By sister initiate Velma King Indiana, U.S.A. (Originally in English)

According to a number of polling groups, there are now more vegetarians than ever in the United Kingdom, and the numbers are increasing at a staggering rate. In 1945, the earliest recorded figure for the number of vegetarians in England was 100,000, based on food rationing records kept at that time. In 1997, a National Opinion Poll revealed that in the UK, one person in six was either vegetarian or currently considering becoming vegetarian. Of those polled, 44% were becoming vegetarian for moral reasons (concern for animals), 22% for health reasons and 9% as a result of food scares. Another poll, taken in 1998, found that the number of vegetarians in the UK was estimated to be four million or 7% of the population, and that 82% of UK residents believed that there would be more vegetarians in the future.

A 1997 Gallup Poll found that the overall number of vegetarians in the UK has doubled in the last ten years; and another 13,000 are cutting red meat out of their diet. Also, almost half the population (46%) now claims to be eating less meat. According to the Mintel Poll, vegetarianism is the fastest growing food trend in the UK.

Other encouraging facts are that the vegetarian food market is currently worth more than 11.1 billion pounds a year; and that 11% of 15-34 year olds are vegetarians.

The history of vegetarianism in America is a different story. In his article, "A History of Vegetarianism with an Emphasis on the U.S. from 1970+," Michael Bluejay writes: "Up until the mid-1900's, Americans ate far less meat than they do today. The cost was very high, refrigeration was not widely available, and distribution was problematic. A side effect of the industrial revolution was that meat became cheaper, storable, and easier to distribute. As these changes happened, meat consumption increased dramatically - and so did degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes."

Vegetarianism was not very common in the U.S. until 1971, when Frances Moore Lappe's bestseller "Diet for a Small Planet" was published.

A Ft. Worth, Texas native, Lappe dropped out of graduate school at U.C. Berkeley to do personal research on world hunger issues. She was startled to discover that it takes 14 times as much grain to feed an animal than what is produced in meat - an enormous waste of resources. (Livestock eat over 80% of the grain consumed in the U.S. If Americans were to cut their meat consumption by just 10%, there would be enough grain to feed all the starving people in the world.) At the tender age of 26, Lappe then wrote Diet for a Small Planet to encourage people to eat meatless meals and thus stop wasting the world's food supply.

Lappe's book was a runaway bestseller that sold millions of copies. It also launched the vegetarian movement in the United States. Diet for a Small Planet got the vegetarian ball rolling in the 1970's. However, many would-be vegetarians were put off about changing their diets because of the planning they thought was required. Another myth was that dairy products and eggs were healthy, and that vegetarians had better make sure to eat enough in order not to die. Those myths were all shattered by John Robbins' 1987 book "Diet for a New America." Part One of Diet for a New America exposed the horrors of factory farming. Part Two convincingly demonstrated how deadly meat-based diets are, and how healthy and safe vegetarianism (even veganism) is. Part Three introduced the world to the incredible environmental consequences of animal agriculture, which even many vegetarians were unaware of before the book was published.

Diet for a New America restarted the vegetarian movement in the U.S., as it launched the vegan movement. Within two years of the publication of Robbins' book, nearly ten new vegetarian societies were formed in Texas.

The growth of the health industry, and increased awareness of and education about healthy living -- healthy eating lifestyles have had a significant impact on the American diet. The agricultural, environmental, and medical costs of animal consumption are catching the attention of Americans by the thousands each day. Compassion for animals is part of the equation. The number of vegetarians in the U. S. is climbing, as good nutrition is more and more being recognized as a primary factor in longevity, disease prevention, physical fitness, and stress management. Toward these goals, over 12 million Americans have chosen the vegetarian diet as a life choice. Others eat less meat, eat more vegetables, reduce fat intake, and improve their diet in any way possible.

Michael Bluejay concludes, Today, acceptance of vegetarianism by [American] medical authorities and the general public is at an all-time high. Myths still abound, but overall change in attitude about vegetarianism since the 80's is nothing short of remarkable. As a vegetarian since 1985 and a vegan since 1989, this is a surprising but very welcome change. (References: The McDougall Program .|. Diet for a New America .|. Diet for a Small Planet)

If you wish for more information regarding the staggering realities of meat consumption and the glowing benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, check out these web sites: