Well, I can finally give a decent update now that both parties are set with their candidates. I just thought I would share a few thoughts.
1) I continue support Barack Obama, as I feel, for several reasons, he is the best choice in this election.
2) I can't seem to understand why the polls are so close. This should be in the bag for Obama. The Republican party should be in shambles after a disasterous 8 years with an extremely unpopular president, and a candidate not known for his conservative values (cornerstone of the Republican Party). It's a Catch-22 with the Republican Party. Half of the Republicans still like Bush; half hate him. Yet both halves seem to rally behind McCain; inexplicably, McCain simultaneously seems to be distancing himself from Bush AND tying himself to him. It'll be very interesting to see the roles of Bush and Cheny at the RNC next week. But I still don't get why this is such a close election.
3) At first I was disappointed by Obama's selection of Biden. After all the media hype, it seemed the poliically correct choice would have been Hilary Clinton, given all the votes she won in the primary. Biden was at that time a relative no name- just an obscure John Doe who, in my thoughts, would do little for Obama's campaign. Now, I feel totally different. Biden is a great compliment to Obama. He's decades of experience balance Obama's relative lack of experience greatly, while he stands out as dinstinguished from other members of Senate. He is one of the ppoorest Senators who still puts his family first. He just seems like a very cool guy.
4) I can't figure out why evangelical voters support McCain so much. Ok, maybe I can understand in 2004 why they would support Bush, in their twisted political mindset. But, McCain is not a roll model of morality. He's crude; he's divorced, and remarried a young, rich woman. Obama has a model family.
5) The Democrats engineered a brilliant convention. Every minute of it. Michelle Obama's speech on Monday painted a very personaable picture of Barack. Hiliary and Bill Clinton's speeches on Tuesday and Wednesday resoundingly supported Obama. But, Thursday topped them all. Obama opened up Mile High Stadium to whomever wanted to go and gave a brilliant speech. One of the most striking parts of his speech was when he attempted to tackle social issues as few democrats tend to do. What he did was really smart... he attempted to find middle ground in a lot of polarising social issues. On abortion, instead of pro-choice/pro-life, we should reduce unwanted pregnancies. On gay marriage, we should agree to work for the rights of gay ppl to visit loved ones in the hospital. Obama tackled every single issue, did it with finesse and flair. Millions of people watched this spectacle, and I think Obama did a great job of putting the fire back into his campaign.
6) John McCain showed a bit of class on Thursday. He chose not to announce his running mate beacuse it was "barack's special night". He even ran an ad in which he congratulated Obama. All he said was "job well done". It was a classy thing to do, and very smart for his campaign.
7) John McCain has chosen his running mate. It is a woman named Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska. This is a very interesting and bold selection. From one point of view, it was a very good selection. She is different, and has the repuation of a reformer, which works well with McCain's "maverick" image. She is social conservative, which works well for evangelical voters. And, she's a woman, which works well for embittered "hilary democrats". But, overall, I think it's a foolish and hypocritical choice. Firstly, I get the impression that McCain is trying to take the historical aspect away from Obama's campign, by getting a woman. Given the fact that she's an obscure governor from Alasaka, if she weren't a woman, she probably wouldn't have been chosen. It seems to me to be a desperate attempt to grab Hilliary-McCain voters. Most importantly is the issue of experience. The biggest criticism of Obama by the McCain people is that Obama is young and inexperienced. Well, what about Palin? She is younger than Obama and has less relevant experience. She has been the governor only two years, of an obscure and politically unimportant state (Alaska). McCain, who is 72 and in poor health, clearly did not choose someone who is the most qualified to step in as president. Obama chose someone who is ready to be president. McCain didn't. This is especially an issue because McCain is relatively more likely to be unable to serve, AND because McCain has made such an issue of Obama's experience.
We'll have to see what happens at the RNC.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
On change
So this morning at church, something was said that really struck a chord with me- and it wasn't by the pastor. A woman gave a "monologue" (hard to explain- my church is bizarre), and she talked about how we can all change the world. I know it's cliché, but as she was talking, I realised- you know she's right.
Now, she was referring more to a Christian context, but this can be considered more generally. The fact is- each and everyone one of us has a substantial amount of power to change the world- more than we probably appreciate. Let's consider the many ways in which we can have a direct impact on the larger world.
1) Our power as voters.
Anyone who is a citizen of a democratic country (which, admittedly, does not include everyone, but likely includes all of my readers) can play a direct role in the government of that country by voting. Sure, you might say, "how much does my vote REALLY count?". Additionally, you might question the legitimacy and honesty of the vote counting process (e.g., US in 2000). The reality is the real power comes in large groups, call them voting blocks- but groups are made up of individuals.
Even if our direct influene in national-level politics is limited, we have much greater influence on the more local scale. The town from which I hail has about 10 000. Let's assume that 7 500 are eligibe to vote. Of which 2 500 make the effort to vote in local elections (since most people really don't care). Well, 1 vote out of 2500 is a lot more powerful than 1 vote out of 20 million. A margin of victory of 10% (and it is often much less than this) is only 250 votes! So- each vote really counts.
