Lana Coleman Coleman 1

Jones

Ap Language and Composition

29 January 2023

Vegetarianism is better for health, the environment, and supports animal rights

Argument style Classical oration

Topic Benefits of vegetarianism

Key:

Red: environmental effects

Green: health effects

Blue: effects on animals

Section 1: Exordium/ introduction

1. One question I would like one to ask themselves before reading this essay is, how

does vegetarianism benefit and effect the work? And how do your habits effect the

world, as well as yourself?

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2. What does health mean to you?

- Did one know vegetarianism is extremely beneficial to one’s health, and those

who practice vegetarianism are known to have less health problems, of course

depending

3. Do you know how much animal cruelty goes on in the U.S, let alone the world?

- The act of animal abuse and cruelty has greatly increased in the U.S, although laws

have been enacted so there are consequences against it, it is still heavily used in the

world

- Animal cruelty is used and practiced in many zoos, circuses, etc.…and although it has

improved from the past, it is still a huge problem

4. What environmental impacts does one think eating meat has?

- Well one would most likely not think eating meet had many impacts on the

environment, yet it does

- Did one know eating meat is one of the main contributors to climate change?, stick

around to find out more.

Section 2: Narratio/ background

1. The effect consuming animals and animal products has on the environment
 - Raising industrialized animals and meat, as well as the desertification of pastures

due to animal agriculture is responsible for up to 100 million metric tons of CO2

emissions annually. This greatly effects the environment and is one of the main

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reasons for climate change. And this could be improved or fixed by solutions created

by the government, disabling these types of industries or their size.

- The killing, hunting, and consumption of wildlife and animals in the world also

greatly effects the environment due to its disturbance in animal habitats and overall

mother nature. Again, a problem that could be solved by the government creating

restrictions against this, like Africa’s no poaching law, which can result in serious

consequence.

- An article from The Guardian clearly states the effects meat consumption and the

meat industry have on the earth. Stating, “chickens, cows, sheep and pigs – all of

which need vast amounts of food and water, emit methane and other greenhouse

gases and produce mountains of physical waste.”, “UN calculated that the combined

climate emissions of animals bred for their meat were about 18% of the global total

– more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together”. This is only a

little data and information provided by The Guardian around this issue and is an

obvious problem and one can see the meat industry has huge consequences on the

environment. Just from those 2 pieces of evidence.

2. Background of animal cruelty in the U.S

 - The number of animals killed every year in the U.S for human consumption is

whopping 55 billion, a number that should not even exist, this is due to high

amounts of meat being produced and animals being mass raised for consumption.

As well as this, The number of animals killed every year in the whole world is more

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- then 70 billion, one can even see animals killed every minute on an online animal kill

clock

- The number of animals killed every year in the whole world is more then 70 billion,

one can even see animals killed every minute on an online animal kill clock

- Almost 10 million animals are killed due to animal abuse every year. Although it is

illegal to contribute and act on animal abuse, as a rule recently created by the

government, many people still participate and get away with animal abuse and

killing. This is a huge problem and is a very inhumane act for people to commit. With

the governments help and more protest towards the consumption of meat and

abuse of industry animals, this problem could be solved or better dealt with. And

more rules/laws can be put in place.

3. Background of vegetarianism

- The vegetarian ideology was practiced among religious people around the world,

especially in Asia and the middle east, an example is Egypt, known to practice

vegetarianism since 3,200BCE, although they still wore animal-based clothing and

used animal flesh, based upon Karmic beliefs in reincarnation. Unlike many others,
 these religions, beliefs, tribes, and countries, already new the benefits of

vegetarianism. Either in a spiritual way or health way.

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Section 3: partition/ thesis

1. Vegetarianism is better for one’s health/well-being, the environment, and it supports

animal rights, therefore people should follow and become vegetarian or pescetarian.

- The murders and raising of animals to eat is cruel and immoral.

- Increased consumption of meat helps those participate in animal cruelty,

killing, abuse, and poaching.

- Vegetarianism and pescatarians (a plant-based diet) reduces the risk of

cancer and other health problems.

- Eating large amounts of meat can be harmful towards one’s health and cause

different health problems, one of the most common being high blood

pressure, strokes, diabetes, and obesity.

- Raising animals to eat such as cows, pigs, and chickens, greatly harms the

environment and quickens the pace of global warming

- Meat industries participate in deforestation, use up valuable resources, and

are harmful towards humans’ health and well-being due to toxic chemicals

and waste.
Section 4: conformatio/ lines of argument

1. The meat industries in the world and simply raising animals causes a huge dent in the

environment and climate change/ global warming.

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- A study done in 2006 by the UN showed, “the combined climate change

emissions of animals bred for their meat were about 18% of the global total –

more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.” Meat

industries contribute to climate change MORE than driving a car or flying a

plane. Because of the impacts climate change has and its effects on the earth

increases. This also effects people all around the world as climate change

also causes an overheated earth, droughts, flooding, extinction of animals,

environmental imbalance, and so much more. An article by The Guardian

also states, “livestock's contribution to climate change can be calculated as

low as 5-10% of global emissions or as high as 50%.”, and "Behind most of

the joints of beef or chicken on our plates is a phenomenally wasteful, land-

and energy-hungry system of farming that devastates forests, pollutes

oceans, rivers, seas and air, depends on oil and coal, and is significantly

responsible for climate change.". This really shows the studies done behind

the correlation between climate change and meat consumption and how

much it really effects the earth, environment, and planet.

