Friends,
2020 has no doubt been a difficult year. From the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused so much human suffering, to the increasing political polarization and unrest across the globe, to the impending catastrophic effects of climate change and the failure of nations worldwide to take adequate steps to address it, our situation looks bleak.
Yet, over the year, we at Earthsave Canada have also seen many reasons to have hope. The plant-based movement has continued to build momentum around the world, and new science has shown immense promise for removing significant CO2 from the atmosphere and preventing further species extinctions if we restore a portion of our land to its natural state. But this can only happen if we collectively take the necessary steps to change our diet.
The fact that a plant-based (vegan) diet is the way to go cannot be seriously questioned. The science has been clear about this for decades. Adopting a plant-based diet would not only go a long way in helping us achieve a sustainable environment, spare billions of animals from horrific cruelty, and improve our health, it could even help to protect us against future pandemics.
Perhaps the best thing about these findings is that eating a plant-based diet requires no real sacrifice. We can live happy and healthy lives and enjoy our food just as much or even more than we did on animal-heavy diets, even on a tight budget.
With all the well-established advantages of a plant-based diet, many of us are perplexed when our friends, family, and other members of our community are less than enthusiastic and don’t immediately make the change along with us.
We must keep in mind that those who profit from the status quo spend billions promoting animal products and lobbying governments for laws that protect their interests and silence those who bring their harmful practices to light. The reality is that far fewer resources go towards promoting a healthy, sustainable, and compassionate plant-based diet. And unfortunately, even among those concerned about the environmental impact of our diet, many promote well-intentioned but far less effective steps like “Meatless Mondays” or eating local.
As we said at the end of last year and as we will continue to emphasize, those of us with the information and means to act must do so, and fast. No one likes to change their habits, and there will be a period of adjustment, but plant-based eating quickly becomes second nature.
Remember, we didn’t all come together and decide that eating a diet heavy in animal products is a good idea. A lot of factors got us to where we are, but for most of us, we just grew up eating what our parents gave us and continued with a similar pattern in adulthood because that’s what we knew. But now that we know better, we must do better.
So please, check out the resources on our website and consider giving plant-based eating a try. You can challenge yourself and also find lots of support over at Veganuary or Challenge-22. We’re certain that if you give it a chance, you’ll soon become a lifelong vegan. And if you’re already there, be sure to educate those around you. We greatly appreciate your support in bringing this crucial information to the attention of as many people as possible.
Let’s work together to make 2021 a better year for all.
Photo by Ray Bilcliff from Pexels
