The Sierra Club says that a cheeseburger requires 698.5 gallons of water to make, including 22 gallons for the bun, 4.5 gallons for lettuce and tomato, 56 gallons for cheese, and 616 gallons for the meat patty.

April 2024: Eating Meat

Resolved: On balance, consuming meat does more harm than good.

Background Info.
Required Research
Optional Research
Additional Info.

BACKGROUND:

Eating meat is a big decision that some people think a lot about. Some people choose not to eat meat because they want to protect animals and keep them safe. They believe that animals should live happily and not be used for food. Others eat meat because it gives them the protein and energy their bodies need, and they’re used to having it in their meals. This makes the choice hard because while we want to be healthy and strong, we also care about animals and the planet. It’s like being in a tug-of-war between doing what’s good for our health and what’s good for the environment and animals. Please read and consider the following list of pros and cons… can you do better? 😉 Here is a link for the [T-Chart].

Eating Meat is Undesirable (PRO)

Eating Meat is Undesirable (CON)

  1. Dangerous Contamination from Manure (working too fast = sloppy and unsafe) According to… The Meatrix 2.5, Oct 14, 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T-BVH7333U

  2. Deadly Bacteria in Meat (causing hospitalizations and death) According to… TIME for Kids, November 8, 2019 https://www.timeforkids.com/g34/specials/sp-2019/beef-recall-8-3-19

  3. Wasting Precious Water Resources (requires thousands of liters) According to… Water Footprint Network, January 2024 https://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/waterstat/

  4. Massive Environmental Destruction (deforestation and habitat loss) According to… National Geographic, December 14, 2018 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/wildlife-watch/141214-deforestation-animal-species-conservation

  5. Catastrophic Methane Emissions (major contributor to global warming) According to… United Nations Environment Programme, May 2021 https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-methane-assessment-benefits-and-costs-mitigating-methane-emissions

  6. Cruel and Inhumane Treatment of Animals (severe suffering in factory farming) According to… PETA, March 2024 https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/

  7. Polluting Vital Water Supplies (manure runoff contaminates drinking water) According to… Environmental Protection Agency, March 2023 https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-agriculture

  8. Rampant Antibiotic Overuse (leading to dangerous resistant bacteria) According to… World Health Organization, November 17, 2020 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance

  9. Exploiting Child Labor (children working in hazardous conditions) According to… The Washington Post, May 10, 2021 https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/05/10/child-labor-meat-industry/

  10. Brutal Slaughter Practices (animals endure extreme suffering) According to… Humane Society International, January 2021 https://www.hsi.org/issues/slaughter/

  1. Essential Nutrient Powerhouse (crucial vitamins and minerals for health) According to… Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, January 2023 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein/

  2. Superior Protein Source (vital for muscle strength and repair) According to… Mayo Clinic, February 2022 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/protein/faq-20058521

  3. Lifesaving Omega-3 Fatty Acids (supports heart and brain health) According to… American Heart Association, March 2022 https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/omega-3-fatty-acids

  4. Boosts Immune Defenses (enhances immune function and protection) According to… WebMD, May 2020 https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-immune-foods

  5. Vital Economic Engine (supports millions of jobs globally) According to… Food & Agriculture Organization, April 2024 https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1378977/icode/

  6. Protects a $1.37 Trillion Industry (prevents massive economic losses) According to… Statista, October 30, 2023 https://www.statista.com/statistics/194899/global-meat-market-value-since-2005/

  7. Economic Lifeline for Rural Areas (ensures rural community stability) According to… The Guardian, March 22, 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/22/livestock-farmers-impact

  8. Cultural Identity Pillar (key to national pride and unity) According to… CNN, February 2023 https://www.cnn.com/national-identities-meat-consumption

  9. Essential for Religious Practices (integral to cultural and religious rituals) According to… BBC, March 22, 2023 https://www.bbc.com/religion/meat-consumption

  10. Foundation of Social Gatherings (central to family and community bonds) According to… Smithsonian Magazine, August 5, 2022 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/social-importance-of-meat-gatherings-20220805

REQUIRED RESEARCH (VIDEOS & ARTICLES)

Please watch all of the required videos (& take notes) before arriving at the first forensics team meeting.
“WeTransfer” link for the videos & articles (will expire in 2025): [WeTransfer (Possibly Later)].

Required Research (Videos):

The Meatrix I, II, & II-1/2,
Animated Films, 2003+
[Part-01, 4 min], [Part-02, 4 min], & [Part-03, 3 min].

Is Meat Really that Bad?
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, November 30, 2021 [12 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Hq8eVOMHs

Required Research (Articles):

Sorry Vegans: Here’s How Meat-Eating Made Us Human,
TIME Magazine, March 9, 2016
https://time.com/4252373/meat-eating-veganism-evolution/

Food Safety (Meat Spreading Disease),
TIME for Kids, November 8, 2019
https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/food-safety-2/?rl=en-980

A Cleaner Meat (Meat Substitutes),
TIME for Kids, March 29, 2022
https://www.timeforkids.com/g2/a-cleaner-meat/?rl=en-480

OPTIONAL RESEARCH (ARTICLES & VIDEOS)

Please consider watching/reading the following research areas in order to prepare for upcoming events.

Optional Research (Articles & Videos):

[Video] Pros and Cons of Eating Meat (April 2024),
Debate Matters, April 5, 2024 [5 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl4dTmme6KA
Alt: https://ai.invideo.io/watch/_706QnAHw5B

[Video] Negative Implications of Eating Meat (April 2024),
Debate Matters, April 5, 2024 [5 min]
https://youtu.be/b5KdGdtB_3I
Alt: https://ai.invideo.io/watch/FZcCBDxMZQO

[Video] Positive Implications of Eating Meat (April 2024),
Debate Matters, April 5, 2024 [3 min]
https://youtu.be/WXKEIJUQWB8
Alt: https://ai.invideo.io/watch/PMli8LwL0vd

[Video] Future of Meat Explained,
Vox Media (Documentary), November 14, 2019 [20 min]
https://youtu.be/JyJP1-6fFWk

10 Pros and Cons of Eating Red Meat,
LesMills Website, May 26, 2019
https://www.lesmills.com/us/fit-planet/nutrition/meat/

Should People Become Vegetarian?,
Procon.org, Last Updated: Feb 25, 2021
https://vegetarian.procon.org/

A Meaty Debate: Can Meat Fit into a Healthy Diet?,
Healthline Website, Last Updated: October 28, 2021
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/meat-good-or-bad

So your kid wants to be a vegetarian,
National Geographic, June 21, 2021
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/so-your-kid-wants-to-be-a-vegetarian

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH (Evidence & Outlines)

We provide students with some sample evidence and/or outlines to help them prepare for any upcoming events. This research can be copied word-for-word, or can be modified to fit the students needs. Copying these and other outlines is proper (it’s not cheating). Here is the link to the [T-Chart].

Not Eat Meat (Evidence)
Not Eat Meat (Arguments)
Not Eat Meat (Rebuttals)
Not Eat Meat (Rejoinders)
Not Eat Meat (Voting Issues)

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