Save the Whales by being a Vegetarian? Not what you think.

I'm all for vegetarianism. Why not? Eating meat on a regular basis is not only bad for you, but is also bad for the environment.

In a nutshell, the raising of animals for food, processing and transportation is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global" according to the United Nations report on livestock. Environmental experts around the world are encouraging people to reduce or remove meat from their diets. The not-so-mainstream media have started to promote being a vegetarian either one day a week or five days a week, like Monday through Friday to help our planet.

In addition, we all know red meat isn't good for us and with the hormones, antibiotics and chemicals ingested or injected into the animals, all that can't be good for us either. All animal products contain cholesterol. Reducing animal products in your diet will reduce your cholesterol and your heart will thank you for it. Then there is the condition the animals live and die in to consider as well.

Why am I on a vegetarian rant? This week in Jacksonville, Flordia, P.E.T.A. released this billboard:



Ok, this billboard really upsets me. I understand that vegetarians statistically are slightly leaner than non-vegetarians, but being a vegetarian will not help you lose weight!! Most meat eaters who stop eating meat tend to over compensate for protein by eating more dairy, which is actually worse than meat. It take nutrition education and exercise to lose weight, not just cutting out meat. Because you know, Haagen Daaz and french fries are vegetarian. And calling fat people whales, really? I want to eat a hamburger just in defiance of P.E.T.A.

I'm all for saving whales. Hell, I'm a big fan of large marine animals: sharks, dolphins and whales. When I first glanced at an article with this billboard, I was hoping it was addressing how meat production increases pollution, therefore, drastically changing water temperatures, the whales are being affected. To me that makes sense. This billboard does not.

While I agree with P.E.T.A. on some issues (I make an effort not to wear animal products, even though lately, I've really gotten into leather corsets), they take some very extreme and very unrealistic views on animals in our society which I can't agree with. I wish I knew the brilliant person in marketing who came up with this. Shock value, yes. Effectiveness, not so much. Will it make fat people vegetarians, probably not.

Residents of Jacksonville are saying they are owed an apology. As we know P.E.T.A. well, that'll never happen.