Resolutions
by Greg Lawson
Now is the time many of us are thinking
about resolutions for the new year. Whether you plan to do something
more, something less, or cut something out of your life all together,
show yourself some patience and realize that most changes can't be
accomplished overnight. Don't give up if you find yourself backsliding
in a few days or weeks, just keep trying to meet your goals. Envision
them. Picture yourself living the life you want. This really is the key
to lasting change.
Howard Lyman (you know Howard, author of
Mad Cowboy, President of EarthSave, former cattle rancher turned vegan
spokesman) was in my town a couple of months ago. At a dinner with some
of the board members of my vegetarian society, Howard said he wished
everyone would resolve to move a step closer to a more compassionate
diet in the next year. "If you are an omnivore, resolve to be a
vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian, resolve to be a vegan. If you are a
vegan, resolve to eat more organic foods."
Let's stop there though. If you are an
organic vegan, I don't think Howard would recommend that you become a
fruitarian or the step beyond that -- a breathitarian (living on air
alone) or the step beyond that (a hold-your-breathitarian).
I am a vegan, a standard consumer of
fresh produce with herbicides and pesticides vegan. But I can see the
rationale for a diet of organic foods. The only thing holding me back is
that it costs a little bit more. But I should make one of my resolutions
to eat more organic foods since I believe in environmental conservation
and animal rights.
Consider the insects that are killed by
the heavy doses of pesticides used on our crops, not only insect
"pests", but beneficial insects as well. Consider the fact that
herbicides and pesticides are washed off farmlands by rain and cause the
death of countless numbers of marine lifeforms in our rivers and in the
oceans where the rivers empty.
Buying organic produce supports the small
family farm operations, and keeps our money out of the hands of the
large evil corporations like Monsanto, which not only is trying to
control the world's food supply, but conducts animal testing as well.
Something else Howard said will stay with
me. "Every dollar you spend is a vote for the future."
Go on to Pet Overpopulation
Improvements
Return to 29 December 1999 Issue
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