Writer has beef with vegan protest

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank the vegans who participated in #JaneUnchained this past Saturday at Kelowna’s Rib-fest and let them know that I can rest much easier with all the facts and handwork that they have provided.

I feel better knowing on a global scale that anthropogenic carbon dioxide levels released by forestry and other land uses is 11% while emissions caused by fossil fuels and industrial uses are 65%. Agriculture in Canada accounts for 8% of total emissions, and cattle contribute less than half of that at 2.5% while transportation accounts for nearly 30%.

I feel better knowing that we are blaming the meat and dairy industries while transportation releases more Co2 into our atmosphere.

I feel better knowing that it is unacceptable to remove acres of forests for cattle, but it is acceptable to remove acres of forests to put in fields of lentils to produce our BeyondMeat products.

I feel safer switching to a non-meat-based diet when BeyondMeat offers none of the health benefits that come from consuming actual meat. Amino acids fill various essential roles within the human body such as removing toxins from the body, supporting healthy metabolism, encouraging digestion, promoting healthy body tissue, encouraging protein building blocks, synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters thereby increasing both mood and athletic performance.

Most of all, I applaud the way the protests were staged. Stalling traffic, further emitting unnecessary Co2 onto our planet and into our communities is the surest way to save our planet.

I could argue that vegans would make a greater impact lobbying foreign (and domestic) governments, raising funds for parks, buying electric cars, or planting trees but that would just be cheesy. Raymond Theriault