2. Raising and killing animals for industry and consumption uses an overkill amount of

resources and negatively effects our land, water, and food

- “A Cornell University study in 1997 found that around 13m hectares of land

in the US were used to grow vegetables, rice, fruit, potatoes and beans, but

302m were used for livestock.”. This study concluded the amount of land

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used for natural grown foods and land used for livestock and meat. When the

amount of land used for livestock (302m) is correlated with the previous

statement and evidence (statement #1), one can see why meat industries

and raising livestock impacts the environment vastly. “Nearly 30% of the

available ice-free surface area of the planet is now used by livestock, or for

growing food for those animals”. Again, another piece of evidence showing

the amount of land and important parts of our earth and forests are used for

livestock and industries. This can also cause deforestation, another large

problem in the world. As said, livestock also uses up extreme amounts of

water as well. “An average-sized north American pig farm with 80,000 pigs

needs nearly 75m gallons of fresh water a year…”. Although we have large

amounts of water in the world, there are many parts of the world where

PEOPLE do not have clean drinkable water, or have no water, and this is the

amount that goes towards livestock or industry. It could be used for our

people. Not only do the vast amounts of meat industries effect people when

it comes to resources, but it is also very unhealthy.

3. Raising and consumption of meat is very unhealthy to people when it comes to

consumption and exposure to the impacts these industries have on the world.

- With meat industries comes a lot of waste and with that comes unhealthy

living environments to humans as waste spills into bodies of water and seeps

into people land. “A single spill of millions of gallons of waste from a North

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Carolina pig factory lagoon in 1995 killed about 10 million fish and forced the

closure of 364,000 acres of coastal wetlands to shell fishing.”. A spill from

these meat industries can kill animals, infect bodies of water, close lands, and

create “dead zones”. This waste can cause sickness from people being

exposed to these spills or zones, or from consumption of infected or toxic

foods due to unsanitary conditions. “Animal waste contains many pathogens

including salmonella, E coli, cryptosporidium, and fecal coliform, which can

transfer to humans through water run-off or manure or touch.”. This piece of

text from an article from The Guardian states humans can get sick from

exposure of this waste and cause serious disease.

4. Not only can animal waste cause serious illness, but the simple consumption of meat

can cause certain health problems.

- These health problems include, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes,

increased risk of diabetes, increased risk of cancer, and obesity – a common

problem in the U.S. An article by Wellness Workdays collected

information/stats, from sources such as WebMD, Mayo Clinic, and CNN to

 back this up and describe the benefits of this diet. They state, “Vegetarians

have 22% less chance of getting cancer”, “Pescetarian diet gained at least 2.5

pounds less than those eating meat.”, “Omega and fatty acids prevent

strokes and blocked arteries.”, “Plant based diet also causes the body to be

more insulin responsive.”, and much more. PETA also states, “For every 1

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percent reduction in your LDL cholesterol level, your risk of coronary heart

disease drops by 1 percent.3. .”. This really shows the benefits of the

vegetarian diet and how it can positively affect one’s health and overall well-

being.

5. Lastly, vegetarianism supports animal cruelty and is a moral decision

- Animal industries and meat industries tend to harm and abuse their

animals. This is not ok or moral and although some may say those animals

will be killed anyway for consumption, this does not justify animal cruelty

or abuse. An article by PETA, who has observed these factories states,

“crammed by the thousands into filthy warehouses. They are mutilated

without the use of painkillers and deprived of everything that is natural.”

And, “they won’t be permitted to see the sun or breathe fresh air until the

day when they are forced onto trucks bound for the slaughterhouse.” These

actions cannot be justified by factory or government since like humans,

animals also feel pain and emotion. Treating a human like factories treat

animals would end up with huge consequences. PETA also observed that is
 the slaughterhouses of these factories, “animals are completely conscious

and struggling to escape while their throats are cut—and some are still

conscious while their bodies are hacked apart or when they are dunked into

tanks of scalding-hot water.” This is a very self-explanatory statement and

concludes the point. Nothing can justify these actions it is cruelty and abuse.

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If most of the population participated in vegetarianism, there would not be

as many meat factories, which means less animal abuse.

Section 5: refutatio/ counter & rebuttal

1. When people think about vegetarianism many think about the negative effects. There

are not many and the main one is a worry when it comes to nutrition and how it could

negatively affect one’s health and eating. Many worry they won’t get protein, correct

amount of nutrients, or form an eating disorder, etc. An article from the Food Network

states, “Many folks worry that vegetarians are unable to eat a balanced diet and meet

their nutritional needs. That’s not necessarily the case. There are certain nutrients that

are of special concern, but if you know which foods to eat, then you’re in good shape.

