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Post by xtremeveggirl on Aug 26, 2009 22:17:32 GMT -5
I've been a vegetarian for most of my life. I did go vegan until I had surgery on my back about a year ago. Since then, I've been having trouble slipping back into the vegan diet (though, I don't eat eggs or drink milk). Today, I saw a video on cnn.com with Ingrid Newkirk and the president of the organization for overweight people and it seems to me in this video, Ingrid is saying that you can't be vegetarian/vegan and overweight. I'll be the first to admit, even though I was raised to be a vegetarian, I was overweight. I'm better now, but not because I'm a vegetarian (though, that could have been one cause of it), I could name at least two other reasons that cause people to become overweight. Don't get me wrong, I can't stand meat or animal cruelty, but I'm just saying, being a vegetarian does not nessessarly mean that you are going to be "skinny". I don't know if I can follow or be a member of peta after this. This is my opinion, I'm sure that others could have a different reaction, but this is the message I got from the video. Tomorrow, I'm sending peta all of my peta campaign materials back, plus a letter expressing my concerns. After watching this video, what do you guys think? BTW, I think that billboard was a bit cruel too. I understand peta is trying to undercut obesity, but that doesn't make overweight people bad people. (video) www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/08/25/jvm.peta.whale.fat.billboard.cnn?iref=videosearch
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Post by AnimalAvenger on Aug 27, 2009 0:47:25 GMT -5
Ugh, I haven't watched the video yet, but that's a load of bullshit. I support PETA on a few things but not with others. I think I've heard about how PETA says some really stupid stuff about fat people, but I guess I never thought about it enough. I did think about it for a bit, because I, too, am overweight and was even obese at one point, but I just let it go.
However, probably no animal rights organization has reached nearly as many people as PETA has. You have to consider that. They've probably helped many, many more animals than any other animal rights organization ever has. While they may not be perfect, they are at least helping the animals out. Do you think obese people are suffering more from what Ingrid Newkirk has said, or do you think the animals are suffering much more? I'm not say it was right of her to saying this, but I think you should also think of the animals PETA have helped.
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Post by streamofpassion on Aug 28, 2009 5:12:42 GMT -5
seriously? the one time i ever stepped foot in a vegetarian restaurant, there were at least 3 or 4 really overweight people in there... the city/state i was in was really infamous for having a lot of overweight people, but still. the one actual vegetarian friend i have off the internet is overweight. a different vegetarian forum i lurk at has a significant amount of members who complain of being overweight. i really cannot believe the ignorance of this woman if she thinks that animal products or the lack thereof in the diet will completely determine whether someone is fat or thin...
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GYARADOS.
Animal Rights Activist
eat like you give a damn!
Posts: 401
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Post by GYARADOS. on Aug 30, 2009 16:06:45 GMT -5
yeah, peta's sort of infamous for telling everyone that "vegetarians are skinny and sexy". i mean im not completely against it because i want people to veg*n, and they are very powerful, im sure many people have gone veg*n in hopes of being thinner. but i disagree with how corporate peta is about it. they're getting more shit for their sexism than support. i think they should be more mature about it. what i mean is because of stuff liek this, more people disagree than agree with us.
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Post by AnimalAvenger on Aug 30, 2009 21:21:23 GMT -5
Since vegetarianism and veganism both cut out sources of fat and calories from food, going veg*n can make you lose weight, but it doesn't always. Also, you can lose weight, but you may not lose enough to actually be considered "skinny."
Also, there are many health conditions you can have that can cause you to gain weight that are not fat/calorie related.
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Post by AnimalAvenger on Sept 17, 2009 21:22:06 GMT -5
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Post by whirrs on Sept 18, 2009 5:34:17 GMT -5
oh my gosh, angela! The billboard actually made me laugh a little.
But I totally understand the problem with it. If I was overweight and vegan, I'd probably be really offended and wouldn't want to support PETA either. I mean, that's sort of like a personal attack on something that doesn't even RELATE to being a vegetarian. I think this "go vegan and get thin!" attitude is a really poor attempt to convert people.
Basically, the BEST that will come out of this campaign is getting a few giggles out of the already thin people, making overweight meat eaters attempt veganism and give it up once it doesn't work, and making overweight vegans feel totally offended.
I say peta should cut that superficial attitude surrounding veganism and work on more effective campaigns.
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