Vegetarianism conversation questions
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Contents |
Definition
Which of these people would you say is a vegetarian?
- Somebody who only occasionally eats red meat - Sheep, beef, deer etc.
- Somebody who eats no red meat, but who does eat chicken, fish and drink milk.
- Somebody who eats no red meat or chicken, but who does eat fish and drink milk.
- Somebody who eats no red meat, chicken or fish, but who does drink milk.
- Somebody who eats no red meat, chicken, or fish and drinks no milk.
Why did you chose that particular definition?
Reasons
These are some of the reasons people give for being vegetarian. What do you think of each reason?
- Moral. Some people maintain that keeping animals in captivity is inherently cruel, and killing them is pretty obviously unpleasant for the animal. Deliberately causing pain or distress to another animal is morally wrong and therefore we should not do it.
- Religious. Some people belong to religions which do not allow them to eat meat.
- Environmental. It takes a vastly greater input of water, fertiliser and energy to produce a kilo of meat than it does to produce a kilo of vegetables. In addition rearing animals generates considerable quantities of the greenhouse gas, methane - a for more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So some people are vegetarian because they want to save the environment and reduce global warming.
- Health. In most western countries people eat far too much meat. Red meat, in particular, seems to be unhealthy.
What arguments can you think of against vegetarianism?
Others
- Are you a vegetarian?
- Do you know many vegetarians?
- How do people generally react to vegetarians in your country?
- How would the world be different if everybody was vegetarian?
- How would you feel if you were told that you could no longer eat meat?
- Do you think that vegetarians are more or less healthy than meat eaters?
- Have you ever visited a vegetarian restaurant? What was the food like?