Here are some nutrients that need special attention.” And from personal encounters

and experience, adults tend to worry about nutrition (specifically…parents). Although

this is a concern, there are ways to get around this. Such as eating a balanced diet, such

as 3 meals a day with protein, carbs, fruit, and vegetables, just like one would if they
 were eating meat. And there are many replacements for meat when it comes to protein,

such as eggs, beans, tofu, and meat substitutes.

Section 6: peroration/ conclude

1. In conclusion, Vegetarianism is better for health, the environment, and supports animal

rights. From the evidence used in this paper, sources, and articles one can see meat

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industries participate in animal cruelty and abuse, the destruction of our earth and

climate change, and produce a product that negatively impacts people’s health. The act

and/or diet of vegetarianism reduces the risk of many illnesses and health problems,

helps decrease the quick spread of global warming – protecting the earth, and helps

decrease animal cruelty and shut down factories and an abusive industry. Many studies

have been done of vegetarianism and all the ways it can benefit people internally and

externally. Although many people have their doubts on vegetarianism and worry about

its nutritional decrease/effects and even worry about how it would affect the economy,

the pros out way the cons. In the end, there are more benefits to being vegetarian then

there is to eating meat.

MLA Citation/ Annotations

Workdays, Wellness. “4 Health Benefits of the Pescatarian Dietwellnessworkdaysnutritionnutrition.”

Wellnessworkdays, Wellnessworkdays, 27 Aug. 2021, https://www.wellnessworkdays.com/post/4-

health-benefits-of-the-pescatarian-diet#:~:text=Reduces%20Risk%20of%20Heart%20Disease,getting

%20arrhythmia%20(irregular%20heartbeat).

This article written by a blog called wellness workdays. The article speaks on 4 main reasons
why people should become pescetarian. Those reasons being decrease chance of obesity,
cancer, blood pressure and heart diseases, and a decreased risk of diabetes. Then at the end,
there is a summary and conclusion of why people should follow vegetarianism or pescatarians.
Stating, "Practicing a Pescatarian Diet can be beneficial as this diet contains high levels of
Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help fight against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. A
Pescatarian diet allows more flexibility in comparison with a vegetarian diet and has health
benefits that can increase longevity". Finally at the end of the article, the writer states their
sources, a few being WebMD, Mayo clinic, CNN, etc. The intended viewers for this article are
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most likely those thinking about vegetarianism or pescatarians and researching the diets
benefits and pros. When reading this I was shocked by the health benefits, as I had not done
this research prior, due to my act on becoming vegetarian being more moral and humane
reasons, rather than health reasons. I would also say this is a credible source as they got their
info from popular, very credible sources. This is also a very convincing article.

“10 Ways Vegetarianism Can Help Save the Planet.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 July

2010, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment.

This specific article is written by the guardian. A popular magazine and news source when it
comes to health, current events, pop culture, etc. The article is about ways becoming
vegetarian or pescetarian can save the planet and help with global warming. This article states
some people eat up to about 11,000 animals in their lifetime, an extreme amount and speaks
on how eating meat uses up great amounts of our and the earth’s resources, such as land, fuel,
and water. It also builds up a lot of waste in our world. Air pollution, deforestation, the effects
on ocean, how it harms humans, global warming, this article covers almost everything. This
article is mainly targeted towards environmentalists, vegetarians, and those deciding whether
to become vegetarian or pescetarian. This article is very impressive, convincing, reliable, and
believable due to the amounts of research put into it. It includes all kinds of data, percent’s,
studies, and numbers to further prove and back up their point that vegetarianism betters the
earth. It is a very impressive article, and I would recommend this article to anyone looking at
the effects of eating meat, anyone interested in bettering the environment, and honestly just
any person in general.
“Being Vegan: Healthy and Humane.” PETA, 14 Aug. 2020, https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-

for-food/animals-used-food-factsheets/vegan-diets-healthy-humane/.

This source gave the viewer information on animal cruelty and how animals are treated in meat
factories. It gives people an inside look on the brutality that goes on there and slaughterhouses.
It shows viewers that vegetarianism is a more humane option of eating. Speaks on health as
well. This article is written for those looking into vegetarianism, animal activists or just activists
in general, and vegetarians themselves. Maybe even people in politics looking for information
or stance on a topic. PETA is an organization against animal cruelty. They hold protests, write
articles, and do so much more for activism and animals all around the world. This is a credible
source, as this organization is very well known and trustworthy. When reading this article, I was
kind of shocked by the treatment of these animals and in a way horrified. I almost considered
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putting a content warning in my inquiry. It makes me sad and upset and I am very proud to be
vegetarian as it feels more humane.

Rogers, Kristen. “Want to Eat Less Meat? Take a Page from These Cultures That Already Do.” CNN, Cable

News Network, 21 May 2020, https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/vegetarian-diet-beginners-

coronavirus-wellness/index.html.

“Vegetarian Diet: How to Get the Best Nutrition.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education

and Research, 20 Aug. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-

eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446#:~:text=Planning%20a%20healthy%20vegetarian

%20diet,fruit%20juices%20and%20refined%20grains.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/2011/10/nutrients_a_vegetarian_needs