The Watermelons are at it again; telling us what to eat, this time.
People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world’s leading authority on global warming has told The Observer
Here we go again. The world’s leading authority is telling us that if we want to make a personal and effective sacrifice, blah, blah, blah. Well, I don’t want to make any sacrifice, thank-you very much, because I don’t subscribe to the green religion.
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.
Really? Man is omnivorous. Like carnivorous animals, we eat meat to obtain the proteins we need to survive. That some people may choose, for ethical reasons, not to eat meat is fair enough. As a consequence they have to think very carefully about their diets to ensure that they ingest sufficient protein. However, most of us choose to eat meat and that is our decision. I do not judge those who abstain and I expect them to refrain from judging me. I won’t make an attempt to stop anyone going veggie if they so desire. Equally, I expect them to refrain from any attempt to influence my dietry choices. It is not up to the IPCC to get on its vegetarian bandwagon and lecture us on diet – although every other bastard seems to be wanting to, so I suppose they thought it was okay. What I eat is none of Rajendra Pachauri’s damned business and I fully intend to keep it that way. Although, the thought does occur to me that maybe this is exactly the sort of enviro-crime that the new child heroes will be reporting to the authorities. Just a thought.
His comments are the most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how individuals can help tackle global warning.
Indeed they might be. This is probably a good thing. The more outrageous these peoples’ demands become, the more able will intelligent people be to see them for what they are; nasty little control freaks; foaming-at-the-mouth lunatics who should be treated with disdain, revulsion and contempt.
Pachauri may well be a vegetarian himself:
‘In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,’ said Pachauri. ‘Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there,’ said the Indian economist, who is a vegetarian.
See? Well, that’s fine and dandy, that’s his choice. It is not mine. While I may on occasion be tempted by a meat-free dish, I have no intention whatsoever of succumbing to this ridiculous exhortation. The best way to deal with control freaks is to refuse to cooperate. Therefore, it was with great enjoyment that I devoured my Sunday roast this afternoon. I will continue to do so. Tomorrow, I may just have a full English fry-up for breakfast.
H/T The Englishman.
“As a consequence they have to think very carefully about their diets to ensure that they ingest sufficient protein.”
As I’m sure you know, it’s worth emphasising that it is not simply the right amount of protein that is important, but the right types of protein, especially essential amino acids (yes, that is a technical term).
There are eight amino acids that humans are incapable of synthesising de novo and which need to be obtained from food sources: these proteins are most abundant in red meat.
DK
Devil\’s Kitchens last blog post..I hate Gordon Brown and it’s intensely satisfying
Indeed so. I was aware; I plead laziness on a Sunday afternoon following a roast lunch. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
Just for that I’m going to ahve a juicy steak tonight.
jameshighams last blog post..[body clock] perceptions and priorities
My steak is sitting in a little garlic and red wine gathering flavour as we speak. My long unbeaten run against the cows continues.
Incidentally, your mention of “the green religion” reminds me that Pachauri is the one who had this to say about his own carbon footprint when interviewed last month:
Q: What have you done personally to shrink your carbon footprint?
A: I’ve become a vegetarian. I try to minimize the use of cars. Where I’ve failed is my impact with regard to air travel. I tell people I was born a Hindu who believes in reincarnation. It will take me the next six lives to neutralize my carbon footprint. There’s no way I can do it in one lifetime.
Loon.
Mr Eugenidess last blog post..The big chill
Well, by my reckoning, six lifetimes is knocking on half a millennium. I thought the Earth was supposed to be frazzled to a crisp long before that. Or am I missing something?
Black pudding too LR?
Alas, no, none in stock. Plenty of bacon though…
Ever had a square sausage? An Ulster fry? Anything like that should do the trick. If not we have a good fat-clogging recipe to upset a few fascist greenies…
Maybe all the sods who want a blanket ban on smoking (see subsequent post) will think again once that’s in place and they try to impose a blanket ban on eating meat as well. Hopefully.