SPE 210: Blog 3: Evidence Assessment

There are many different ways to assess evidence for an argument. Through the use of evidence, both sides of an issue can be argued.  In my topic specifically, becoming a vegetarian is highly debated, and there are many sources that are for and against it. I will be discussing evidence that pertains to my issues and how it leads us to draw conclusions on the subject from my both my position on the argument, and from the side people are against having a vegetarian lifestyle.

            Some say that a vegetarian diet can provide all 10 essential proteins (amino-acids) a person needs for optimal health (Phillips, 2005).  Studies also show that vegetarians are 40% less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters, according to a study by Harvard researchers, consuming beef, pork, or lamb five or more times a week significantly increases the risk of colon cancer (“Should people become vegetarians”, 2012). These two examples are factual and statistical evidence that is used to raise awareness on how a vegetarian lifestyle is sufficient for the body, and reduces certain diseases. They frame the evidence so people will draw the conclusions that if they don’t eat meat, they will reduce their chance of getting colon cancer. On the opposing side of this argument, critics say compared to 1 out of 20 meat eaters, 2 out of 3 vegetarians are B-12 deficient, which is a vitamin that is necessary to nervous and digestive health (Forestell, 2012). However, that statistic does not tell the audience that this vitamin is not only found in eggs and dairy, but sold in the stores with other vitamins.

            Along with health reasons encouraging one to have a vegetarian lifestyle, there are other reasons such as helping our environment and protecting animal rights. Raising animals for food creates 18% of global greenhouse gases- more than the transportation sector, and causes air and water pollution (Leavitt, 1990).  This factual evidence may draw the audience’s attention because we are aware that global warming is a huge issue today and we are trying to reduce it. From the other side of the argument, they try to say that it is the cycle of life, and we have been eating meat for over 2.3 million years. They do not however show evidence that it is not affecting our planet. Another issue that is brought up around the topic of becoming a vegetarian is animal rights. By having a vegetarian lifestyle, we can protect the animals and take part in eating clean, natural food. Many food animals in the US are not slaughtered humanely, a 2010 report by the US Government that that the USDA was not taking consistent actions to enforce the Human Slaughter Act (Harvey, 2012). Along with this testimony, the confined places the animals are produced are filthy, and overcrowded, which take 70% of the antibiotics sold in the US to go to these livestock just so they are okay to consume (Holmes, 2010).
            Through factual, testimony and statistics, I think the evidence may change how the public perceives the issue. They can understand the importance of a vegetarian lifestyle not only for health reasons, but for our environment and for the animal’s rights. As mentioned above, there are other sides to the argument, but I find that the numbers and facts on the pro side of vegetarian lifestyle outweighing the cons. I think our classroom will be open to listening to the benefits of becoming a vegetarian because they are still trying to figure out what is best for them. I also believe it is a good age that will be hearing about this issue, rather than trying to persuade an older audience who is less likely to change their eating habits at their age.