Though vegetarianism is slowly becoming a more widespread phenomenon, the general population still lacks adequate understanding of this lifestyle. Vegetarians are commonly perceived as weaklings who have a “deficiency in protein” or as countercultural hippies who aim to save animals. The term “vegetarian” was coined in the mid-1800’s, but the practice actually began thousands of years ago. Despite vegetarianism’slong life span, many people are still ignorant to aspects of this diet. In fact, few of us have extensive understanding of the food we put into our mouths. It is a shock to many people that the food we consume contributes to the mass murdering of billions of animals every year and plays a leading role in the deterioration of the ecosystem.

Oftentimes,our sluggishness to act and apathy to issuessuch as meat agricultureis due to a lack of knowledge and first-hand experience. Paul McCartney expresses this idea perfectly: “if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian”. If the public was effectively informed about the cruelty of meat production, the detrimental effects of industrial agriculture on the environment, and the harm meat consumption can have on human health, a majority of the population would convert to vegetarianism.

Meat production has an undeniable and weighty impact on the environment which can manifest in various forms, including air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and depletion of fresh water. It is a contributor to some of the most serious environmental problems, especially in China.

According to one study, China’s agriculture sector is responsible for roughly 45% “of the nation’s chemical oxygen demand (the main measure of organic compounds in water)”, 65% of phosphorus, and 60% of nitrogen discharges. Huge amounts of chemical- and disease-ridden waste produced by meat-producing factories seep into the ground and waterways, ultimately evaporating and severing soil, water, and air. This dire situation is the result of China’s “long-boasted miracle of being able to feed 22% of the world’s population with only 7% of the world’s arable land”. Unsurprisingly, the country has a reputation for overuse of chemical fertilizers.

Most of these grave findings about China regard plant agriculture—not animal agriculture. So why minimize meat consumption when plant agriculture industries are making just as big of a mess? The answer is simple: it takes 2,000 pounds of grain to produce enough meat and other livestock products to feed an individual for a year, but it would take only 400 pounds of grain to directly nourish a person. Thus, we can derive that a meat-eating individual has approximately five times more of a negative impact on the environment than a vegetarian does.

Not only does meat production harm the environment, it also harms human health. There is a popular myth that meat makes us bigger, stronger, and faster. But, the hidden truth is that meat is not as healthy as most think. One researcher, T. Colin Campbell, states “the vast majority, perhaps 80-90%, of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other forms of degenerative illness can be prevented, at least until very old age, simply by adopting a plant-based [vegetarian]diet”. Our meat is often laced with synthetic hormones that are banned from human and animal consumption in the European Union, and contains “massive doses of antibiotics; toxic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides that are known carcinogens; potentially deadly strains of bacteria and viruses petroleum; poisoned rat carcasses; dirt; hair; and feces”.

Businesses, “whose primary objective is to increase their profit margin, are left to police themselves.” Many Chinese companies have a habit of jumping at any and every opportunity to make money—even if it threatens the environment, animals, and humans. The animal you last ate may have died a horrendous death, tainting the environment and being harmful to your health in the process.

Do not act as slaves to agricultural businesses—there is freedom in choosing what you eat, and with this freedom comes a certain degree of responsibility. Caring for the environment, animals, and your own personal health does not require a dramatic change in lifestyle. Begin by cutting down a small amount of meat consumed, even if that means only being a vegetarian once a week. Actively expose yourself to more information regarding meat-production and its effects; witness and expand your understanding on the food you eat. Are you willing to take on this challenge?

(Due to limited space, this article only covered a small number of environmental and health impacts of meat production. Animal cruelty was not mentioned in detail; if you have interest in learning more about animal mistreatment, consider visiting www.peta.org.)