2) Our power as consumers
This one is huge. Everything we buy- or don't buy- exerts a great amount of influence. This varies depending on what product is being purchased. Let'S take an ear of corn as the first example. Your decision to purchase an ear of corn has the following implications. Firstly, and most obviously, it effects your own life since you are likely to consume that ear of corn in the short term. Secondly, if you buy it from the grocery store, it helps fund this grocery store. This, in turn, has implications for the managers of the store, in addition to the employees, possibly family members of employees and managers, and even people seeking a job at the grocery store (the more business the store does, the more people they can hire, and the more they can pay them). It effects companies which sell their items at the grocery store since your desire to purchase that ear of corn exposes you to a myriad of other products, which you may likely buy. Thirdly, (or secondly if you buy it from a market/directly from a farm), it affects the farmer growing the corn.
Yes, perhaps this is a bit of a stretch- after all, does one ear of corn, costing about 30 cents, make a real difference? What about the 100 ears of corn you and your family may consume throughout the summer? What about the 100 kg of meat you may consume during the year? What about the 15000$ car you just bought- and the gas required to run it- and the insurance you need to purchase. These things have extraordinary impacts on the economy- and these are all results of the actions of a single individual.
3) Our power is tax payers
This one doesn't need too much explaining- and it might not refer to those of us who are currently impoverished students. But people who have a steady salary will pay taxes on it- and these taxes are essential to the budget of your government. So, in this sense, the government depends on YOU for its very existence.
4) Our power over our environment
Every single action has an impact on our environment. By individual life choices, we can help make our world greener- or more polluted. You may think we have little power to revolutionise the world. And perhaps this is partially right. However, in this respect, we do have extraordinary power to improve the state of our environment. I have written about this substantially. One person's decision to eat 150g of meat or less (instead of the average 350 g), has far-reaching implications. This saves over 50kg of meat per year! Think of the impact on the "meat farms" (euphemism), and the butcher shops. That's just if one person kept consumption to 150 g / day. The amount almost doubles if they chose to go vegetarian. And what if 2 or 3 peopel do this? 3 million? Or what if the same person chooses not to drive, or chooses to drive a hybrid vehicle? Or decreasing your electricity consumption? Or refusing to use disposable dishes? There is SO much that each of us could do as individuals that if we only do half of what we could the impact would be enormous.
5) The power of relationships
This may also sound cliché, but every single relationship we have changes the world. The impact can range from getting married, having children, and influencing the world directly through your children. After all, you never know whether or not you will give birth to a great person. But even on more platonic relationships. We may underestimate the impact these have. It's like a chain reaction. I think of my good friends. Individuals who have invested some of their time and engery in caring about me, and in spending time with me. I think of them and how they've influenced me to become the person I am right now. This isn't to say that I seek to become a clone of my friends. Instead, of my best friends, I might say that there is a little bit of each of them in me. Any subsequent friendships I may make will therefore involve the original influence of my good friends.
We may undervalue the power of friendships. I've heard stories of people on the brink of suicide not going through with it because someone reached it. Or people who were otherwise underacheivers were motivated to succeed by none other than good friends. I know that if it weren't for some very good friends of my own, I would never have gone to Mae Sot, and if I had never gone to Mae Sot, I would not be who I am right now.
This may seem convoluted. That is because it is convuluted. What's important to grasp is that we all have extraordinary power to change the worlds just based in our interaction with individuals. This is most amazing thing for me. I often think of myself as living in a bit of a bubble. I don't realise the impact I may have on other people. I wish and long to influence other people, but since people rarely acknowledge any specific actions, I am often led to believe that my life has little impact. That said, to me, I can't think of a single thing that makes me happier than having the power to make someone else's life in some way better. It's an amazing thing really.
6) The power of ambition.
There is one last way we can change the world- directly. I wrote an entry some time ago on ambition. http://rliamo144.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-ambition-15-january-2007.html Many of us have grandiose and pie in the sky dreams. Granted, most of us will never realise these dreams. For those of us who don,t realise these dreams, these dreams are still important because they guide us in a "beneficial direction". And as I said in that other entry, ambition can (and often does) inspire people around you. But, more importantly for this entry, dreams occasionally are realised. With a lot of ambition, a lot of hard work, and a lot of luck, you or me might become the next great person. Maybe president of the US? Maybe the next Bill Gates? Maybe the next William Shakespeare? Think of how much you can change the world then!
Conclusion:
So what's the main message of this entry? We should appreciate just how much power we have to change the world, in almost every decision we make. As voters, consumers, tax payers, friends, neighbours, and dreamers. We change the world in many direct or indirect ways. Let's all appreciate this great power..... and use it responsibly!!!
What does it mean to be responsible? This could be argued, but this is my opinion. First of all, let's aim for a green earth and a sustainable society. Secondly, let's aim for a tolerant, benign, and effective government. Let's aim for coroporate responsibility and improved quality of consumer goods. Let's aim for future generations (our chlidren) to be responsible and contributing members of our world. Let's aim to see the best in everyone and to inspire them. Let's aim to do our share to improve the lives of our brothers/neighbours/fellow human beings. Let's aim to innovate and revolutionise our world.
