Title: Flexitarianism: a more moral dietary option

Authors: Talia Raphaely; Dora Marinova

Addresses: Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, 3 Pakenham St., Fremantle, Perth 6160, Western Australia; Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA6845, Australia ' Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, 3 Pakenham St., Fremantle, Perth 6160, Western Australia; Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA6845, Australia

Abstract: It is morally impossible to justify the power wielded by the livestock industry. This paper describes the human, ecological and animal welfare concerns caused by excessive meat production and consumption, including climate change, water depletion and degradation, land misappropriation and degradation, rainforest destruction, biodiversity and rapid species loss and the significant threats and challenges presented to human health and wellbeing. It offers flexitarianism (flexible or part-time vegetarianism) as a personal opportunity and moral responsibility to combat the destructive duplicity of the global livestock megamachine. Through personal nutritional paradigm shifts and the resulting food choices, individuals can reclaim the possibility of a more sustainable world and global society.

Keywords: animal welfare; biodiversity; climate change; flexitarianism; human health; land degradation; livestock industry; sustainability; vegetarianism; sustainable development; human welfare; ecological welfare; excessive meat production; excessive consumption; water depletion; water pollution; land misappropriation; rainforest destruction; species loss; wellbeing; flexible vegetarianism; part-time vegetarianism; personal opportunities; moral responsibility; food choices; dietary options.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2014.057846

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2014 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.189 - 211

Published online: 25 Oct 2014 *

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