FINALLY! Someone has published it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been saying this forever, I am an environmentalist and a strict vegetarian. I tell everyone who talks about how much they care about the environment and how right Al Gore is that he has left one MAJOR thing out. That is so awesome you sent him a letter, it will be interesting to see how he responds. It's always so interesting how people conveniently leave out things that they don't want to change for themselves. THANK YOU!

Posted by: lindsey | March 5, 2007 05:13 PM

I hope he decides to do whats best. I'm a fan of his. He better not let me down. :|

Posted by: Emily | March 5, 2007 05:37 PM

i agree totally!!! with all the comments!! his movie was great but he did leave a few things out!!!that is for sure

Posted by: kris shulfer | March 5, 2007 06:28 PM

Problem for Al is that some big donors are in the animal abuse industries!!!!

Posted by: kelly | March 5, 2007 06:33 PM

Thank you! I rented the video for my dad but refused to watch it. Without a doubt he sits on his leather couch at night and eats t-bone steaks while talking to Tipper about how great he is! Thank you for sending him a letter, I really hope he responds...

Posted by: doug | March 5, 2007 09:32 PM

Because turning the entire world into vegans is SO realistic.

Posted by: Vijaya | March 6, 2007 07:47 AM

all this environmental stuff becomes an insane religion. a hybrid car or solar power on the roof do not save one poor animal's life. the socalled environmentalists have nothing to do with animal protection - even if everything is organic and bioenergetic - animals continue to be slaughtered and abused and continue to suffer. let's say: environmentalism is a clever way to avoid troubles because it's impersonal! animal rights activists run a much higher risk to be exposed in public. there are even many former animal rights activists - who nowadays drive their hybrid car tranquilizing their conscience because they are not strong enough to hold on. animal rights activists have to know that the enemy is always trying to make them ridiculous or even worse: to threaten them in different ways and manners! so once again in history humans fail in saving animals - chosing the easy way - and environmentalism is eating animal cause!
and also: instead of lamenting about climate change people should get prepared for it - they cannot change anymore this climate and global warming - it's too late! but they should change their hearts of stone into living hearts and they would finally develop feelings for all living beings! but i think also this is anyway too late! we cannot turn back time and too many mistakes have been made through history: mankind has turned into stone - so we are actually in the stone age again!!!

Posted by: animalfriend | March 6, 2007 08:24 AM

In Response to Vijaya:

What an awful attitude you have. No wonder the world isn't changing, it's because of people like you who think it's too late so they just don't try. Just because you can't change everyone's mind doesn't mean you shouldn't try to change as many as you can. Or should I say, just because you can't stop all suffering doesn't mean you shouldn't try to stop all that you can. Even if you made a difference to just one single person then all your efforts are worth it. I can't adopt all the animals in shelters even though I would like to, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and save a few animals lives. Being pessimistic and lazy is the exact way to bring the world down. It's dissapointing to hear someone say they think it's already too late to do anything. It's too bad you lead your life that way, I feel sorry for you.

Posted by: lindsey | March 6, 2007 01:26 PM

"Because turning the entire world into vegans is SO realistic."

Isnt someone pissy? Listen, if you're going to go and make an international video about the dangers of C02 and greenhouse gases and then go on national TV and tell everyone about how you care for the environment so much, dont you think that you should stop creating one thing in this world of ours that generates the most C02 and greenhouse gases. Mr. Gore is a hipocrite and the day he stops consuming meat and dairy I will listen to what he has to say!

Posted by: doug | March 6, 2007 01:55 PM

Good job lindsey!!!!!!!

very well put

Posted by: doug | March 6, 2007 03:19 PM

to lindsey: i think your message is for me not for vijaya - i understand and respect your feelings towards my pessimistic opinion and i shall try to be more optimistic but after 40 years in animal rights movements i saw too many bad things from inside and outside and i learned to know the human being and his miserable character and attitude and i can tell you this: humans are just for humans - they never go as far as to sacrifice themselves for the animals - the animals are always alone: one day a woman came to me and she was crying because passing by a slaughterhouse she heard the animals cry and she told me: we have to do something absolutely! then i said to her: ok i help you but you have to know that from today on we are all alone with our fight - there is no church, no police, no president, no god coming down to help us! you like to start - and then she looked down to the earth and did not react anymore! you see why i have this attitude - also i'm living in france and people here in the countryside are very primitive: they got just two things in their head: filling up their stomach with every kind of meat and going out for hunting. somebody told me that in the slaughterhouses they amuse themselves by cutting the testicles of the bulls - so you see why i'm pessimistic - but maybe you are young and ready for big things - i wish you every good luck! and then we have peta and the humance society and other great animal rights organizations all over the world and i hope with all my heart that things shall come always better for animals - this is all i hope for in my life!

Posted by: animalfriend | March 6, 2007 03:55 PM

Correction:

Okay, I have to correct in saying that my response is to animalfriend and not to Vijaya (sorry...)

Now, to KevinFromTexas...
Maybe Al Gore's words got taken out of context (which probably happens with at least one thing everyone says each day) but here is an Al Gore quote from an interview with Wolf Blitzer in March of 1999..."During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the internet." That is a fairly broad statement that can be taken in many contexts. I think it is Al Gore that is parroting his own noise.

Posted by: lindsey | March 6, 2007 03:58 PM

animalfriend:

please don't let all the negative things you have seen make you stop helping and believing, there are so few of us that if the good ones stop hoping and believing then we are really in trouble. we need all the help and optimism we can get. Organizations such as PETA and the Humane Society are the ones that give us hope in knowing that not everyone out there is awful and uncompassionate. I hear awful things about animals every day but that just makes me want to work harder. People like that try to get us down and if we let them then they have already won, you will let the people we are fighting hardest against win, please don't let that happen.

Posted by: lindsey | March 6, 2007 04:08 PM

Hello lindsey.

"I think it is Al Gore that is parroting his own noise."

Since this was the first time Gore claimed to have taken the initiative in creating the internet, definitionally, he could not have been parroting himself.

OK that hopefully was something of a joke. Which is to say, the original entry was good enough to run on its own merit.

Posted by: KevinfromTexas | March 6, 2007 05:53 PM

Last weekend here in Australia there was a show called CoolAid which was all about the climate change issue. Al Gore was of course interviewed and they also surveyed several stars lives to see how much CO2 they were causing etc. The great thing was that the eating of animals was brought up several times as being a huge cause of the problem, of course there wasn't anything about the cruelty but at least it was brought up on live TV in a country that is strangled by the meat and dairy industries. The have a website which has the Al Gore interview on it www.coolaid.com.au for anyone that is interested.

Posted by: sb | March 6, 2007 09:49 PM

Besides this HUGE mislead, I thank Al Gore for showing me the documentary's title...

...because eating meat is THE inconvenient truth!

Human race is certainly a self destructive specie.

Posted by: Tiago | March 7, 2007 02:01 AM

Hi,
I'm not an environmentalist or anything, but I find the statement, "animals raised for food generate more greenhouse gases than all cars and trucks combined" interesting and I would just like to read more about this. Could you please post a link so that "uninformed" people could read up on your point of view to understand what you are saying with something factual (other than a random statement)?

Thanks,

Josh

Posted by: Josh | March 7, 2007 12:44 PM

Josh - I hope these help:

www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

www.celsias.com/blog/2006/11/22/save-the-world-with-your-fork/

www.celsias.com/blog/2007/01/21/porkine-putridity-in-profusion/

www.celsias.com/blog/2007/02/17/earthlings/

www.celsias.com/blog/2007/02/14/will-disease-halt-global-warming/

Regards

Posted by: Craig Mackintosh | March 7, 2007 01:01 PM

Hey Josh,
the statistic comes from a 2006 U.N. report. You can read PETA's feature on the subject at
http://goveg.com/environment-globalwarming.asp

And the original report can be found at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environment

I hope that's helpful!
Jack

Posted by: Jack | March 7, 2007 01:10 PM

It's so sad that PETA does stunts like this. The actions of PETA marginalize the efforts of other people trying to make changes in the world.

Please review your logic again - meat production methods today are immensly harmful. Our system of raising vegitables is also immensly harmful to the environment.

However, this harm not inherant to meat production and consumption. Current industrial practices are the problem. The same applies to veggies. By tying in a Vegan agenda - you marginalize rationalization efforts.

I am an environmentalist. I eat meat. Insulting me doesn't help your cause or make me sympathetic to your ideas.

I am part of the worlds ecosystem - I eat sustainably produced meat as a responsible person. By attempting to discredit Al Gores efforts for you own dogma, you marginalize his efforts, my efforts and your own efforts. Get it together PETA. Please stop shooting the environmental movement in the foot.