There's no excuses. We all have control over ourselves and our actions. Use your power to its fullest!
Now, she was referring more to a Christian context, but this can be considered more generally. The fact is- each and everyone one of us has a substantial amount of power to change the world- more than we probably appreciate. Let's consider the many ways in which we can have a direct impact on the larger world.
1) Our power as voters.
Anyone who is a citizen of a democratic country (which, admittedly, does not include everyone, but likely includes all of my readers) can play a direct role in the government of that country by voting. Sure, you might say, "how much does my vote REALLY count?". Additionally, you might question the legitimacy and honesty of the vote counting process (e.g., US in 2000). The reality is the real power comes in large groups, call them voting blocks- but groups are made up of individuals.
Even if our direct influene in national-level politics is limited, we have much greater influence on the more local scale. The town from which I hail has about 10 000. Let's assume that 7 500 are eligibe to vote. Of which 2 500 make the effort to vote in local elections (since most people really don't care). Well, 1 vote out of 2500 is a lot more powerful than 1 vote out of 20 million. A margin of victory of 10% (and it is often much less than this) is only 250 votes! So- each vote really counts.
2) Our power as consumers
This one is huge. Everything we buy- or don't buy- exerts a great amount of influence. This varies depending on what product is being purchased. Let'S take an ear of corn as the first example. Your decision to purchase an ear of corn has the following implications. Firstly, and most obviously, it effects your own life since you are likely to consume that ear of corn in the short term. Secondly, if you buy it from the grocery store, it helps fund this grocery store. This, in turn, has implications for the managers of the store, in addition to the employees, possibly family members of employees and managers, and even people seeking a job at the grocery store (the more business the store does, the more people they can hire, and the more they can pay them). It effects companies which sell their items at the grocery store since your desire to purchase that ear of corn exposes you to a myriad of other products, which you may likely buy. Thirdly, (or secondly if you buy it from a market/directly from a farm), it affects the farmer growing the corn.
Yes, perhaps this is a bit of a stretch- after all, does one ear of corn, costing about 30 cents, make a real difference? What about the 100 ears of corn you and your family may consume throughout the summer? What about the 100 kg of meat you may consume during the year? What about the 15000$ car you just bought- and the gas required to run it- and the insurance you need to purchase. These things have extraordinary impacts on the economy- and these are all results of the actions of a single individual.
3) Our power is tax payers
This one doesn't need too much explaining- and it might not refer to those of us who are currently impoverished students. But people who have a steady salary will pay taxes on it- and these taxes are essential to the budget of your government. So, in this sense, the government depends on YOU for its very existence.
4) Our power over our environment
Every single action has an impact on our environment. By individual life choices, we can help make our world greener- or more polluted. You may think we have little power to revolutionise the world. And perhaps this is partially right. However, in this respect, we do have extraordinary power to improve the state of our environment. I have written about this substantially. One person's decision to eat 150g of meat or less (instead of the average 350 g), has far-reaching implications. This saves over 50kg of meat per year! Think of the impact on the "meat farms" (euphemism), and the butcher shops. That's just if one person kept consumption to 150 g / day. The amount almost doubles if they chose to go vegetarian. And what if 2 or 3 peopel do this? 3 million? Or what if the same person chooses not to drive, or chooses to drive a hybrid vehicle? Or decreasing your electricity consumption? Or refusing to use disposable dishes? There is SO much that each of us could do as individuals that if we only do half of what we could the impact would be enormous.
5) The power of relationships
This may also sound cliché, but every single relationship we have changes the world. The impact can range from getting married, having children, and influencing the world directly through your children. After all, you never know whether or not you will give birth to a great person. But even on more platonic relationships. We may underestimate the impact these have. It's like a chain reaction. I think of my good friends. Individuals who have invested some of their time and engery in caring about me, and in spending time with me. I think of them and how they've influenced me to become the person I am right now. This isn't to say that I seek to become a clone of my friends. Instead, of my best friends, I might say that there is a little bit of each of them in me. Any subsequent friendships I may make will therefore involve the original influence of my good friends.
We may undervalue the power of friendships. I've heard stories of people on the brink of suicide not going through with it because someone reached it. Or people who were otherwise underacheivers were motivated to succeed by none other than good friends. I know that if it weren't for some very good friends of my own, I would never have gone to Mae Sot, and if I had never gone to Mae Sot, I would not be who I am right now.
This may seem convoluted. That is because it is convuluted. What's important to grasp is that we all have extraordinary power to change the worlds just based in our interaction with individuals. This is most amazing thing for me. I often think of myself as living in a bit of a bubble. I don't realise the impact I may have on other people. I wish and long to influence other people, but since people rarely acknowledge any specific actions, I am often led to believe that my life has little impact. That said, to me, I can't think of a single thing that makes me happier than having the power to make someone else's life in some way better. It's an amazing thing really.
6) The power of ambition.
