Why vegan?

Why is veganism the way to go?
The enviroment:
Nearly half of the water and 80 percent of the agricultural land in the United States are used to raise animals for food. About one-third of the raw materials used in America each year is consumed by the farmed animal industry. Farmed animals produce about 130 times as much excrement as the entire human population of the United States, and since factory farms don't have sewage treatment systems as our cities and towns do, this concentrated slop ends up polluting our water, destroying our topsoil, and contaminating our air.

The animals:
More than 27 billion animals are killed for food every year in the U.S. alone. Animals in factory farms have no legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats, including neglect, mutilations, genetic manipulation, drug regimens that cause chronic pain and crippling, transport through all weather extremes, and gruesome and violent slaughter. Farmed animals are no less intelligent or capable of feeling pain than are the dogs and cats we cherish as our companions. They are inquisitive, interesting individuals who value their lives, solve problems, experience fear and pain, and are capable of using tools. According to animal-behavior scientists, chickens begin learning from their mothers while they are still in their shells, pigs can play video games better than some primates can, and fish form social bonds and can remember things that they have learned for the human equivalent of 40 years.

Your health:
Vegetarian foods provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants that are found in meat, eggs, and dairy products. Plant-based diets protect us against heart disease, diabetes, obesity, strokes, and several types of cancer. Vegetarians also have stronger immune systems and, on average, live 10 years longer than meat-eaters do. The consumption of animal fats and proteins has been linked to heart disease, colon and lung cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, obesity, and a number of other debilitating conditions.(12) Cows' milk contains ideal amounts of fat and protein for young calves, but far too much for humans. And eggs are higher in cholesterol than any other food, making them a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease. The American Dietetic Association reports that vegetarian/vegan diets are associated with reduced risks for all of these conditions

More on the enviromental impact:
A. POLLUTION: The meat industry causes more water pollution
in the United Stated than all other industries combined. The excrement from farm animals is 130 times more than the entire human population, 86,600 pounds per second. Large amounts of this waste is released into the ocean. As a direct result of
pig excrement, the deadly microorganism "PHYSTERIA" was born. Physteria has caused largest fish kill in history and is a threat to humans and animals. Physteria creates toxins that dissolve the flesh of fish, which it then consumes, resulting in lesions and causing large-scale kills in fish and in Humans due to contact or eating contaminated sea food. People who have been in affected waters can be affected. Humans who have been in the waters for short times, or even handled the fish, have developed sores and also neurological symptoms such as memory problems. Physteria has over 20 different forms it can assume; in some of which it is an aggressive predator. Physteria is an international biohazard and it's growing.

LAND:
Of ll the agricultural land in the US, 87 percent is used to raise animals for food.

WATER:
Raising animals for food consumes more than half of all the water in the United States.
It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat, but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat.

DEFORESTATION:
Rain forests are being destroyed at a rate of 125,000 Square miles per year to create
space to raise animals for slaughter.

ENERGY:
More than 1/3 of all raw materials and fossil fuels used in the US is used to raise animals for food.
Producing a single hamburger patty uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 20
miles and enough water for 20 showers.

ECOSYSTEMS:
Our planet is being yanked out of balance with the destruction of land, air, water,
and animal life. We have lost respect for nature. If we don't stop destroying the planet and disrespecting every life form on it, eventually we will be forced to, and the results
of our actions will be devastating to future generations as well as ours.

So why veg?
Because it's something anyone and
everyone can do NOW,
TO HELP THE PLANET.

Links to this nature:
Factory Farming
Enviroment
101 information on reasons for being/going veg