Posted by: Dan Brazelton | March 7, 2007 04:31 PM

Remember Al Gore is a politician--did anyone read about his latest hipocrisy? His own home uses 20 times for energy than the average. Hmmmm.....what was his motive again in his movie? Until he reduces his consumption of meat and energy, his word means nothing to me. He seems to me just a sore loser who is trying to find his place in the world. A for effort?

Posted by: Lisa | March 7, 2007 05:42 PM

It's about time someone finally put this up! They were also criticizing Gore because he had a super-high energy bill?

Posted by: sharasa | March 7, 2007 07:10 PM

i don't get this... how does eating meat make the world go bad, and if we did stop eating meat then how will it affect everything.... in my opinion it says in the bible that god gave us all the animals to eat and if your saying that your an athiest then why the heck do you care, your gonna die anyways and be gone forever. i just see no logic to life if we die and thats it. i know there is a god and we will live for an eternity... there are many other issues to discuss that are more important like your salvation, cause i'm telling you now that millions will go to hell, you could care less of wut i have to say, but whatever, i'll look into this whole vegitarian thing, see if it's worth it.

Posted by: Jony | March 7, 2007 07:14 PM

Duh....how can you call yourself an "environmentalist" if your still eating meat!!!! The meat eating industry is among the worst environmental disasters ever to happen to the world.

Posted by: Debbie Jaffe | March 7, 2007 07:22 PM

It's about time! I've been wondering this for quite some time. I've never heard him mention vegetarianism in his environmental addresses. Hopefully he'll quickly realize how important vegetarianism is in saving our environment and will make the switch! Until then.. he's just a hypocrite.

Posted by: Ingrid W. | March 7, 2007 07:28 PM

Surely it helps to consume livestock. They are after all contributing to the problem by passing damaging methane.

Posted by: Vince DSylva | March 7, 2007 08:17 PM

I'm so glad PETA is following up on this. I watched the movies knowing those stats and was waiting for it to come up. When it didn't I checked the climate change website the movie promotes and saw nothing there either and i've gotta say i was dissapointed. They didn't have to push the point but it would at least have been nice to mention the facts. GO PETA!

Posted by: Allison | March 7, 2007 09:06 PM

can't find the link to the letter.

Posted by: harrylarry | March 7, 2007 09:17 PM

While I respect your right to be a vegetarian, the prospect of getting everyone to give up eating meat is ridiculous. And by shoving your cause and criticisms at a man who is doing some of the best work to reduce global warming, well I just think it's counter productive. One step at a time people. At least the world is talking about this now, I don't remember there ever being a realistic debate about everyone giving up meat...

Posted by: Mr. Practical | March 7, 2007 10:33 PM

I adore Al because of his knowledge about the environment and I have learned a lot from him. I do however feel that he lacks the ability to put his beliefs into action. His house consumes way more energy that the average American. If he really does care about the environment then he should take the first and largest step, become a vegetarian, or even better, a vegan.

Posted by: Emily | March 7, 2007 11:40 PM

If we like it or not we all live on the same planet, and all we are connected. You cannot protect the enviroment and let animals out of it because enviroment means ALL what is around us. A nice wood without animals does not make any sense or fighting for clean water and then eat meat and pollute it is just stupid and fake. Enviromentalists should join the animal organizations or inverse and only then we can make a better world for ALL of us.

Posted by: Carmen | March 8, 2007 04:52 AM

to jony:
if you think that the bible encourages eating meat you are wrong - this was just after the flood that the descendence of noah got this permission because there wasn't anymore anything green. just read "isaiah" and you shall be teached in an other way - but people like very much to forget that chapter in the bible but they can't take it out because it announces the coming of the messiah!
and besides all this we got the old vedic scriptures of india from the greatest culture ever existing on this planet thousands of years ago when the rest of the world was still sleeping: they didn't kill or eat animals and it was a matter of honour to respect the cow as the milk giving mother! these were really other times and the west would be doing good in adopting these wise things so they would also have less wars as the great russian poet leo tolstoi told us: as long as there are slaughterhouses - there shall be battlefields!!!!

to lindsey: thumbs up - you give me courage again!

Posted by: animalfriend | March 8, 2007 10:48 AM

Dear PETA, I listened to the Glen Beck show this morning and he pointed out the truth about 'An inconvenient truth' and meat.

It is obvious the biggest source of America's obesity is a meat-based diet.

You should go the distance and say, (as I have for several years), that eating meat proudly supports the war machine!

Posted by: Daniel Barker | March 8, 2007 12:42 PM

The hell is wrong with you he said he's not running!!!

Posted by: chuck norris | March 8, 2007 03:37 PM

Whether you all think Al Gore is wrong or right - we should all know there is a global warming problem. If we all don't stick together then nothing will ever be done.
As far as the animals are concerned - I guess some people think it is okay to abuse animals, kill them, eat them and use them for their own sick pleasure. I for one happen to think animals are here for the same reason we are. And if no one can figure that out then you are the ones who have the problem. Think back on all the successful stories of what PETA and The HUmane Society and all the other animal organizations have done. You think it is okay to kill? I happen to think life is sacred animals and humans and we need to stop the abuse, the killing and the manhandling. Life is way too short and we need to all stick together.

Posted by: Diana BArrowcliff | March 8, 2007 03:55 PM

In response to some comments:

1. Atheists care about the environment and animal rights, too! I am one of them. Just because people do not believe in a higher power does not mean we are apathetic to the world around us. I can't speak for all atheists, but since I believe that this is our one and only chance at life, I want to make the most of it. And that includes trying to make the world a better place through environmentalism and animal rights.

2. Whether or not it is feasible for the whole world to be come vegetarian is not important. It is important for everyone to do as much as they possibly can. For some people, that includes being a vegetarian. For others, they are not willing to go that far. But the fact that we're all doing SOMETHING is what matters.

Posted by: jmw5577 | March 8, 2007 04:32 PM

You people disrespecting Gore because of his usage of electricity are ridiculous. Do you guys even research anything, or just regurgitate whatever Rush tells you. Has anyone seen the size of his house, and understood how his house is actually used like a commercial building virtually? He has all sorts of people in his staff working there with him, with offices and the whole nine yards. Give me a break!!

As far as not discussing the issue of how farting from animal meat consumption is bad for the earth. Gore perhaps wanted to make a serious film and address the problem with some sense of seriousness. Atleast allow the man to respond to this bit of info before you burn him on the cross. The disrespect being displayed towards this man is a sure sign of gene degeneration

Posted by: Paul | March 8, 2007 07:23 PM

you know Al Gore is a true hero for his message and movie to stop global warming. (yes, i voted for Al) i think he will do the right thing and go vegan. in fact, i'll bet he simply didn't know that human meat eating is the biggest contributor to global warming.
I have always been a passionate animal rights advocate and environmentalist. i used to go to Earth Day festivals just to screw with the so-called "environmentalists" in their tie dyed t-shirts to ask them why they aren't vegan....they give excuses such as "my iron levels are too low" HA HA HA, what a joke!!! THERE IS NO EXCUSE. As all of us who already eat vegan know, plant based nutrition is superior, including in supplying iron and protien, so it's all a cop out because they don't want to be "inconvenienced" to eat vegan. anyway. lets hope Al Gore doesn't cop out. it's so easy to step up to the plate and EAT VEGAN. i love this diet.
BTW Glenn Beck mentioned factory farming on his radio show today basically admitting that the human species can't continue to eat animals without destroying the planet...he wanted to know why Al is not vegan... so then he interviwed and discussed the vegan diet with a vegan lady in Florida and said in closing to her "at least you aren't a hypocrite". ((yes i know Beck is conservative and wrong most of the time but he's all we get on local talk radio here.)) anyway MILLIONS of hard headed people heard him talk about the vegan diet today and how important it is in saving our planet.
PETA, YOU ARE BRILLIANT! i was thrilled, it made my day to see the vegan diet in such a national spotlight!!!

oh and i agree with the prior person who posted. there needs to be more talk more about how cruel it is to torture/terrify/kill animals for "food" humans don't need, not just how eco-friendly it is to eat vegan.

Posted by: veganlove | March 8, 2007 08:11 PM

Apparently Al Gore is buying carbon credits to neutralise his
CO2 emissions. Of course, he can afford it while he encourages the rest of us to cut back.

I personally think that what he is doing is at least making people think about climate change, it is the first step, but it would have been great if he could have told the whole truth about meat as well. Hopefully this will be next.

At least now when my meat eating friends bring climate change up in the conversation it gives me a great excuse to educate them about the meat issue.

Posted by: SB | March 8, 2007 09:06 PM

Eating meat does destroy the environment, there have been many studies that prove this whether you like it or not.
Al gore is doing great things and I applaud him for it but he needs to take the next step and cut meat out of his diet.