There is one last way we can change the world- directly. I wrote an entry some time ago on ambition. http://rliamo144.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-ambition-15-january-2007.html Many of us have grandiose and pie in the sky dreams. Granted, most of us will never realise these dreams. For those of us who don,t realise these dreams, these dreams are still important because they guide us in a "beneficial direction". And as I said in that other entry, ambition can (and often does) inspire people around you. But, more importantly for this entry, dreams occasionally are realised. With a lot of ambition, a lot of hard work, and a lot of luck, you or me might become the next great person. Maybe president of the US? Maybe the next Bill Gates? Maybe the next William Shakespeare? Think of how much you can change the world then!
Conclusion:
So what's the main message of this entry? We should appreciate just how much power we have to change the world, in almost every decision we make. As voters, consumers, tax payers, friends, neighbours, and dreamers. We change the world in many direct or indirect ways. Let's all appreciate this great power..... and use it responsibly!!!
What does it mean to be responsible? This could be argued, but this is my opinion. First of all, let's aim for a green earth and a sustainable society. Secondly, let's aim for a tolerant, benign, and effective government. Let's aim for coroporate responsibility and improved quality of consumer goods. Let's aim for future generations (our chlidren) to be responsible and contributing members of our world. Let's aim to see the best in everyone and to inspire them. Let's aim to do our share to improve the lives of our brothers/neighbours/fellow human beings. Let's aim to innovate and revolutionise our world.
There's no excuses. We all have control over ourselves and our actions. Use your power to its fullest!
Friday, August 8, 2008
On meat-eating
Back in December, I wrote what I consider to be a pretty good entry on vegetarianism: http://rliamo144.blogspot.com/2008/05/vegetarians-vegans-and-carnivores.html. In it, I wrote that this is hardly the most important issue. I should revise this statement a little bit: it is an incredibly important issue. What can be more important than what we put into our body. Food has a tremendous impact in our lives, so I think we should think quite a lot about it. In this entry, I'm going to write some new ideas about the issue of meat eating. Although this article will provide different insights, my argument will be the same: I believe the ideal diet pattern is one which involves a moderate consumption of healthy meats.
Part I: Reasons not to eat meat
1) Eating meat is immoral?
Many people believe that eating the flesh of dead animals is immoral. I don't believe this, and this issue does not really play a role in my analysis. I think there is nothing wrong with eating the flesh of another dead organism- humans have been doing it for thousands of years, and almost all animals do it. I don't believe animals have "souls" despite our constant efforts to personify some of them.
2) Animals are currently bred inhumanely?
I won't suggest that I'm a fan of current practices of meat production, but it isn't so much because I sympathise with the "plight" of the animals. I'm sorry to say that I really don't. I'm much more concerned about the millions of humans that still live in deep hunger, abject poverty, and a state of bondage. What bothers me is the impact on the quality of meat. I believe that man was intended to eat meat- but meat of animals that walked around, and ate normal food. Chickens, cows, and pigs that remain stationary throughout their entire short-lived lives will not yield the same quality meat. More importantly, we are eating whatever they ate. Specifically, we consumer exactly 10% of the energy that they initially consumed. Cows normally eat grass. Can anyone see a nutritional difference between eating a grass-fed cow and a cow fed feces, or whatever they end up eating in these slaughterhouses? Meat today is not natural, nor is it extraordinarily healthy.
3) Eating meat is environmentally and oecologically unsustainable.
I'm not going to write more about this, as I already covered it quite a bit in my last entry.
4) Popular conceptions of daily protein requirements may be greatly skewed.
Do a google search for how much protein we are supposed to be eating per day. Answers range from 1-2 g/ kg body weight, to 2-3 if youre a body builder. More official sites, such as the World Health Organisation, and most governmental health departments, have recommendations closer to 0.8 g / kg.
Let me put this in perspective. Let's consider an average adult man, who weighs 70 k, which is roughly 160 lbs. Going by the bodybuilder recommendation, he should eat over 160 g of protein, being conservative (that's 1 g / lb, or 2.2 g / kg). Mainstream guides would say about 100 g, while the WHO is closer to just 60 g.
What should we believe? Well, if you want to be a body builder, then you should surely eat more protein- the 1g / lb rule might not be inaccurate. However, is bodybuilding particularly healthy or natural? In most instances, I believe it isn't (however much we may admire people who have built up their bodies). Not only is it unnatural, but its horribly unsustainable. Think about how much food it takes to get 160 g of protein PER DAY. Furthermore, it is suggested that too much protein can harm our health.
Considering that lower estimates come from more reputable sources, and that vegetarians rarely suffer from a lack of protein, I'd be inclied to believe that our requirements are closer to 0.8 g / kg of body weight. 60 g of protein per day is more more reasonable than you might think.
5) There are some good non-meat sources of protein.
Most meats contain between 25-30% protein. It is also a "complete" protein. You can't really debate that meat is the best source of protein.
