Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike attended an event sponsored by Tufts' Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (SETA) on Wednesday night to hear author and activist Howard F. Lyman discuss the dangers of eating meat.
Though he spends his days as an animal rights supporter, environmentalist, and vegan, Lyman was not always so opposed to eating meat. Until a medical condition changed his lifestyle, he had been a prosperous fourth-generation cattle rancher and meat-eater.
On Wednesday, though, Lyman espoused the benefits of a plant-based diet with no animal byproducts, including eggs and dairy, for numerous health and safety reasons. His speech concentrated less on ethical issues - such as human treatment of animals raised for slaughter - and more on personal health concerns. Lyman raised the possibility that diseases which have spread throughout Europe, such as Mad Cow Disease, may appear or already exist in the US despite the government's reassurance that America's meat is safe.
Denouncing animal experimentation as a "sham," Lyman cited numerous statistics and studies that discouraged dairy or meat consumption, such as the fact that 16 pounds of grain are needed to produce one pound of meat. People can unknowingly consume chemicals along with the animal products they eat as a result of both environmental pollution and the use of chemicals by farmers and ranchers, he said.
Many students in attendance agreed with Lyman's outlook. "I think Howard Lyman has very well articulated how feeding animals products can be detrimental to our health," sophomore Roger Winn said. "As a health concern, it is helping the Tufts community understand what the effects of eating meat are."
With a sense of humor, Lyman incorporated his own life experiences into his speech as testimony to the positive effects of turning vegan. Once a 300-lb. football player raised on meat, Lyman suffered high blood pressure and dangerous levels of cholesterol before deciding to try vegetarianism. The change, he said, saved his life by bringing his blood pressure and cholesterol to healthy levels. But it was not until after he was diagnosed with a potentially paralyzing cancerous tumor on his spinal cord that Lyman felt the need to quit the cattle ranching profession and begin a life of environmental and animal rights activism.
As president of both EarthSave and the International Vegetarian Union, Lyman is well-known for his controversial appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. On the air, he revealed unknown facts about the beef industry, and warned viewers of the potential for diseases like Mad Cow to become epidemics.
Because of this, a group of Texas cattlemen filed suit against him, Oprah Winfrey, and her parent company, Harpo Productions, under the Food Disparagement Act. Both Lyman and Winfrey, however, were found not liable for any damages that their words may have caused. Lyman recalled his amazement at being offered a chance to appear on the show and the harrowing experience of fighting a potentially bankrupting lawsuit.
After his speech, Lyman signed copies of his book Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth From the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat and chatted with audience members about how they could bring about an awareness of veganism in their lives. "This is a perfect issue for Tufts to lead the way in saving this whole community," he said.
Most students reacted positively to Lyman's speech. "This is the second talk that I've seen Howard Lyman give, and I think he articulates very well why people should turn to a vegan diet," said Kelly Schroeder, a Brandeis student who attended the speech. "He doesn't really touch on the moral issues very much, which are profound, but I think one of the best things about him is that he really looks at the facts on why it's healthier for the planet and for humans, and I think he makes a well-rounded argument."
Liz Monnin, a member of SETA and a vegan, was pleased that both older community members and students attended. "I think that's kind of an important dynamic for us to realize that this is an issue that affects all generations," she said. "It's an issue that's pertinent to everyone. I think, generationally, we look at veganism and vegetarianism from different standpoints, so I think it's important to bring together activists from different generations."