Posted by: Nathan | March 8, 2007 09:11 PM

I saw "An Inconvenient Truth" with my sister in July 2006. I, a vegetarian, and my sister, a vegan, were very happy with the message. I pointed out to her that Mr. Gore never once mentioned that raising live animals as food is an incredible detriment to the environment. He had learned to spurn the tobacco industry, but he was still involved in the livestock industry.
I have tried a number of times to find an e-mail address to point this out to him, but I am so happy that you have done this for all of us.
By the way, please look at Dennis Kucinich who is running for president. He is environmentally conscious and a VEGAN!

Posted by: Michael Carpathios, M.D. | March 8, 2007 10:23 PM

Jony,
I know others who share your beliefs. It is admirable that you read the bible and try to practice its teachings.
You must keep in mind that we are all a part of god. We must treat all living things with love and respect.
I beg you to please watch some of the PeTA videos, and you will see the inhumanity that your bretheren are treating animals to feed humans.
I used to be like everyone else -- I loved meat and fish and I didn't really want to know how it got to my plate. I then decided to "face the truth" and watch the videos of animals being skinned and gutted while fully conscious, thumped on their heads to try to knock them unconscious, and force-fed beyond normal limits. If you think that god approves of this for your taste buds, then rethink your religion. Otherwise, think of your health. I'm a physician -- if you consider all the steroids, antibiotics and pesticides you consume daily on your present diet, it's no wonder there is an increase in cardiac disease, breast cancer, early menses, antibiotic resistance and many other cancers in our populace.
Being a good neighbor to your fellow living beings and mother Earth would make god happy.

Posted by: Michael Carpathios, M.D. | March 8, 2007 10:44 PM

I am not a vegetarian; however, while traveling across country this past summer, I saw a large amount of cattle and I mean large amount, thousands of cattle in west Texas--I am a Texan; however and will defend my state BUT these cattle were being lined up for slaughter. I was able to get close enough, just traveling at 80 miles per hour, to look in their sweet eyes and I felt horrible and still do, about these poor animals in these corrals so close together they can't even breathe and don't even know they are getting ready to be shot in the head with a pellet or some kind of slamming device and cut up for our dinner tables. What kind of person had shoot a helpless animal in the head and then slaughter him all day long? What KIND OF PERSON CAN DO THIS! I quit eating red meat after that; don't eat pork and only eat fish and some chicken I hate to admit. They get the same treatment but I haven't seen that yet. Maybe I need to.

Silky

Posted by: Silky | March 9, 2007 10:57 AM

Lets pick on the guy that is actually trying to make a difference in our world. Yes the meat industry should be looked at, but that isn't Al's objective, he can't do everything. If we start picking on the people that are trying to make a difference soon no one will even want to try in case they get nailed to the wall. Give me a break look at yourself, you want to do something about the meat industry DO IT!

Posted by: Melissa McCallum | March 9, 2007 03:06 PM

I'm so glad PETA sent a letter to Mr. Gore! Hopefully he will do the right thing and go vegan. I saw someone from PETA on the Glen Beck show last night, and he did a GREAT job of explaining why a vegan diet helps the environment more than people realize. He said that most people can't afford to buy a $20,000 Prius Hybrid, but something that everyone can do is go vegan, and he explained that going vegan would actually make a bigger impact than buying a Prius anyway.

Jony-You really need to do some research, you come across pretty ignorant.

Vince DSylva- You are beyond ignorant.

Mr. Practical-How is informing Al Gore, who is the leader in the enviromnental movement, about the vegan diet being the quickest and most effective way to figt global waming, counter productive? PETA agrees with Mr. Gore and applauds him for his effortts. They just felt it was necessary, as most vegans do, that he should be informed about how significant of an impact a simple diet change could make for the environment.

Paul- I think PETA's point is SERIOUS and it has nothing to do with farting from meat consumption.

Silky-I'm glad you got to see first hand how what happens to the cows before they are turned into steaks because now you don't eat them anymore. I hope you will do some research on PETA's website and watch some of their videos to see how fish, and chickens especially (chickens are the most abused animal) are turned into breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Posted by: Veronica | March 9, 2007 04:24 PM

I do think that Al Gore should look into and confront the meat industry and what "growing" meat does to out environment. But, did anyone actually see his movie? Did anyone notice the car he was driving? It wasn't a hybrid, but a Lexus SUV. Practice what you preach brother.

Posted by: Ferne Taylor | March 9, 2007 09:09 PM

Silky,

Please do not ignore the suffering of chickens and fish.Eating them are no different.They suffer even worse so.I am glad you were put in a position to see first hand the suffering of cows but please do not avoid learning of what all animals endure as well.Fish are suffocated and chickens... they are the worst abused of all animals.Just do the research!

Posted by: Phala Bowles | March 9, 2007 09:45 PM

If one is selfish enough to eat meat and still "care" for the environment, here is an idea: Don't eat meat because its unhealthy for you!!! It's garbage and it does body no good whatsoever!!! If you're selfish regarding the wellbeing of animals, then stop to think about yourself and just think what your body has to go through every time you consume a meat or any animal product...It's easy...DON'T EAT MEAT!!!
After I became a PETA member i quit meat cold turkey. You are basically doing 2 amazing things by doing one simple thing: You're no longer contributing to the horror these poor beautiful creatures have to go through and you are getting healthier on the way, as well as adding years to your lifetime. I still cannot believe that some people out there would not sacrifice their fat asses over innocent lives lost in slaughterhouses. "Animals die to keep your fat asses alive".
Think about it...No really.....THINK about it.

Posted by: alisa | March 10, 2007 12:10 AM

ha! if Al gore is so worried about the environment how come his electric bill alone was $30,000 last year. He's still contemplating switching to solar power for his house or not.

Posted by: Savannah | March 10, 2007 03:33 AM

I'm a vegan AND environmentalist, and I wasn't born either one. My point is that people come to this beliefs as matters of the conscience, and we don't form all of our beliefs simultaneously. I became an environmentalist at 25 and a vegan at 35. Do I agree that veganism is the greatest personal stand a person can take for the environment--YES! But am I willing to give my green hero, Al Gore, all the time he needs--YES!There are too many people ruining the planet(see Bush) to give Al Gore a hard time.

Posted by: Brain | March 10, 2007 09:31 AM

Veronica, you summed it all up just perfectly!

And Silky, you are on your way to making some great changes for you, for the animals and for the environment. Keep up the effort, and just remember how many animals you alone are saving just by cutting out meat (about 95 per year if you also stopped eating fish and chicken). I used to eat meat, but started reading up on the matter, and watching PETA's videos, and now I can't believe I ever touched the stuff before. Now just looking at it on the supermarket shelves makes me want to vomit.

Posted by: Michele | March 10, 2007 11:12 AM

People need to understand that we are all animals,we wouldn't like being killed for fur or meat.We need to put ourselves in their posisions and how they suffer.We need to help them and stop animal abusing.

Posted by: Lina | March 10, 2007 11:14 AM

to Jony
thou sal not kill

Posted by: KC | March 10, 2007 11:55 AM

jony,

I don't share your religious beliefs, just to give an opening disclosure... but I do share your belief that the Bible says that it's OK to eat animals (some animals anyway, but let's leave it at that); but after this intial point of agreement I am aware too that there are big differences between modern factory farming and the type of animal husbandry prevalent throughout Biblical times - - not that I'm an expert; anyway, for one thing, the animals then were not shot full of antibiotics, growth hormones, et al... nor was the food they ate genetically modified or sprayed with pesticides. They also had a bit more elbow room... well, there are many online sites available to get a better understanding of factory farming.

Anyway, if you really are interested in giving the "vegetarian thing" (haha) a looksee then consider too that the Bible says too your body is a temple of sorts (ehh... at least I believe it does) and therefore, to me anyway, it does make sense to at least give thought to the food used to nourish it.

Really, all global warming issues aside, I believe the Bible does give a basis for refusing, at a minimum, the products of farming farming.

Posted by: Kevin | March 11, 2007 09:57 AM

mr. gore needs to get with the program. unfortunately, i believe that his fortune (inherited from his father) is the product of cattle raising. his movie is great, but someone needs to send him a few peta videos on the OTHER inconvenient truth!

Posted by: nina zimm | March 11, 2007 10:09 AM

Woo-Hoo!

A good dose of "Al Gore Needs to practice what he preaches" what is the point of an effective leader if the leader cannot do so? I am an Al Gore fan, but I hope that he turns and looks at the light from inside his cave. Being vegan has changed my life, and caused me to think about connection and stuff.

Peace!

Posted by: maggie | March 11, 2007 12:55 PM

So if I stop eating meat, and switch to tofu, beans and rice because you can't eat potatoes anymore you might piss off PAPPY (People Against Potato Peeling Yuppies) Isn't that going to be worse?

I for one fart alot after tofu and beans.