But it's not the only source. Eggs are believed to have the highest quality protein, and each egg is usually 6-7 g of protein. That means 2 eggs in a day is already 13 g of protein. A warning- a lot of people believe that the egg white is the only healthy part of the egg- this couldn't be farther from the truth. Not only does the yolk contain half of the egg's protein content, but also ALL of its bountiful vitamins and minerals- so if you toss the yolk, you are making a BIG mistake, unless you suffer from high cholesterol.
Nuts (eg, cashews, etc) and peanuts are also typically about 25% protein. Surprised? This means that peanuts actually have the same amount of protein per weight as meat. The catch? Nuts are typically about 50% fats (although they are "healthy fats"). So while 100 g of nuts may provide 25 g of protein, it also provides 50g of fats, which is an awful lot.
Beans and lentils are another great source of protein, and other nutrients. Most beans are near 20% protein, and lentils are closer to 25%, which, again, rivals that of meat. They often have more iron than beef. The catch? For people watching their weight, all beans are high in carbs (but super low in fats!). The bigger concern for me is that it's very challenging (but not impossible) to make them taste good.
Most grains are 10-15% protein. Whole wheat _______ is always better than white _________. So, while it is lower than meat, and is an "incomplete protein", grains do provide something towards your protein requirement.
Dairy is also a great source of protein. Cheese is usually around 30% protein, although also 30% fat.
6) Meat is expensive!
One factor that I think is overlooked is the cost of meat. Meat is a luxury, and a student living on a strict budget has to consider this. Simple math reveals how impractical it can be to eat meat. Chicken breast often goes for $16/kg in my grocery store. Beef and pork are typically cheaper- maybe $10/kg, but they are much less healthy than chicken. Beans and lentils typically go for maybe $3/kg, and have the same content of protein. Peanuts are even cheaper and also have the same protein content. If we assume that most grains have half the protein of meats, they still usually cost less than half of the price of meat- certainly compared to chicken. The point in all this: nutritionally, we buy meat for its protein value, which we can get for cheaper in non-meat sources.
Part II: Reasons we shouldn't all rush to become vegetarian
1) Not all proteins are created equal
Earlier, I talked about a lot of different alternative sources of protein. But, with everyone there was some sort of disadvantage. None of them, except for eggs and dairy, are "complete proteins". OF course, meats are no longer the perfect protein source, with all the unhealhty toxins you consume along with the protein.
2) Not just protein- meat has other important nutrients.
Although mostly every essential nutrient can be found in some plant product, or at the very least dairy/eggs. I believe there is one B vitamin which is ONLY found in animal products, and vegans need to take suppliments in other to get it.
3) Eating meat is part of a more flexible lifestyle.
Let me clarify. Vegetarians eat vegetables. Meat-eaters eat vegetables AND meat. In theory, there is nothing that a vegetarian eats that a meat-eater would not eat. This is important in travelling, or when being entertained by someone. A meat eater never has to be worried about awkwardness due to not being able to eat a meal prepared for him. A meat eater doesn't have to make special accomodations in other countries with different dietary patterns. Perhaps most importantly, the meat eater is able to maximise the expereince of gastronomy. There are so many dishes and combinations of different foods that are just delicious. MAny a nation has its own sophisticated culinary tradition, and there are many different meals that are worth trying. The vegetarian is only able to try a fraction of this, whlie the meat eater can try them all. In this sense, the vegetarian is missing out in a huge part of life- experiencing the overwheming variety of food.
4) Meat tastes good.
When all else fails, the simple fact is: meat tastes good. Obviously, not everyone believes this, but enough people do. Meat requires so much less effort than other foods. You can roast a chicken in an oven with nothing more than salt, pepper, and maybe a little butter or olive oil, and it will be very tasty. Can you do the same with lentils? As much as I actually have come to like lentils, you need to work on them for them to be palatable. So while it's important to be responsible for what we put into our bodies, our lives our finite, and food is such a big part of it. We should make every meal pleasurable, and we shouldn'T sacrifice taste- at least not all the time.
Part III: a compromise
In almost all aspects of my life, I like to keep all doors open for as long as possible. It is for this reason that, despite many compelling arguments for a vegetarian lifestyle, that I will probably never give up meat. However, meat-consumption should be responsible. The average American eats closer to 400 g per day, and many other industrialsed nations are close to that. I think our daily intake should be closer to 100-150 g per day (or like 180/ day, 6 days out of 7). This is also confirmed by any official health organisation.
You might ask: does this provide enough protein. Let's go back to our example of the 70 kg man. Assume he eats 150 g of meat per day. At about 25% protein, thats near 40 g of protein in meat. Add in 1 egg (@ 6 g protein), 150 g bread (about 18 g protein), 2 servings dairy (about 16 g protein), and he's already well over his recommendation- and that's NOT a lot of food!
So, my recommendation is not to eat meat, it is to eat less. Your taste buds will still be happy, but your wallet, body, and planet will be even happier!
Part I: Reasons not to eat meat
1) Eating meat is immoral?
Many people believe that eating the flesh of dead animals is immoral. I don't believe this, and this issue does not really play a role in my analysis. I think there is nothing wrong with eating the flesh of another dead organism- humans have been doing it for thousands of years, and almost all animals do it. I don't believe animals have "souls" despite our constant efforts to personify some of them.
