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Vegetarian means more than 'eating green'

The Young Reporter (2005, January), 37(04), pp. 10.
Author: Maggie Cheung Mei-ngor. Editor: Brian Kong Wing-hong.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0007369

Maggie Cheung Mei-ngor

Most people would simply see vegetarianism as ‘not eating meat’ . Vegetarianism is actually a much bigger matter related to yoga, religious beliefs and environmental issues.

Yogini Wu, spokesman for the Higher Taster International Vegetarian Society, explained, “You are what you eat. This concept is yoga-vegetarianism. “The Society is the only organization in Hong Kong that promotes such belief.

It is a non-profit group established in 1981 under the International Society for Krishna Consciousness base in New York.

Yoga is not a kind of sports, it is a branch of Indian philosophy. The highest form of yoga is devotional service. Exercise is only a part of it. Food is a more integral element in yoga. These all help to deepen spiritual awareness.

According to Miss Wu, there are various benefits to be a vegetarian. Being healthy is the main reason for eating green, as studies show that meat, dairy products and eggs contribute significantly to many diseases such as certain cancers, heart ailments. There are more and more artificial additives, insecticides, hormones and antibiotics contained in food.

Longer life span, compassion, environmental protection, economic benefits, social conflicts and religious beliefs are all reasons behind vegetarianism.

About one-third of the tropical rainforests is cleared for cattle grazing. The meat and dairy industries produce a large amount of pollution, mostly in the form of toxic gases. If we go green, we could help decrease the contamination to the environment since lower demand for meat and milk products would lead to less production.

A lot of land is needed to rear animals for food which would be hazardous to the environment resulting in flooding, greenhouse effect, food crisis and more.

“Slaughtering animals is inhumane. They are kept in a small cage and they never leave the cage until they are killed for food,” Miss Wu said. The Buddhism idea of karma is applied to vegetarianism, which is the more blood that is shed to satisfy our appetite, the higher the price we have to pay for redemption.

‘Natural disasters, suicides and car accidents are the consequences of humans’ wrongdoings, ’said Miss Wu.

The Society provides yoga classes where all teachers are vegetarians. Yoga enhances mood, motivation and energy. People’s minds become calmer and know more about themselves.

Dieting is another emphasis of yoga-vegetarianism. This is a long-term process in life. As Miss Wu pointed out, only if we consume less and eat less, can the environment be preserved. Otherwise, the resources on the earth will eventually be depleted. We have to be thrifty in order to save the environment.

Lalita Wong who is in charge of the Society’s cooking classes said, “After the SARS period, Hong Kong people have become more aware of their health. They developed interest in vegetarianism... different kinds of people come to learn cooking in vegetarian style including students, nurses and housewives.”

In the cooking classes, people can make friends easily as they share common beliefs. They can exchange opinions on recipes and where to eat when they have meals outside of home.

According to Miss Wong, the recipes taught in classes are from all around the world. The Society has branches in other countries and different braches exchange recipes amongst themselves and while new recipes are invented.

Miss Wong said, “Some recipes are developed by our Society which couldn’t be found outside. We have Indian, Mexican, Italian and Chinese recipes. There is a wide range of food that vegetarians can choose from.”

According to Simon Chau, spokesman of the Vegetarian Society of Hong Kong, their concept echoes with the Society’s spiritual emphasis. “The difference between Hong Kong and other countries like USA and India is that Hong Kong people are more selfish. They are concerned about their own health problems only but not the environmental issue,” Mr Chau said.

Altruism prevails in other countries and most of the people there arc more concerned about the environment. They eat green because they want to protect the environment by reducing waste from producing meat and dairy products.

As Mr Chau pointed out, people have become more concious [i.e. conscious] about their eating habits in the past 20 years. The two main obstacles of promoting vegetarianism are religion and medical considerations.

Christianity does not support eating green as Jesus Christ is not a vegetarian. Medical studies show that calcium and protein are hardly found in vegetables and it makes our body lack these nutrients.

“It doesn’t matter if there would be more vegetarian, the most important thing is the transformation of peoples’ mindset. If they had more concern on this issue (going green) then it will work eventually,” Mr Chau said.

Vegetarian food is sold at some places which help promote vegetarianism. Derek Lee, spokesman for the Hong Kong Kam Kee Foodstuffs Trading Co. Ltd said, his boss faith in Buddhism inspired him to start business in vegetarian food.

“I think vegetarianism can be upheld in Hong Kong. It is good for our health and nowadays people are much more concerned of their body. They choose food more carefully.” Mr Lee said.

Kam Kee has products like vegetarian savory kebabs, vegetarian cuttlefish, vegetarian gammon sausages, vegetarian abalones which add more choice for vegetarians. The tastes and textures of these vegetarian foods are very much like meat.

The company has a branch in Singapore with a department specializing in developing new types of vegetarian food.

“More and more people eat vegetarian food now although they are not a complete vegetarian. I can see the potential for vegetarianism,” said Mr Lee.

Edited by Brian Kong Wing-hong

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