Posted by: Pierre | March 11, 2007 02:49 PM

I am so against animal abuse, & anything harming our planet earth. But, I have a promblem going vegetarian. But I already ordered the vegan starting kit. Al Gore did leave some things out & im happy that you guys published this. =]

Posted by: amarilis | March 11, 2007 03:57 PM

Pierre,

Maybe you fart after eating fibrous vegetables, but how would you feel about living in a 120 degree trailer for days while you starve on your way to be slaughtered in front of your sister and mother (who will also be slaughtered)? The bolt gun barely nicks your skull so that when the workers slit your throat and skin you and cut off your arms and legs, you're still feeling all of it?
Have you lost a dog or cat and mourned for months? There are so many "animal lovers" out there that have no problem filling their plates with bacon and chicken wings and ignoring the millions of pigs, cows, foul and fish that meet a much crueler fate than your dog or cat.
I realize you're curious about being a vegetarian, otherwise you wouldn't be at this web site. But I can see that you are just trying to legitimize eating animals and not face the facts that it is more than a few farts causing environmental and humanitarian havoc.
PeTA is not the only source for information. Read Gayle Eisnitz's "Slaughterhouse" and John Robbins' "The Food Revolution." Look at vegsource.com and earthsave.org. Just because your parents told you that "if you didn't eat your meat, you wouldn't be strong and healthy" doesn't mean that it is true.

Posted by: Michael Carpathios, M.D. | March 11, 2007 05:39 PM

Leave Al Gore alone!! I commend him for the work he is doing and the work he will do in the future! I am in full agreement that something needs to be said about the meat industry, but let Al Gore do what he is doing and find someone else to campiagn on behalf of this cause. Please do not focus on what Al Gore is NOT talking about, at least he is trying to make a difference. It is our "president" and all of our elected leaders who we need to be sending letters to and questioning why they are not addressing the global concerns. This is not the time to criticize the ones who are attempting the change, it is the time, however, to ask "How can I help?"

Posted by: Dana | March 11, 2007 05:57 PM

Eating meat is the fundamental part of human evolution and brain development having a social and environmental conscious does not in any way mean that you should not eat meat. The decision too eat meat or not is that of the individual. A belief that you are right does not give anyone the right too force their opinions and beliefs on anyone.

Posted by: Fin | March 11, 2007 11:53 PM

I just finished watching Al Gore's movie and he needs to know about the Factory Farms!! They not only make us sick they too make the air polluted from the methane gasses, amonia, and tons of stuff that would take a few pages to write. Have you noticed children going thru puberty very, very early ?? The hormones, antibiotics injected and forced feeding into these animals and if they don't shoot them up they mix it into the animal feed. I have been meat, egg, dairy free for a year and 1 month. I could never go back just knowing the treatment of these animals. They are tortured, cutting their throats when hanging upsidedown still alive in the slaughter houses, it's disgusting, no it is murder!!! They have brains, feelings, they feel pain and love, how could any NORMAL PERSON do this to an innocent creature is beyond me and more people than I ever thought are opening their eye's to this terrible thing. This really pisses me off.
President of Concerned Citizens of Neave Twp., Inc.

Posted by: Rita | March 12, 2007 01:16 AM

that was awsome man!! I think vegitarians should exspress themselves all the time because I dont approve of animal slauter unless our nation depended on fur and wolve skulls! Which probably will never happen.We are Intellegent humans and we can find something better to do than kill and rob animals of their life and body parts!! Now I'm not against meat but I am against people killing animals for pleasure!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Brandon | March 12, 2007 11:50 AM

It would have been nice if Gore did mention how factory farms and the like are destroying our planet. But it could have had a large backlash against him. I think If he has any "presidential plans" that it may do more harm for his campaign then good. We are fighting an uphill battle for animals and if he does nab office (which seems highly unlikely)then we may be able to slip in our agendas more into the open if God is willing. - Michael

Posted by: Michael Jones | March 12, 2007 01:30 PM

Most people and most of Al's movie miss the point, which is human population. As I read all of the posted comments, I wonder how many of the submitters have children. All of those kids are consumers even before they are born. At 65 I look back and feel good that at 26 I chose to have a vasectomy so as not to add to our over-burdened planet. As a member of PETA,I am extremely compassionate about animal suffering but if you want to see the broad spectrum of how our very presence is affecting our planet go to and you may come to the same conclusion I did... the most similar organism we are emulating is cancer because we are consuming our host(est?). Vegetarians are having a positive impact, just as Al has done with his movie, but until we reign in our need to populate we are fast approaching the precipice.

Posted by: Warren Dunn | March 12, 2007 04:14 PM

if we(humans) were not meant to eat.we wouldn't have sharp teeth that cuts through meat. its fine if you people choose not to eat meat.but don't try to force your opinions on meat eaters.

no now back to the subject.if you shut down meat industries. the economy would go crazy.

Posted by: Amber | March 12, 2007 05:59 PM

I am a conservative republican on MOST issues, but definitely liberal when it comes to animal rights. We as humans have such enormous egos, it's unbelievable what we do to our animal friends. Maybe the bible said the animals were ours to eat, but that was in the days LONG BEFORE meat and fur farms, not to mention animal laboratories. Al Gore needs to stop eating meat anyway, he's looking quite bloated lately!

Posted by: Holly Healy | March 12, 2007 06:10 PM

After watching 'An Inconvenient Truth', I too thought it would be great to raise awareness of the environmental impact of meat production (as well as all the other aspects!). But, instead of bemoaning his lack of awareness or his reluctance to acknowledge it, shouldn't we look at the positive side to his argument.

He is afterall only human, and will make mistakes, but is raising awareness of an issue often marginalised in our daily pursuits.

Yes, a vegan diet is the best way of life in many ways, not least environmentally, but until major meat producers stop using consumer dollars to frighten people into eating meat, we will have a hard road ahead of us

Posted by: Charli | March 12, 2007 11:09 PM

I respect ev'one's opinions and comments. With the short time left here on earth, we need not lose focus on the real issues: conserving what's left of the natural world for all our sake. Because of our negligence and stupidity, in some cases, it's too late. HOPE is still alive and well out here in this WORLD. On another note & in my opinion for those who are deciding to not eat meat anymore, let me tell some things. Think about what you would no longer consume into your system. How about pesticides, growth hormones (somatrophin) for example, poisons, tetracycline, dihydrotesterone, and a host of all kinds of other sh-t. Animals are injected with this and so is the land for farming and therefore you are too when you eat it. You wonder why people are dying at such young ages versus many years ago, so many "unknown" emerging and re-emerging diseases, you wonder why your child(ren) at age 5 has body of a 10 year and 10 year old child's body has a body of grown woman or man, wonder why our ecosystem is off balance, why we can't breath, why plants and animals are dying off, you wonder why different gases are dispersed into the atmosphere that causes wicked disasters such has hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. these things all happen because of the negligence and the deliberate acts of humans, not the animals.

As I tell my meating eating friends, how about I skin you alive, make a pattern from it, sew and sell it? How 'bout I maim your body in many parts in front of your family, prep it, cook it and/or sell to people for consumption? I know it's graphic and horrific, but this is what inconsiderate MOFOs do in our country and in the world do animals!
The bottom line, it's sickening! GOD gave us fruits and berries from the trees and said "it was good" Therefore, it is!

Keep the struggle going on yall for the Animals and us Humans to live good for the end is coming!

Posted by: Crystal | March 14, 2007 08:29 AM

save the chickens!

Posted by: aretha | March 14, 2007 12:27 PM

I was just reading the Al Gore book "An Inconvenient Truth" which the movie was based on and it includes a section titled "Modify your diet to include less meat" and it goes on to explain the meat/pollution connection and even lists a couple of websites to visit to find out more. So he did mention it somewhere. It's a start.

Posted by: Allison | March 14, 2007 06:24 PM

ok look....yeah, every one in the entire world isnt going to become a vegetarian...it simply isnt possible. To the people who complain about vegetarians, the world, and stuff their spoons with dead animal tissue....at least vegetarians are doing something, its not huge but its still something. Your not changing the world by complaining... no one ever has. And to animal rights activist, dont give a meat lover something to complain about....dont pressure vegetarianism on some one who doesnt want to be. stop irritating each other! Im a vegetarian. but it doesnt bother me my entire world around eats meat...instead i feel better about myself, i got to change what i could, starting with myself.

Posted by: Amanda | March 15, 2007 02:46 PM

I just watched "An Incovenient Truth " last night thru high school and there was a follow up discussion on the issue. I asked the same question that you have posed about vegetarian being left out completely.

Another one I feel is cold showers. If all of America starts taking cold showers instead of hot showers, it will make a huge difference. I would think it probably takes a tree to heat up enough water for a family of 4 for a week. Afterall, 100 years ago I wouldn't think people took hot showers, at least the part of the globe (India) where I grew up and bathing in the early morning is a religious requirement.