2) Animals are currently bred inhumanely?
I won't suggest that I'm a fan of current practices of meat production, but it isn't so much because I sympathise with the "plight" of the animals. I'm sorry to say that I really don't. I'm much more concerned about the millions of humans that still live in deep hunger, abject poverty, and a state of bondage. What bothers me is the impact on the quality of meat. I believe that man was intended to eat meat- but meat of animals that walked around, and ate normal food. Chickens, cows, and pigs that remain stationary throughout their entire short-lived lives will not yield the same quality meat. More importantly, we are eating whatever they ate. Specifically, we consumer exactly 10% of the energy that they initially consumed. Cows normally eat grass. Can anyone see a nutritional difference between eating a grass-fed cow and a cow fed feces, or whatever they end up eating in these slaughterhouses? Meat today is not natural, nor is it extraordinarily healthy.
3) Eating meat is environmentally and oecologically unsustainable.
I'm not going to write more about this, as I already covered it quite a bit in my last entry.
4) Popular conceptions of daily protein requirements may be greatly skewed.
Do a google search for how much protein we are supposed to be eating per day. Answers range from 1-2 g/ kg body weight, to 2-3 if youre a body builder. More official sites, such as the World Health Organisation, and most governmental health departments, have recommendations closer to 0.8 g / kg.
Let me put this in perspective. Let's consider an average adult man, who weighs 70 k, which is roughly 160 lbs. Going by the bodybuilder recommendation, he should eat over 160 g of protein, being conservative (that's 1 g / lb, or 2.2 g / kg). Mainstream guides would say about 100 g, while the WHO is closer to just 60 g.
What should we believe? Well, if you want to be a body builder, then you should surely eat more protein- the 1g / lb rule might not be inaccurate. However, is bodybuilding particularly healthy or natural? In most instances, I believe it isn't (however much we may admire people who have built up their bodies). Not only is it unnatural, but its horribly unsustainable. Think about how much food it takes to get 160 g of protein PER DAY. Furthermore, it is suggested that too much protein can harm our health.
Considering that lower estimates come from more reputable sources, and that vegetarians rarely suffer from a lack of protein, I'd be inclied to believe that our requirements are closer to 0.8 g / kg of body weight. 60 g of protein per day is more more reasonable than you might think.
5) There are some good non-meat sources of protein.
Most meats contain between 25-30% protein. It is also a "complete" protein. You can't really debate that meat is the best source of protein.
But it's not the only source. Eggs are believed to have the highest quality protein, and each egg is usually 6-7 g of protein. That means 2 eggs in a day is already 13 g of protein. A warning- a lot of people believe that the egg white is the only healthy part of the egg- this couldn't be farther from the truth. Not only does the yolk contain half of the egg's protein content, but also ALL of its bountiful vitamins and minerals- so if you toss the yolk, you are making a BIG mistake, unless you suffer from high cholesterol.
Nuts (eg, cashews, etc) and peanuts are also typically about 25% protein. Surprised? This means that peanuts actually have the same amount of protein per weight as meat. The catch? Nuts are typically about 50% fats (although they are "healthy fats"). So while 100 g of nuts may provide 25 g of protein, it also provides 50g of fats, which is an awful lot.
Beans and lentils are another great source of protein, and other nutrients. Most beans are near 20% protein, and lentils are closer to 25%, which, again, rivals that of meat. They often have more iron than beef. The catch? For people watching their weight, all beans are high in carbs (but super low in fats!). The bigger concern for me is that it's very challenging (but not impossible) to make them taste good.
Most grains are 10-15% protein. Whole wheat _______ is always better than white _________. So, while it is lower than meat, and is an "incomplete protein", grains do provide something towards your protein requirement.
Dairy is also a great source of protein. Cheese is usually around 30% protein, although also 30% fat.
6) Meat is expensive!
One factor that I think is overlooked is the cost of meat. Meat is a luxury, and a student living on a strict budget has to consider this. Simple math reveals how impractical it can be to eat meat. Chicken breast often goes for $16/kg in my grocery store. Beef and pork are typically cheaper- maybe $10/kg, but they are much less healthy than chicken. Beans and lentils typically go for maybe $3/kg, and have the same content of protein. Peanuts are even cheaper and also have the same protein content. If we assume that most grains have half the protein of meats, they still usually cost less than half of the price of meat- certainly compared to chicken. The point in all this: nutritionally, we buy meat for its protein value, which we can get for cheaper in non-meat sources.
Part II: Reasons we shouldn't all rush to become vegetarian
1) Not all proteins are created equal
Earlier, I talked about a lot of different alternative sources of protein. But, with everyone there was some sort of disadvantage. None of them, except for eggs and dairy, are "complete proteins". OF course, meats are no longer the perfect protein source, with all the unhealhty toxins you consume along with the protein.
2) Not just protein- meat has other important nutrients.