As students residing in one of China’s rapidly developing megacities, we have all witnessed the air and water pollution on an appalling scale. Despite this, those of us who have heard of China’s “cancer villages” may still be skeptical of recent claims that these establishments are closely related to water contamination.But lately, the Chinese government confirmed that water pollution and China’s high cancer rates are directly linked. Several reliable sources estimate that the country “is home to 459 of [these ‘cancer villages’]” and will only foster the increase of more such villages.

China’s extreme economic growth has carried unthinkable human and environmental costs—the country’s infamous “cancer villages” is one such example.These so-called cancer villages have high cancer rates that soar far beyond the national average. Oftentimes, villagers access drinking water from nearby rivers—many of which have been heavily polluted by toxic chemical discharges from various factories. China Daily states that over 70 percent of China’s rivers and lakes are polluted and the government reports “almost half may contain water that is unfit for human contact”.However, most villagers are left with no other option but to use contaminated water for washing, agriculture, and drinking. One villager, Guo Xinxiang, tells China Daily that they drink river-water with no purification. Even more shockingly, the water he and several hundred others drink often contains red worms as long as chopsticks and as thin as thread.Countless fish float along China’s filthy rivers, having died from the pollution.The water in one village is black in color; in another, bright red. Not only is the water’s stench unbearable, mere “skin contact with it results in itching and even septic rashes.”

One villager states that in his village, “everybody … has some form of illness”. His mother is diagnosed with bronchitis,his nephew died of Evans syndrome and his neighbor is dying of oesophageal cancer, while another died of stomach cancer last year.In another village, one of China Daily’s investigators met a cancer patient whose neck was as thick as his head. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of these horrific illnesses, although recently, studies have reaffirmed that water pollution from factories is directly related to this unfortunate mystery.

Lately, Greenpeace undertook an investigation to examine the waste waters of two textile-manufacturing facilities in China as indicators of what China’s factories are generally like. They found that both facilities have been discharging a range of persistent and toxic chemicals into two of China’s largest rivers. In addition to assessing whether hazardous chemicals were being deposited into China’s rivers, Greenpeace sought to identify which companies the two facilities were supplying. Companies found to have commercial relationships with the two facilities include Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Converse, Cortefiel, H&M, Li Ning, Meters Bonwe, Nike, Puma, and Youngor. As brand owners, these companies have significant influence on environmental impacts of production. They should take responsibility to cooperate with their suppliers in eliminating toxic waste created during the production process.As consumers, we have the power to pressure such firms.Recently, in response to consumer pressure, the three largest sportswear businesses – Nike, Puma, and Adidas – created basic labor and environmental health standards. Although it is not of the norm to believe one has the responsibility and ability to change the society in such ways, take up such a challenge. Do not dismiss seemingly irrational actions,when they have the potential to reap great benefits.

The environment has been exploited beyond the point of renewal. China’s water, soil, and air have been degraded to unthinkable severity. The only thing villagers residing in China’s growing “cancer villages” ask for is to “breathe clean air, drink safe water and use uncontaminated soil” – it is “all [they]ask for. China’s government is neither taking immediate nor enough regulation over the environmental and health impacts due to the country’s breakneck economic growth. As consumers, we have the responsibility to step in and pressure corporations. As consumers, we have choice in the products we purchase. But as global citizens, we hold the responsibility of exerting maximum effort to change things for the better.As global citizens, we have the ability to respond to the environment’s degradation and to those who do not have the means to improve their own quality of life.

Research released in june by the chinese center for disease control and prevention said deaths related to lung cancer in Shenqiu increased 14-fold for men and 20-fold for women between 1973 and 2005

"All I wish for is to breathe clean air, drink safe water and use uncontaminated soil. That’s all I ask for, but I guess that is just too much to ask." Wei Donying, activist.

The village’s ducks, chickens and geese began dying en masse.

"China is suffering from the negative impact of improper economic growth patterns. And the country will continue to pay the price for heavy pollutants in the future."

The latest sign of fast economic growth taking a heavy toll on the environment.

Photo courtesy of UNIT-E