Posted by: Manjit Singh | March 16, 2007 11:12 AM

After reading all of the comments I have a feeling of hope. I see people are trying to make a conscious effort to make planet Earth a better place for all creatures. I have been a Vegetarian for 18 years and a vegan for 11 months. I feel like being only a Vegetarian for 18 years was very hippo-critical of me and I am glad I am not as ignorant as I once was and have educated myself on the torture of Dairy animals. When I was only a Vegi I subconsciously was in denial, now that I am a Vegan I am more aware. I have learned though how much guilt a meat eater discovers unknowingly when just the word Vegan is used, it automatically triggers a defensive action with them. Think about it...we should always go with our instincts and if the first feeling that someone has is to defend themselves for torturing creatures, there is a reason for that feeling. I think humanity is evolving into a higher consciousness, and I think the more optimistic we are and the more we discuss why it is wrong to not be a Vegan will prove that what we believe in is not wrong and that everyone will someday have compassion. That is what it is all about, right? Compassion?

Sincerly
Melanie

Posted by: Melanie Andersen | March 16, 2007 01:41 PM

I went vegetarian 5 years ago (and vegan shortly thereafter) because I wanted to boycott animal suffering. Prior to that, I was a meat-eating environmental activist who didn't know a darn thing about the effects of eating meat on the environment. After going vegan for animal rights reasons, I learned of the devastating impact of meat on the environment. Now that I am no longer ignorant, I feel it's my duty to tell others what's going on. Al Gore has done so much for the environment and he's in a position to make a real change, and if he wants to be as effective as possible--and entirely honest--then he needs to go vegan (or at least vegetarian) and include information about factory farming in his environmental presentations.

Posted by: Cassandra | March 16, 2007 02:39 PM

YES! I just watched the movie yesterday and loved it, and I thought to myself someone needs to tell him about the concerns relating to livestock (if you can even call factory farmed animals that.) Yay to PETA! Always on top of things!

Posted by: SassaAngel | March 16, 2007 02:53 PM

Bravo to Peta for calling attention to the fact that switching to a vegan diet does more to prevent global warming than switching to a hybrid car (via PETA's letter to Al Gore calling for him to become a vegan). The late night talk show comedians have been making jokes about PETA's letter to Gore, which is great, because it gets the word out even further. But as we know, global warming is no laughing matter! Gore and others are not eating vegan for two main reasons: they're either unaware of the connection between a plant-based diet and a healthy earth or they are aware of it but can't manage to change old eating habits.

In addition to getting the vegan diet message out, we can encourage people to learn how to make raw vegan recipes (actually better for you than cooked vegan) and open restaurants and takeout stores serving raw vegan food, which is quite delicious (and slimming and healthy). For more info about this, please visit my six-year-old online magazine: http://www.RawFoodsNewsMagazine.com

(Gore and other people of means can afford to hire raw vegan chefs who will make them luscious food while helping the environment, helping their health and keeping them lean.)

Posted by: Judy Pokras | March 16, 2007 03:33 PM

With such a powerful appeal to average Americans Al Gore could do so much to not only further the global warming cause but assist in a just as equally noble cause, non-human animal respect. I hope he incorporates this into his future presentations.

Posted by: Michael Griffin | March 16, 2007 03:48 PM

I think it's a relief to finally hear that other people felt the same way after they were done watching the Inconvenient Truth movie as I did. I just was stunned to see the credits roll without a single mention of diet and negligence to animal rights as being primary contributors to the environmental pollution and temperature change. The truth is that people, even those who posted comments on this forum, just don't get it. They agknowledge that something is wrong with the world. They talk everyday with people about the violence and the hatred that plague us. And they go to their churches with the desire to "promote goodness." But all the while, they neglect to see that it's their very behavior that leads up to this chaos. Of course Al Gore should have at least mentioned the diet thing, but because he didn't and probably won't, you've got to come to realize that he's promoting an agenda. The same as the Bushs. The same as the Clintons. The Reagons. The Every Politicians in history. If I had to make a suggestion to the people who meander along this forum and read this comment, it would be to focus on what you can do to make the world better. Why can't we talk about the solutions? I don't believe in gods or myths. I don't believe in eating other animals. I don't believe in violence. I don't believe in hatred. I don't approve of mass production of weaponry. I can't stand people who pollute. And I'm just like everybody else, who doesn't see the answer, even when it's right fucking in front of them. But that doesn't mean that you can't do more to help the world. You know, to the idiots who come into this forum and try to slam vegetarianism with stupid comebacks as to why you should eat meat, I would just say, "stay home". Read a book. Enhance your mind. Telling a Vegan they're wrong to eat veggies is like telling the Red Cross they haven't saved lives in the last 100 years. It's just stupid. There is nothing better than becoming more in tune to what it means to be human, and eating other creatures is not one of them. Sure, our ancestors did it. Many of you do it. But that doesn't make it any righter than robbing a bank because criminals have done it and gotten away with it in the past. Read up on the facts. Then make educated decisions that benifit you and others and animals. Don't come into a PETA website forum and start bashing vegetarians. You don't belong here with bad attitudes like that. This forum is for open minds and people who actually agknowledge that something needs to be done. There is nothing wrong with sending a letter to Al Gore and filling him into what was missing from his movie. It was perhaps the most important piece of information he left out. And to those of you who think that an athiest has no morals or values, look at yourself. Jesus wasn't no Christian. Your belief systems are built upon hear say and myths that you can't even grasp. If you really had morals, you wouldn't have to stand behind your shady religions and scared belief systems. You would stand alone and fight for what you believe in. But instead, you vote with the popular opinion. That's why I find it hard to believe that any vegetarian could be a believer in a God. Meat-eating is the natural course of popular opinion, just like religion. And I for one would rather stand alone when it makes sense then to be in with the rest of you who are getting sent to the Gas Chambers cause your too dumb to fight back when the time comes. Stop deluting yourselfs. There is only one chance to prove your humanity. Your life. After that, you become close to grass............... How ironic!!! Food for cows. Life has funny way of throwing it all back to you. DOESN'T IT!!!

Posted by: Brian | March 16, 2007 04:21 PM

Ummm In his book he does reccomend that people consume less meat. You shouldn't be so quick to attack someone, it has a synergistic effect.

Posted by: jake | March 16, 2007 04:27 PM

For those wondering about God's ORIGINAL diet for man:

Genesis 1:29-30 says, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so."

So this means that God originally intended vegetarian animals too. And no killing critters mentioned. Hmm...

Also, Deutrtonomy 8:7-9: "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills."

Hmm... no mention of critters to kill and eat in this passage either. Sounds to me like God had His act together. Healthy followers and His planet kept nice. Works for me.

Posted by: Mike Conway | March 16, 2007 04:32 PM

I've been saying this for years as well, and I am remiss for not writing to Al Gore (whom I LOVE, btw) and telling him not to exclude this. I learned a long time ago that it takes 16 pounds of grain (which could be used for alternate fuel) to cycle through a cow or bull to produce one pound of meat. The meat industry is one of the most immoral, wasteful and thoughtless industries/corporations in the world. Profit is their bottom line, nothing else matters to them.

Posted by: Beverly | March 16, 2007 04:33 PM

The poster doesn't make any scents! So what if I eat meat I can't be a environmentalist? You guys are just turning people away; what are you thinking?!

Posted by: JOHNSON | March 16, 2007 04:48 PM

Even WWF or Greenpeace do not recognise what meat-eating has done to our natural resources - and governments depend on existing agriculture for the economy so nothing changes!

Posted by: Vivienne | March 16, 2007 04:51 PM

okay. Al Gore is just great. Being a vegetarian is a pretty big thing in my life but being an environmentalist is more important to me. Al Gore cares about the earth and truly I don't think eating animals has a lot to do with the earth deteriorating... but I do think a lot of methane released by animals has caused a small part of global warming. And I am not saying kill animals... just the overcrowding of animals has to stop.

Posted by: anisa | March 16, 2007 05:07 PM

Dear fellow animal advocates:

For many years I harbored a fierce opposition to meat-eating and I wasn't shy to express my opinions about it either. I was always feeling offended and disgusted. But then I started paying closer attention to way the food industry was changing. And I noticed an even more disturbing trend--the factory farm, the way animals are routinely raised for human consumption today. It's one of the most shameful capitalist ventures in our world. It's a burgeoning business and sadly, society has come to accept and embrace it--because they don't know any better. But it's not okay--it's a hideous, cruel dark stain on humanity. And so my fight has changed, too. I no longer get steamed up tilted trying to get Jane to stop eating hamburger--the odds are stacked against that and you know it--but to educate Jane about factory-farming. If she must eat meat then I'm going to steer her to a small, local farmer to get her meals from humanely-raised farm animals. Yes, they eventually are killed, too, but until then they also live a hormone-free life that is years longer than the factory cow, they frolic in the fields, eat grass, have healthy digestive systems, and live amongst their bovine brethren in clean, respectful conditions. If converting people to vegan-ism is your utmost goal, fine but one step at a time. Attacking and insisting that meat eaters stop cold-turkey isn't going to work. We are in a dire, critical place in history, folks. We need focus our attention right now on shutting down these torture chambers, these ungodly evil industrial farms for good. I mentioned a cow's life above but chickens, pigs, lambs and more all suffer at the hands of commercial farmers--and it must end. Wave your banners where it matters most. I do. Please join me. Thanks.

