Albert Einstein once said: 'Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.'
Today, perceptions about intensive agriculture and its impact on the environment and human health motivate many people to become vegetarian. But do most give up meat or dairy products simply because they believe it is healthier? Eric Brent thinks so.
'Movies like Forks Over Knives have educated people about the dangers of consuming meat and dairy, and there has been more attention paid to the cost of farm animals on the environment of late.
'Al Gore used to get away with speaking on going green without talking about it, but now few environmentalists belittle the effects of farm animals on the environment, and most agree one can't be green and still consume animal-based products.'
This meat-free message is spread annually on World Vegetarian Day on October 1, which kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month. Founded by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, the day is marked around the world with a series of events.
This year's include World Veg Festival Weekend in San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday, with cooking demonstrations and seminars, and the Christchurch Vegetarian Expo on October 9 in New Zealand, which will host workshops, free tastings and films about animal welfare.