Reace Hummell - SPEAK

I definitely think that one way I can reduce my carbon footprint is to cut more and more meat out of my diet. Even though I said I did not eat meat on a regular basis, I still do consume at least 7 servings of meat per week which can easily be taken out of my diet. I can replace this with fish as it is less harmful for the environment but still provides me with necessary protein and nutrients. Especially this year, I can also push myself to walk more because everything on and around campus is walkable. While I don't really drive that much here, there are still ways to minimize my carbon footprint through choosing to walk more places. This will benefit not only the environment, but also my mental and physical health.

We know that in many countries, eating meat is an aspect of culture or individuality. Eating, in general, can be an intimate experience. However, in come cases eating meat is a luxury that only richer countries may be able to afford. The cost of meat production and processing alone can make the commodity more expensive than, say, growing food in a garden or even buying only plant-based products. 
It is a common misconception that meat is the only effective source of protein and that is why we should eat so much of it. Meat can actually have lasting negative effects on our bodies such as being directly linked to cancer and heart disease. Not to mention that the beef industry is one of the most harmful to the environment because of the immense amount of CO2 emissions, the amount of land needed, and the unethical ways that the animals are treated. 
The cons outweigh the pros of heavy meat consumption that us Americans are definitely guilty of. There are other ways to receive the necessary protein without harming our bodies, the planet , and other animals.