How can we eat whatever we want? — I ask therefore I am S2#9

Zjef Van Acker I ask therefore I am

How can we eat whatever we want?

I ask therefore I am Leonidas and Xerxes

The Carnivore and the Vegan

  1. Equality: providing equal opportunities to all human beings.
  2. Sustainability: We want this planet and our society to thrive for as long as possible.
  3. Health: We want all to be healthy: physically, emotionally and spiritually.
How can we eat whatever we want — I ask therefore I am
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

The 2 types of freedom

I ask therefore I am — How can we eat whatever we want?
Imagine positive and negative freedom being friends (Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay)
I ask therefore I am — How can we eat whatever we want?
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

A healthy doughnut

Doughnut Economics I ask therefore I am — How can we eat whatever we want?
  • Inner boundary of the doughnut (aka social foundation) = the positive freedom of basic social needs: Education, health care, energy, housing,…
  • Outer boundary of the doughnut (aka ecological ceiling) = positive freedom provided by the planet’s ecosystems: oxygen, stable climate, biodiversity, atmosphere, water,…
  • The doughnut itself (aka the safe and just space for humanity) = The negative freedom to do whatever we want.
  • Cultural: Upgrade our ethical standards and have more respect for ourselves, our fellow humans and nature. We could also get rid of self destructive habits like smoking, fast food and addictive social media. Another good way of expanding would be to have more self knowledge and live with more integrity.
  • Political: We definitely need more efficient political structures, local and global. We also need to increase global accountability, and a political framework for restrictions on the exploitation of natural resources (ecological ceiling), and the distribution of those very resources to the whole world in an equitable and just way.
  • Economical: Guided by a healthy political framework, we need an economic system where we are rewarded for maintaining and even creating ecosystems, where we are held accountable for its destruction, and where ecosystem services are not only recognised but also valued. Technological innovations can definitely help here: Lab-meat, gmo’s to grow forests in the desert, vertical ecosystem farms, vertical forests (Bosco Verticale), creating sea-farms that increase biodiversity in the oceans, and even creating ecosystems in space and on other planets.
I ask therefore I am — How can we eat whatever we want?
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Let’s do this!

References

  1. Land use for agriculture: Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2013) — “Land Use”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. — Link
  2. Amazing presentation by Prof Imke De Boer on optimal land use for circular farming, — Prof Imke de Boer presentation at WUR about circular farming — Link
  3. Difference in uptake between animal based proteins and plant based proteins: Berrazaga, Insaf et al. “The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant- versus Animal-Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review.” Nutrients vol. 11,8 1825. 7 Aug. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11081825 — Link
  4. Isaiah Berlin’s Positive and negative freedom: Carter, Ian, “Positive and Negative Liberty”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) — Link
  5. Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth — Link
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Writer, podcast-host & applied philosopher. Manifesting ideas and strategies for a global ecosystem society!

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Zjef Van Acker

Writer, podcast-host & applied philosopher. Manifesting ideas and strategies for a global ecosystem society!