Although mostly every essential nutrient can be found in some plant product, or at the very least dairy/eggs. I believe there is one B vitamin which is ONLY found in animal products, and vegans need to take suppliments in other to get it.
3) Eating meat is part of a more flexible lifestyle.
Let me clarify. Vegetarians eat vegetables. Meat-eaters eat vegetables AND meat. In theory, there is nothing that a vegetarian eats that a meat-eater would not eat. This is important in travelling, or when being entertained by someone. A meat eater never has to be worried about awkwardness due to not being able to eat a meal prepared for him. A meat eater doesn't have to make special accomodations in other countries with different dietary patterns. Perhaps most importantly, the meat eater is able to maximise the expereince of gastronomy. There are so many dishes and combinations of different foods that are just delicious. MAny a nation has its own sophisticated culinary tradition, and there are many different meals that are worth trying. The vegetarian is only able to try a fraction of this, whlie the meat eater can try them all. In this sense, the vegetarian is missing out in a huge part of life- experiencing the overwheming variety of food.
4) Meat tastes good.
When all else fails, the simple fact is: meat tastes good. Obviously, not everyone believes this, but enough people do. Meat requires so much less effort than other foods. You can roast a chicken in an oven with nothing more than salt, pepper, and maybe a little butter or olive oil, and it will be very tasty. Can you do the same with lentils? As much as I actually have come to like lentils, you need to work on them for them to be palatable. So while it's important to be responsible for what we put into our bodies, our lives our finite, and food is such a big part of it. We should make every meal pleasurable, and we shouldn'T sacrifice taste- at least not all the time.
Part III: a compromise
In almost all aspects of my life, I like to keep all doors open for as long as possible. It is for this reason that, despite many compelling arguments for a vegetarian lifestyle, that I will probably never give up meat. However, meat-consumption should be responsible. The average American eats closer to 400 g per day, and many other industrialsed nations are close to that. I think our daily intake should be closer to 100-150 g per day (or like 180/ day, 6 days out of 7). This is also confirmed by any official health organisation.
You might ask: does this provide enough protein. Let's go back to our example of the 70 kg man. Assume he eats 150 g of meat per day. At about 25% protein, thats near 40 g of protein in meat. Add in 1 egg (@ 6 g protein), 150 g bread (about 18 g protein), 2 servings dairy (about 16 g protein), and he's already well over his recommendation- and that's NOT a lot of food!
So, my recommendation is not to eat meat, it is to eat less. Your taste buds will still be happy, but your wallet, body, and planet will be even happier!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Trying to understand my feelings towards my country
For a long time, especially after arriving in Canada, I felt completely divorced from my identity as an American. After all, I was just one of many Americans embrassed of my country.
Sometime between first arriving in Canada (in 2005), and today (2008), my feelings have changed somewhat. This is probably in large part due to what I wrote about in my last entry- specifically, my realisation that in many parts of the world, especially outside the West, Americans aren't as hated as we may think. Sure, everyone hates the government, but most intelligent people are able to distinguish the people from the government. Another contributing factor to my acceptance of my own American identity is the realisation that Canada really isn't a much different or better place.
So, I like America now, right? It's not that simple. My feelings are quite complex. The simplest way I could explain how I feel is this: I like Americans, but not America.
What does that mean? Well, firstly, and this should go without saying, but I don't like the current government. In fact, I can't think of an American presidential administration that I can truly regard with pride. As much as people like to laud Clinton, his administration was flawed, and his foreign policy was riddled with much of the arrogance that plagues Mr. Bush and his cronies. The US also has a shameful history. That said, what country is without some "skelatons" in their "closet"? What country has a truly "good" government? The bottom line is that an entire country shouldn't be judged on the basis of its government.
So, if I can separate America from its government, then why do I still "dislike" America? I don't know if "dislike" is the right word. The better way to express this is that I have no desire to live in America. The first reason for this is that, having grown up there, I see the US as uninspiring and unexotic. I guess this could happen to anyone with his mother country. But I see something greatly unendearing, even culturally impoverished, when I look at the North American social landscape. This, again, is something I've written about before. It's possible that the only reason I feel this way is because, as I've said, the US is "unexotic" to me. Or it's possible that North America is simply a culturally impoverished wasteland. Either way, to me it's uninspiring.
The second reason I desire not to live in the US? This is where it gets touchy. Many Americans living in the US (more on the opposite later) irk me. Not all, of course. But I feel trapped when I'm around people who have never left the country, and have no interest in doing so. I feel trapped when these same people feel liek they know whats right for people in countries they know nothing about- and probably haven't even heard of. I feel uncomfortable when people want to create a society based on overly literal if archaic interpretations of a 2000 yr old text, which leads to bigotry and intolerence. Of course, there are many Americans that are not like this. But the reality is, many more are. Even if not all Americans are bible thumping jesus freaks, far too many are frighteningly ignorant, yet set in their ways.
