.

Percentage of US topsoil lost to date : 75%
Percentage of US topsoil loss directly related to livestock raising : 85%
Fossil fuel needed to produce a meat-centered diet vs a meat-free diet : 50 times more
Number of acres of US forest cleared for crop land to produce a meat-centered diet : 260 million
Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pound hamburger : 55sq ft
Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for meat-grazing : 1000 per annum
Gallons of water used to produce a pound of wheat : 25
Gallons of water to produce a pound of meat : 2500
Number of years the world's known oil reserves would last if every human ate a meat-centered diet : 13
Number of years they would last if human beings no longer ate meat : 260

Ethics

"As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagoras

Number of animals killed per hour in the US : 500,000

Occupation with the highest turnover rate in the US : slaughter-house worker

Back to top

World Religions

"The exploitation of animals is incompatible with any religion which professes compassion." - Peter Singer, Professor of Philosophy

Christianity

"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13)

Seven of Jesus' twelve disciples refused to eat meat (there is no infomation of the others) :

Matthew "...lived upon the seeds and nuts, fruits and vegatbles without the use of flesh..."

Paul : "Destroy not the work of God for the sake of food...It is good neither to drink wine or eat flesh..."

Judaism

And God said : "...Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of the Earth and every tree in which is the fruit of a yielding seed; to you shall be for meat..." (Genesis 1:29)

"He that kill an ox is like him who kills a ma; he that sacrifices a lamb, like he who breaks a dog's neck...yea they had chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations." (Isaiah 66:3)

Hinduism

"Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creature, and injury to sentient beings is detrimental to the attainment of heavenly bliss; let him therefor shun the use of meat." (Manu)

Buddhism

"...I have not permitted anyone, I do not permit, I will not permit meat-eating in any form in the future, in any manner and in any place. It is unconditionally prohibited for all." (Lord Buddha)

Islam

"There is not an animal on the earth, nor a flying creature on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you." (Quran, surah 6 verse 38)

Back to top

Physiological Comparisons

Meat-eater Herbivore Human
Has claws No claws No claws
No skin pores, perspires through tongue Perspires through skin pores Perspires through skin pores
Sharp front teeth for tearing, no flat molar teeth for grinding No sharp front teeth, has flat rear molars No sharp front teeth, has flat rear molars
Intestinal tract 3 times body length, so rapidly decaying meat can pass out quickly Intestinal tract 10-12 times body length Intestinal tract 10-12 times body length
Strong hydrochloric acid in stomach to digest meat Stomach acid 20 times less strong than meat-eaters Stomach acid 20 times less strong than meat-eaters

Back to top

Sources :

"The Higher Taste", Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISKCON
Rambhoru Devi Dasi, "Food for Peace"
"How to Win an Argument with a Meat-eater", The New York Times, 1987

Famous Quotes

Back to Vegetarianism page