AThe dictionary definition of the word “human” is “having or showing those positive aspects of nature and character regarded as distinguishing humans from other animals.” To be human or not—the choice is up to you.

Many people see vegetarianism as a boring, dull lifestyle where usually the person is portrayed as being weak. Meat, fish, eggs, and poultry are all associated with a strong personality. However,  I hope to show the truth of what eating meat does to the environment, animals, and most importantly, you.

First off, I would like to tell you that eating meat does drastically affect the environment, which most people do not know. In fact, eating meat generates about 40% more greenhouse gases than all the world’s transportation. The United Nation scientists found that the production of meat is one of the top contributors to land degradation, water shortages, and land and water pollution.

Also, large-scale meat production is a noted contributor to world hunger, due to the fact that many developing countries export agricultural products to feed animals instead of people.The bottom line is, meat feeds few at the expense of many.

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.

I assure you when I say that what these poor, helpless animals go through is unreal. When I was doing my research on vegetarianism, the gory images and videos I saw of how these evil people torture and abuse animals brought tears to my eyes. From burning chickens’ beaks to killing undersized piglets by thumping them, the gory, evil list goes on forever. Humans are compassionate beings, and we are the only ones who feel empathy for others. In fact, we are not designed to kill; it is not our instinct. We have no hawk’s bill, no sharp talon, and no rough teeth of a lion.

Scientifically, it is proven that we are not designed to digest meat, as carnivores such as lions, possess a very simple and short digestive tract, three times its size versus a human’s intestine, which is twelve times its size. Recent studies by researchers have concluded that our early ancestors were vegetarians, as well.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough how inhumane it is to torture these animals. It is kind of ironic that in this country, on one side we have animal rights for dogs and cats, but what about cows and pigs? It is only prejudice that allows for anyone to think there is a difference between killing a chicken or a cat, or slicing a puppy or a piglet. Imagine your dog or cat being hit by a bat and abused its whole life and then slaughtered while it is conscious. Why should we support such a cruel act?

Marine biologists and environmental scientists say that the oceans will be empty of fish because of fish consumption by 2048. Imagine a world with no fish—the ecosystem will be ruined!

After tobacco and alcohol, the consumption of meat is probably the single greatest cause of death in the western world, especially the United States. World health statistics have consistently shown that countries consuming the most meat have the highest rate of diseases. Fish consumption is the number one cause of food poisoning and exposes mercury to humans, which can cause neurological problems.

Eating meat also causes deadly diseases, such as colon cancer, cholesterol, heart disease, and obesity. The list of all the harmful effects eating meat can have on your health goes on forever. Some non-vegetarians argue that meat is a complete food in itself, but meat is not a “perfect” food and contains about 30% protein, at the most. It is net protein utilization (NPU), the amount which is actually digested and absorbed by the body, where meat comes third in place. Milk has 80% NPU, cheese has 70% NPU and meat is tied with moong beans to have 67% NPU.

Even some of the most revolutionary and famous people were vegetarians, including Einstein, Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, Bill Gates, Pythagoras, Plato, and Newton.

All in all, vegetarianism is the best walk of life in all aspects. Eating meat is tremendously bad for health, the environment, and supports appalling animal cruelty. Whether to eat meat or not, the choice is in your hands and I hope you make the compassionate one.

So, I conclude by asking you all a question. I do not want make my stomach a graveyard of dead animals… do you?