Things look pretty bleak, eh? Not totally. As I've already said, I currently have pretty much no desire to live in the US- at least not in the near future. Yet, I'm no longer ashamed to be American. Why is this? Well, for all the bad things America and its governments have done, there are also many good things. The US is one of the most generous countries on the planet; and it is also home to the most opportunities. It's a world leader in sports, entertainment, and almost every aspect of pop culture. It's a country that pretty much everybody recognises, and its a country that many many people admire.
This point aside, I find it somewhat satisfying when I meet Americans living abroad. I feel like they aren't like the stereotypical Americans I described above. Maybe some of them are- but any American willing to live abroad will inherently be more worldly than the average American. And I guess I feel like there is a strange, inexplicable bond. I know I felt it the most when I met the American missionaries in Mae Sot- pretty much the only Americans I met while I was there. There's no way I can easily explain this without being overly general and politically incorrect.
After reading this entry (if you've made it this far), you're probably left with a feeling of complete confusion. That's exactly what I feel! If I could summarise everything, I would say this: I am proud to be an American expatriate. This means that, while I don't approve of my government, I will continue to vote and participate in my country's democratic system. This means that while I don't find my country an interesting place to live, it can be an interesting place to visit and offers a lot to the open minded tourist. This means that while I have little urge to move back to the US, I will not abandon my American identity. This means that while I don't like many of the ignorant people in my country, I enjoy Americans open-minded enough to discover their world. This means I'm proud to be American, but I would by no means call myself a staunch patriot. I am proud to be an American expatriate.
Sometime between first arriving in Canada (in 2005), and today (2008), my feelings have changed somewhat. This is probably in large part due to what I wrote about in my last entry- specifically, my realisation that in many parts of the world, especially outside the West, Americans aren't as hated as we may think. Sure, everyone hates the government, but most intelligent people are able to distinguish the people from the government. Another contributing factor to my acceptance of my own American identity is the realisation that Canada really isn't a much different or better place.
So, I like America now, right? It's not that simple. My feelings are quite complex. The simplest way I could explain how I feel is this: I like Americans, but not America.
What does that mean? Well, firstly, and this should go without saying, but I don't like the current government. In fact, I can't think of an American presidential administration that I can truly regard with pride. As much as people like to laud Clinton, his administration was flawed, and his foreign policy was riddled with much of the arrogance that plagues Mr. Bush and his cronies. The US also has a shameful history. That said, what country is without some "skelatons" in their "closet"? What country has a truly "good" government? The bottom line is that an entire country shouldn't be judged on the basis of its government.
So, if I can separate America from its government, then why do I still "dislike" America? I don't know if "dislike" is the right word. The better way to express this is that I have no desire to live in America. The first reason for this is that, having grown up there, I see the US as uninspiring and unexotic. I guess this could happen to anyone with his mother country. But I see something greatly unendearing, even culturally impoverished, when I look at the North American social landscape. This, again, is something I've written about before. It's possible that the only reason I feel this way is because, as I've said, the US is "unexotic" to me. Or it's possible that North America is simply a culturally impoverished wasteland. Either way, to me it's uninspiring.
The second reason I desire not to live in the US? This is where it gets touchy. Many Americans living in the US (more on the opposite later) irk me. Not all, of course. But I feel trapped when I'm around people who have never left the country, and have no interest in doing so. I feel trapped when these same people feel liek they know whats right for people in countries they know nothing about- and probably haven't even heard of. I feel uncomfortable when people want to create a society based on overly literal if archaic interpretations of a 2000 yr old text, which leads to bigotry and intolerence. Of course, there are many Americans that are not like this. But the reality is, many more are. Even if not all Americans are bible thumping jesus freaks, far too many are frighteningly ignorant, yet set in their ways.
Things look pretty bleak, eh? Not totally. As I've already said, I currently have pretty much no desire to live in the US- at least not in the near future. Yet, I'm no longer ashamed to be American. Why is this? Well, for all the bad things America and its governments have done, there are also many good things. The US is one of the most generous countries on the planet; and it is also home to the most opportunities. It's a world leader in sports, entertainment, and almost every aspect of pop culture. It's a country that pretty much everybody recognises, and its a country that many many people admire.
This point aside, I find it somewhat satisfying when I meet Americans living abroad. I feel like they aren't like the stereotypical Americans I described above. Maybe some of them are- but any American willing to live abroad will inherently be more worldly than the average American. And I guess I feel like there is a strange, inexplicable bond. I know I felt it the most when I met the American missionaries in Mae Sot- pretty much the only Americans I met while I was there. There's no way I can easily explain this without being overly general and politically incorrect.
After reading this entry (if you've made it this far), you're probably left with a feeling of complete confusion. That's exactly what I feel! If I could summarise everything, I would say this: I am proud to be an American expatriate. This means that, while I don't approve of my government, I will continue to vote and participate in my country's democratic system. This means that while I don't find my country an interesting place to live, it can be an interesting place to visit and offers a lot to the open minded tourist. This means that while I have little urge to move back to the US, I will not abandon my American identity. This means that while I don't like many of the ignorant people in my country, I enjoy Americans open-minded enough to discover their world. This means I'm proud to be American, but I would by no means call myself a staunch patriot. I am proud to be an American expatriate.
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