The issue I have chosen to explore is Water Usage with an emphasis on Veganism. I believe that this is an issue that can be helped by small actions taken by individuals, thus a great issue for me to explore and makes me feel like I have made a difference. Americans on average have the second largest water footprint in the world. So much less water could be used if people simply did not eat meat with every meal or took shorter showers. I initially became vegetarian when I was 11 because I cared about animal welfare. However as I have taken animal science classes, done more research, and have become more passionate about the environment, I have moved away from my original reason for ceasing to eat meat. I now am vegetarian and recently vegan because of the negative impacts agriculture has on our environment. I had previously tried to explore the issue of lack of environmental education in schools, however the issue is simply too complex for me to try to solve at this point in my education.
I will definitely be using many online resources to do research on my issue. I will try to use sources that are unbiased, though many sources written about veganism or non-veganism are usually quite biased. I will have to be more conscious about where my food comes from and what is in it. It will be difficult to do this, especially on a student’s budget. It will be a challenge to stick to a vegan diet, especially at college. I had trouble finding options before I decided to be a vegan, and it will be even harder to find options now. It will also be difficult to encourage others to eat less animal products, as eating meat with every meal is such a norm in our society and many people would never consider eating any differently. I hope to be able to educate my peers and encourage them to use less water in their daily lives, as small positive contributions from many people towards the issue can make a big impact.
Sources:
http://www.gracelinks.org/1361/the-water-footprint-of-food