Vegan, Vegetarian or Omnivore?

I recently watched a debate co-ordinated by a group called IntelligenceSquared.  They are an organisation who host a variety of debates on a wide variety of subjects and this one was of particular interest to me - 'Don't Eat Anything With A Face.' The term might sound strange, although as it has been explained to me, this is a common term for describing a vegan or vegetarian diet.

This debate has stayed with me and so I wanted to share it.  It is not the intention of this entry to express all my opinions about the debate, and while my work might have you assume I am entirely in the omnivore camp, both sides have very important things to listen to.  The discussion may challenge and provoke you as most sensitive subjects do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCcJq56ZMJg

The only concern I will raise here is that I feel both parties arguing for and against have more in common than not (eg, stop factory farming, banning of GMO).  As the old adage goes, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' and it is industrial agriculture in particular who would have enjoyed seeing these two parties pitted against one another.  I for one would pay to see these panelists working on the same side against farming corporates with the question being, 'Is factory farming cruel to animals?'

I find it encouraging that all parties in this discussion have asked themselves the types of questions our planet so desperately needs us to address:

• Where does my food come from?
• How was it raised?
• What is the environmental impact?
• How can I make better food choices?
• the list goes on ...

I hope you can take the time to watch this video and as always feel free to share your thoughts.