Animal farming for food needs honesty

I APPRECIATE Philip Bowern writing on the topic of Animal Rebellion protests, and I can see clearly that he dislikes the methods in which these people protest, and that’s an opinion he’s rightly entitled to, but I do disagree with the way he dismissed the impact that the farming of animals that are served at restaurants have on the environmental and ecological crisis.

It’s understandable to be resistant to promoting the harms of animal agriculture, as it is so ingrained in our cultures, families, and personal beliefs to be eating animals and consuming animal products.

Therefore, performing a U-turn on this is uncomfortable and uproots a lot of what we have been led to believe, but the science is there and should not be dismissed so quickly and without more thought.

A 2022 scientific study by Stanford and Berkeley Universities showed “that phasing out animal agriculture over the next 15 years would have the same effect as a 68% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the year 2100.”

Oxford University completed the biggest-ever analysis of animal agriculture in 2018 and one of the leaders of the research said: “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use.”

There is plenty more evidence and research, you just need to look. So I implore you pass on to Mr Bowern that, as a person with privilege, power and the ability to write and speak to so many, he tell us the truth.

Be the voice that stands out against the sea of lies and misinformation, please. We appreciate his opinions and thoughts, but never lie or mislead us, as I feel he has done here.

We are facing a crisis and he and your newspaper have the opportunity to help. Please do not waste it.

Daniel Juniper Bristol