This Is Vegan Propaganda (& Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You)

by Ed Winters

In 2020, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) listed the seven factors caused by humans that are driving the emergence of zoonotic diseases:128 Increasing human demand for animal protein. Unsustainable agricultural intensification and in particular domestic livestock farming. Increased use and exploitation of wildlife. Unsustainable utilisation of natural resources accelerated by urbanisation, land use change and extractive industries. Increased travel and transportation. Changes in food supply driven by increased demand for animal source food, new markets for wildlife food and agricultural intensification. Climate change. Of the seven drivers listed by the UNEP, six are either substantially or entirely linked to our exploitation of non-human animals. While it is true that the risk of infectious disease spillovers will never be entirely eliminated, our current system of food production and treatment of animals in general is greatly heightening the risk and needlessly causing the emergence of highly dangerous strains of viruses and drug-resistant bacteria alike.