Posted by: valerie | March 16, 2007 05:14 PM

This is a response to Jony's apparent misinterpretation of the Bible..In the Bible, it states that people have dominion over animals...which literally means "care of" it doesn't say they are ours to eat, it says they are ours to care for!

Posted by: priscilla | March 16, 2007 05:16 PM

wow i was so proud of him for that movie and his world tour. I totally missed the fact that he forgot to mention meat eating! I reallly, really hope he goes veg.

Posted by: Art | March 16, 2007 05:45 PM

Hey Warren,
I suppose you hunt in the woods with your clawed hands to catch your dinner every night too.

Posted by: Cindy | March 16, 2007 06:20 PM

YES!!!! Wonderful. Thank you PETA. That is a great letter and thank you for sending it.

Posted by: wendy woods | March 16, 2007 06:28 PM

I wrote Al Gore several months ago about his excessive personal use of energy, and got no response. Al Gore's actions speak louder than his words, which is sad. Keep after him, PETA. I hope you get a response.

Posted by: Pete Glasier | March 16, 2007 06:30 PM

I agree with Melissa that Al Gore can't do everything. He's made a HUGE difference and for that I am at his feet.

I also applaud animal rights activists for their efforts - but going vegan alone isn't going to save the planet either - anymore than switching to a hybrid is going to save us. (I personally believe we're beyond saving and it's just a matter of time before we destroy the human species - but that's another discussion thread entirely.)

As for me, I am a true animal lover, and, I eat meat. The facts are that in nature there is a food chain, animals killing animals for food. Humans do the raising and killing of animals for food it in despicable and inhumane ways - which absolutely needs to be changed - and I am working to change that. I have tried many times to go vegetarian and I just can't. My body completely rejects soy products and needs meat. So, I will continue to eat meat because my body needs it to stay healthy - and - I will work to raise awareness and change conditions for the animals that we humans consume.

Posted by: DJ | March 16, 2007 06:33 PM

wow, I am a Vegan, and did it for other reasons, but knowing that being a vegan is also good for the enviroment is really good stuff! it would be really nice (probably they already know) to tell greenpeace about that study, because I have checked their website, and it seems like they need to put more enphasis on that, if all the people at greenpeace gets vegan... yeah!

Posted by: Mauricio Z | March 16, 2007 06:40 PM

As a blossoming einviromentalist and a learning vegan, i can say this.. if you CHOOSE to eat flesh of any animal or by-product that's somewhat alright with me BUT i'm still going to voice my opinions about cruelty, green house gases from animal factories, animal testing, abused pets, lack of funding for rescue crews, spaying/neutering, proper pet responsibility and so on... But the biggest thing in my humble opinion is...WE ARE THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT DRINKS ANOTHER ANIMALS COLOSTRUM AND MILK, MEAT AND ITS BY PRODUCTS HAVE SO MANY CHEMICALS, ADDITIVES, STEROIDS THAT I CANT GET PREGNANT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CHICKEN THAT I'VE CONSUMED IN MY LIFE SO FAR. I HAVE TO TAKE DRUGS TO REGULATE MY HORMONE LEVEL IN ORDER TO CONCIEVE.
if that doesn't sink in i'll post a story later about my husbands high blood pressure and the extremely realistic future that he's going to die young because of all the fat(from meat) around his heart, by the way he's not overweight)
so the next time you feel the need to oppose meat do it for ALL the right reasons... YOU and THE WORLD..

Posted by: elyseirwin | March 16, 2007 06:43 PM

I love and adore Al Gore! He has done so much for this country and world. I was one of the few that actually listened to his warnings back in 2000. Suddenly it is popular to care about the environment? Odd. But better late than never. As a vegan, I absolutely and totally agree with PETA (I LOVE all the wonderful protests they do! Great way to FORCE change!), however, Al has already pissed off the radical right, who for some unknown reason to me, refuse to acknowledge we have a problem with Mother Nature. Imagine the uproar he would cause if he also said, "Hey big macho men, you're killing the environment with that steak you're whoofing down." Macho Men Unite! If he plans to run for office he needs to reach the people in a non-threatening way. The day he announces he is a vegan and the world must also become vegans (which is true and MY ultimate agenda)that is the day I know he does not plan to run for President. And we SOOOO desperately need a THINKER in that office!! So Al, wait till you are IN office, then cut the knees off the meat industry!! XOX

Posted by: Trisha | March 16, 2007 07:02 PM

1. Someone said Al Gore owns a Lexus SUV. They left out that it's a Lexus SUV "hybrid".

2. I think Al Gore knows about the contributions of meat production to environmental pollution, and I would bet he is privately changing some of his eating habits. I think he is not publicly doing something, because he would alienate a large number of people who might otherwise do something to change their polluting habits. He's just giving folks what they are ready for, what they can handle right now. It seems to me that the majority of people can only handle small doses of change. I have a friend who's a minister. She is a vegetarian, because of the animals. She cannot preach about it, because a majority of the congregation will walk out. They tried something like this once, and it did not go over well.
I believe Al Gore needs to get the majority of the mainstream on board with "global warming" actually happening, and making changes they can tolerate before he takes it up a notch. Baby steps. The world didn't become the way it is overnight and it's not gonna change overnight.

Posted by: LT | March 16, 2007 07:21 PM

Wow, lots of good stuff here, a full blown conversation about an issue that can be complex. My family has been vegetarian since November, a move we made for health reasons and as we explored it further, found had moral and spiritual implications far beyond our initial expectations. And, all for the good. This discipline in our lives exposed other areas where we lacked such and in the interest of "practicing what we preach" as Christians, we are now pulling in the reigns on the stewardship of our finances, our home and possessions, our relationships, our bodies and our dreams.

Here's something to consider, especially if you're a follower of Christ. God did allow the consumption of meat after the flood, but His original design in Genesis commanded a vegetarian diet. If you understand Jesus' gospel at all then you'll understand that His crucifiction and resurrection provided for the salvation and redemption of people and creation, including animals and the earth and universe. For more about that theology check out Andrew Linzey's Animal Gospel and Animal Theology and Heaven, by Randy Alcorn and of course, The Holy Bible, by God.

The Apostle Paul noted in 1 Corinthians that although everything is permissable (please read the verse in its context), not all things are beneficial. So, although God permits the consumption of meat, it clearly is not beneficial if you consider the health hazards to our own bodies, the affect on the environment (aka God's creation) and the contribution it makes to world hunger and poverty (the people He loves and died for). The starving child you see on TV is not a million miles away. The grain that could have fed him was exported to the U.S. to feed the animals that feed you.

As a disciple of Christ, commanded to serve and love the widow, the orphan, the poor and the oppressed and to go into all the world and make disciples, that meat on my plate flies in the face of and is, in fact, direct disobedience to the God I profess to love above all.

Being a vegetarian is a direct expression and fulfillment of my faith and my relationship to my Savior and King. I can not be a Christian and be a meat-eater.

I wrote a lengthy blog on this (my first attempt!). If you're interested, here's the link: http://faithinaction-lstrovas.blogspot.com/

The most important thing is to start looking at the hypocrisies in our own lives rather than focusing on the ones in other's. Let our lives be our testimony, let our example speak the truth of our message. Above all, remember that none of us were born vegetarian. We were "them" not so long ago. Stand firm in the truth you know but be compassionate and understanding with those who have not yet had the blinders removed. Above all, do not judge. There is only one Judge. We may be enlightened in this one area but there are others where we are just as blind. We are under His scrutiny and will be judged according to how we judged others.

Carry on comrades and may God bless you!

Posted by: Schatze | March 16, 2007 07:52 PM

I myself am a vegetarian so I think there's nothing wrong with wanting others to do the same thing but lets face just becoming vegan isn't going to solve global warming on it's own theres much more to it than that. So try to be a little more respectful to those who are trying to change things. Yes Al Gore going vegan would be good but verbally beating the man isn't the way to go. and yes his house use alot of electricity but it's huge and it's also like an office building. I'm such all of you critizing him don't do everything you could to help the planet so make sure your doing all you can before you critize other.
remember: be the change you want to see in the world!!

