The “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times, shows that 0.5 percent of U.S. adults follow a plant-based diet. This small percentage tells us that most people are either unaware or unconcerned of the impact our daily decisions have on the world. The lifestyle has ties to other spheres of everyday life beyond simple dietary changes. Three documentaries, Earthlings, Cowspiracy and Forks Over Knives, look at the affects the traditional western lifestyle has on animals, the environment and human health, while pointing at the ego as an underlying factor of most issues in society.
The documentary Earthlings criticizes our impact on animals in 5 sections: pets, food, clothing, entertainment and research. Narrator, Joaquin Phoenix, makes many notable points while viewers see footage of what goes on behind closed doors.
In Part 1, the film reveals that most pet store animals come from puppy mills, and are often “backyard operations” and “expose animals to filthy, overcrowded conditions with no veterinary care or socialization.” (Earthlings) Phoenix mentions that half of the animals in shelters are brought in by the caretakers. He also informs us that shelters with budget constraints use gas chambers to kill the animal, which can take up to 20 minutes.
In Part 2, viewers learn that…show more content… “We pay more per person for health care than any industrialized country in the world yet we are sicker than ever.”(Forks Over Knives) Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the three leading causes of death in America. (forksoverknives.com) Almost half of Americans are taking prescription drugs and 40% are considered obese. (Forks Over Knives) Dr. Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn both promote a solution for the health crisis our country faces. “Most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.”