Posted by: krystal | March 16, 2007 07:54 PM

Thanks for sending Al Gore a letter. I am a fan of his, and I agree challenging him is a good idea.

Posted by: HeatherShirley | March 16, 2007 08:00 PM

hahahaha!!lol

But seriously. If Al Gore starts publicizing some of this stuff, people will actually believe it. It could be a huge step for both the environmental and animal rights movements.

Posted by: Ellen | March 16, 2007 08:06 PM

I applaud previous posters who have remarked that PETA is shooting the environmental movement in the foot.

1) Eating meat is NATURAL - this is why you have canines and incisors, for tearing and rending the flesh of other living beings. If we were meant to be herbivores we would have nice flat teeth and no need for our pointy dental companions.

2) It is the process which we go through on a global scale to produce the meat in our stores that is the problem. Factory farms = bad. Eating meat = normal behavior for humans (2.5 millions years according to the fossil record) and many animals. On a sarcastic note, I've yet to meet a crocodile that wants to be a vegan. Thankfully crocodiles don't have the ability to run factory farms or we'd be blaming them for contributions to global warming.

3) It is a wonderful thing that there are people who are so moved by their love of all living things that they refuse to eat meat. I don't eat KFC, I don't want to support the process they go through to get that chicken on my plate and I applaud PETA for bringing such an atrocity to the attention of millions. It's a sad thing that many vegetarians and vegans state that anyone who eats meat is not an environmentalist. How about the nomadic people of the world who cannot forgo meat from their diet because they don't have the alternatives we do in western culture? Are they evil even though they protest governments and private firms trying to snatch up their land and destroy it for the purpose of growing crops? Eating less meat will not reduce our need for things like corn (a staple in the diet of cows) as many countries use corn to produce ethanol - though there are better methods.

4) You alienate many who would otherwise support you with unending gusto. Nice job.

Posted by: TcsCpl | March 16, 2007 08:07 PM

I felt the Inconvenient Truth truly would have been greater if Al Gore mentioned the pollution of raising animals as food, but all in all the movie did help open many eyes.

We don't have to vote him in as President just because he made the movie. In fact, I feel that if we want to further help the animals, we should vote in a man (or woman) who is a VEGETARIAN.
We would have to worry about that old saying, "Do as I say, not what I do".

I want a Vegetarian President. Wouldn't that open more eyes.

Posted by: Georgia Smith | March 16, 2007 08:08 PM

So glad to see you addressed this issue - I watched his movie and was filled with such disappointment. Waited whole way through to hear something about factory farming and its effects on the environment! Hopefully he will do something about his "omission".

Posted by: Melanie | March 16, 2007 08:34 PM

I've been wondering about this for a year--I'm so glad PETA is bringing it out in the open. Factory farming produces massive amounts of gases and uses more water than any other business. YIKES, Al, please do a sequel!!!!

Posted by: Melissa Flower | March 16, 2007 08:40 PM

I went to Mr. Gore's presentation at the University of Toronto recently and it was bloody fantastic! However, I also noticed that he did not mention the consumption of meat! That was probably the only flaw I found in his presentation.

Posted by: ToxicVelma | March 16, 2007 08:50 PM

It's funny, I sent him a letter several years ago on the same topic. He claims he wants to help the environment so being vegan makes the best sense! It is the one thing I was upset about that was missing from 'An Inconvenient Truth"

Posted by: Marie | March 16, 2007 09:15 PM

Climate Change has Algore to speak to the masses. The vegamatics - and I am one - need to leave him alone and find our own "celebrity" spokesperson.

Posted by: Ed | March 16, 2007 09:16 PM

Okay, Al Gore has done ALOT for the enviroment!

Yes it I agree the animal slaughtering industry is horrible but trhere are ALOT of other people covering that!

That would be like me saying that "Hey PETA has done ALOT for animal rights, but they need to pitch in to the efforts of those suffering in 3rd world countries!"

Peta is focused on animals

Al Gore is focused on the enviroment

Just like I am more focused on human rights!

Just leave him alone, he's a good man and he doesn't neeed anyone critizing him after all he's been through.

Posted by: katie | March 16, 2007 09:55 PM

I've been so frustrated that the Australian media refuses to tackle the issue that animal agribusiness is unsustainable in Australia (Not to mention unethical & cruel). We have made numerous requests to many media sources and there has not been one mention in the hundreds of almost daily reports about the drought. The Australian drought is intractable, and animal agribusiness just contributes to global warming (and out serious water shortages) which in turn creates the drought. The government also ignores this issue as they profit from the animal's suffering. When is PETA going to set up in Australia. We need you here desparately. :)

Posted by: Trisha | March 16, 2007 10:54 PM

I Mr Gore listens up. I'm a Canadian fan of his and hope he becomes a vegetarian.
Practice what you preach Mr. Gore!
From Beautiful Vancouver!

Posted by: Paul Thandi | March 16, 2007 11:05 PM

I was appalled when the only mention of Meat in "Inconvenient Truth" was a flash on the screen in the "tips" section in the closing part. I thought to myself "That's IT?! OMG." For someone producing a documentary with that name, he sure is afraid of what is incovenient for him -- or what will make him seem like a "radical." It's a shame -- we're SO close to the truth ... but everyone is afraid to take a bite out of this one.

Posted by: Amy Hartman | March 17, 2007 12:21 AM

Well, everything that everyone has said are all, or most of them, are good points. When i read through all the comments I hear good things and I also hear people bashing Al gore or others. The problem with the world is that we dont work together. Al gore is the man putting this into order. He is the one that is going to make the world work together at a common cause. He is a true hero and people who bash him are being very disrespectfful and are being conceded from lack of knowledge. And when people are fighting over what is the matter with Al Gore or bashing on religions, it all doesnt matter. The whole point of helping the earth is not to just live but not to be the idiotic race that killed themselves. Al Gore realizes this and is trying to fix it. Eating animals and farms do pollute a lot and for the world to realize tha would be great, but the sad thing is not everyone will. So we have to help these people realize this and not bash them. If we all just help one person stop eating meat or to recycle a little more. The world will slowly grow less conceded and more giving. We just need to work together and stop fighting. Fghting goes no where and never will. We all just need to stop hug and get to work on helping the Earth. We can do this.

Posted by: Eric | March 17, 2007 12:33 AM

It upsets me that some people on here think that it's too late and that we should give up with the whole global warming movement. The average person emits 7.5 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year- I emit 4.2. Although that's still a lot, it's just over half of what the average person does. (you can calculate yours at www.climatecrisis.com) Now, if everyone were more environmentally concious, we could cut down the CO2 emitted from everyone in the world in half... so don't tell me solar power, riding your bike and hybrid cars don't make a different because they do. And it does save animals lives when we do these things because animals live in the same world that we do and the impact we make on the world with our habits can save every living thing on this planet. Oh, and the calculations don't even include if people went vegetarian (I'm one). And although Al Gore is a "hypocrite", he stepped up and is devoting his life to change the future for mankind. Even if he is a hypocrite because he eats meat (and apparently uses a lot of energy? that's hard to believe...), no one would even know or care about Global Warming if it weren't for him. Now he's going global and addressing congress about global warming and the entire world is climate-concious now. It amazes me the impact he has made on this subject and I do respect him. I really do hope he'll discuss vegetarianism and the impact it has on global warming because I agree it would make a huge difference and it's odd he eats meat.

Posted by: Kristin | March 17, 2007 12:59 AM

I wish people would stop criticizing Al Gore for being a "hypocritical environmentalist."

The fact that the meat industry ends up producing greenhouse gas is NOT common knowledge; which is why I think it is good that PETA wrote Gore a letter informing him of it.

I consider myself an intelligent, fairly well-informed individual, and I did not know about the link between raising animals for food and greenhouse gases.

We would have to ask Gore personally if he already knew about the animal/greenhouse gas connection and chose to leave it out of "An Inconvenient Truth" in order to accuse him fairly of lying.

Posted by: Liz B. | March 17, 2007 01:37 AM

how come nobody makes a comparison between joaquin phoenix and his documentary EARTHLINGS, which by the way should have been nominated for the oscars!!!!!!

the taste for meat turns people selfish, no doubt about it...

phoenix does address the environmental issue but he's less "politically correct".

Posted by: emme | March 17, 2007 09:20 AM

I did not know that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than anything else. Already a vegetarian most of my life, I feel even more secure in it now! You should send the same letter to Leonardo DiCaprio as he is coming out with his own feature length documentary about the environment called, "The Eleventh Hour." He also has his own eco website. Thanks for all the good work you do!

Posted by: Cheryl Stoliker | March 17, 2007 10:24 AM

Mr.Gore,
The world is watching you on the Internet and talking about the good you do for the environment. But it appears that you left one MAJOR thing out like ignoring the fact that the devastation caused by the meat industry is among the worst environmental disasters ever to happen to the world. Please do something about this issue.

Posted by: Denise Parnell | March 17, 2007 11:14 AM

Hooray! AGore... comes from Big Tobacco and more recently Beef Farming... Black Angus if I recall Global Warming right... where he admits his family farms the Black Angus for human ...cough, ugh... world is so unfocused... bigoted against animals... consumption.

Posted by: Eric Ekstrom | March 17, 2007 11:15 AM

I met Al Gore briefly at a Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco in December, and gave him my business card with a specific note to contact me as a scientist (vegan geologist) to discuss veganism and its positive effect on the environment. So far he has not, hopefully this will help get his attention - thanks PETA :)

Posted by: Chris Hundemer | March 17, 2007 11:43 AM

This is such old news, it makes me sick. For years and years, the world has been told the horrific impact raising food animals has on this planet, and I wonder if they will EVER listen.
I have been a vegan for almost 30 years, and proud that I don't add to the ruination of our planet

Posted by: anne helm | March 17, 2007 11:52 AM

Al Gore’s statements, documentary and motives should be scrutinized. He is a public figure and a politician therefore his agenda is open to discussion. His merits if sound should be applauded but just because he is raising awareness about our ecological crisis does not make him a demigod.

The meat industry is one of the greatest contributors to environmental damage. It is imperative that an outspoken advocate that generates millions of dollars for his advocacy be confronted about this side of the issue. It is a major point that he “conveniently” leaves out of his debate.

If he were truly objective he would most certainly discuss it even if he continued to choose to consume animal products. It is irresponsible that he chooses to ignore the unethical atrocities of factory farming.

I think PETA acted accordingly and tactfully.

Posted by: am | March 17, 2007 12:11 PM

i agree with al gore's speech

Posted by: stephanie | March 17, 2007 01:49 PM

I appreciate Al Gore and what he is trying to do--get the word out about global warming. Raising animals for meat is really a big part of this.

Posted by: Marjorie Hass | March 17, 2007 02:49 PM

HERE IT IS .....the general masses eat meat the movie and book were made for them and as you can see from dear mr Gores girth he is one of them..and yes he eats flesh and should stop ...he has done good work ..but he would of gotten nowhere if he would of stated any animal rights messages in the project...that is why we are here to move it forward and stop being so nasty ...sometimes a lot of you sound like daddy didnt leave the money for your new cel bill....write mr gore and ask him politely to stop eating meat.... i just did....thanks elgin lee baker

Posted by: elgin lee baker | March 17, 2007 04:27 PM

well, i don't know if anyone here has posted a comment about this yet, however in the book "an inconvenient truth" there is a list if ways to help the environment and one of them is to cut meat from your diet, now it doesn't directly say go vegetarian, but it is mentioned.

Posted by: cee | March 17, 2007 04:53 PM

right on dana ! amber you have no idea, too bad

Posted by: rc | March 17, 2007 05:13 PM

I fully agree with Michael Carpathios, M.D., the ones really need to be focusing on here are those who are doing ZERO to protect the environment. I'm sure Mr. Gore has a lot on his plate right now..heh.. irony! I'm sure he'll make the change when the time comes. Lets not barrage him with activist emails just yet.

Posted by: Yonathan | March 17, 2007 06:24 PM

Thats great this is published, now I have my arguments to the friends who say, "what will happen to all those animals, if we dont eat them?" sorta questions. I am an environmental manager and a strict vegetarian, no-silk, no-leather person from India/Singapore. Change has to be at grassroots, even if someone is talking at a high/broader level "climate change". I am a fan of Al. This is good and meaningful addendum to what he says. Great work PETA ! Will pass the word around.

Posted by: Anbu | March 17, 2007 07:25 PM

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I believe that instead of negatively criticizing Al Gore all of you should applaud his efforts and respect the man for that. So what that he is not a vegan or a vegetarian? Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe he needs to be educated in regards to how the meat industry is actually polluting the earth. I'm tired of imbeciles that love to criticize, but never offer a solution to solve the problem. And always remember that Rome was not built in one day. If you ask me, the man is putting his life in the line by inconveniencing all of the politicians and all of the oil companies out there. This politicians and oil companies as very powerful and can make a person disappear. Al Gore is putting himself out there and exposing all of those who are ruining the earth. In the end, he will only do so much, but if everyone does their part the earth will have a chance to heal from all of the havoc that we as humans have caused. I don't care what any of you idiots think, but you and everyone else has contributed indirectly or directly to the earth pollution. Did it ever ocurr to all of you that by using a computer to type your stupid, idiotic, whining comments you are contributing to pollution? Did it ever occur to all of you that by using electricity to power your computers, laptops and even your houses that you are contributing to the earth's pollution? Did it ever occur to you that by using plastic, metal, microwaves, cell phones, and so on, you are contributing to the earth's pollution? Hell no!!! Because you self-righteous idiots only see one side of the picture, just like Al Gore only side one side of the picture. So instead of bashing on him, why don't we all put our brains together so we can all see the overall picture and care for the earth that our creator gave us? Think before you speak and criticize other people's efforts.

Posted by: Mario | March 17, 2007 11:28 PM

OK SERIOUSLY GUYS, some chemistry lessons. ruminates produce Methan, thats CH4, its not CO2. infact its 20 times worse. so yes basically mass production of food stock is worse than all of LA essensially. but its actually the dead fields (large fields used to grow the feed for the cattle and such) that are a manor problem too. Also that said the production of vegtables and fruit (unless done by hand and organically) also adds significantly to CO2 emmissions, and aswell as this pestisides and fertilizers used in agriculture are made from oil. it is easy to go one way or the other. environmentalism has to be realistic. and unfortuantly must take into concideratin economics too. And would u all stop being so bitchy at each other. we all love the animals and we all love the environment, so lets fight the ppl threatening them, and not each other

Posted by: Richard | March 18, 2007 04:14 AM

Good job PETA.
Did he answered yet?

Katja =)

Posted by: Katja Pavlovic | March 18, 2007 06:18 AM

How dare Al Gore try to make positive social change in an area besides animal rights! I say we throw hamburgers at him until he stops!... No. How can you demand he support your cause if you can't support his? We should applaud him for trying to make a difference, instead of shooting him down. In the US, most people are so self-absorbed they can't do anything but drive around their big gas-guzzling trucks and SUV's, while chowing down on whatever living being's rights they happen to have violated today, on their way to their boring corporate America job so they can earn more money, so they can waste even more precious resources. Those are the people we should be trying to reach!

Posted by: Connor | March 18, 2007 08:50 AM

Okay, I know this site is 100% against animal cruelty, and so am I, but I have to say, TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO EAT MEAT IS UNREALISTIC!!!!

Al Gore might listen, but millions of others won't. The thing is, we should be objecting to animals being CRUELLY slaughtered for meat, and not saying 'dont eat them at all', because if it is done quickly and humanely, there shouldnt really be a problem. I agree that some animals shouldnt be consumed, (eg dogs) but that is just my culture.

Instead of saying to Asian countries 'DONT EAT MEAT AT ALL', we should be saying 'FINE! EAT IT THEN, WE CANT STOP YOU, AND YOU WONT STOP YOURSELVES! BUT MAKE SURE YOU DONT MAKE IT BLOODY SUFFER LIKE YOU USUALLY WOULD!!' Dont you think we would get a better reaction if we asked, firstly, for the animals to be treated humanely before and during their deaths, (for food only--not vanity) rather than going a tad over the top by demanding that the whole world convert to veganism?

TAKE BABY STEPS, NOT GIANT LEAPS!! ONE THING AT A TIME!!

I eat meat becoz I like it, but I make sure I get freerange as often as i can, and I dont eat from KFC or other places where I know that the animals have been mistreated. In Australia, we treat the animals in the abattoirs with as much decency as possible (or so Ive been told, by family members), so they die painlessly.

I happen to know that there are several celebrities/actors who are serious animal-rights-activists who still eat meat...why? because theyre being realistic!! I cant handle seeing animals in pain, but if theyre being killed HUMANELY, for the RIGHT reasons (eg food), then what's the problem?

Now, I know i probably havent convinced anyone, but im urging you, for the sake of these needlessly suffering animals: dont expect too much from people--dont tell everyone to ditch meat or theyll think you're as nuts as those people who doorknock and try to sell you Bibles. Ask for humane treatment, first and foremost.

I know this was long, but i needed to say it. I hope i havent offended anyone by my post, coz it seriously wasnt my intention.

Thanks,
Tiffany.

Posted by: Tiffany | March 18, 2007 10:05 AM

Yonathan, I gat asked those kind of questions too, but I really hate when people are like "you need the protien, your gonna get sick." I mean do some research, theres other ways of getting protien. I'm actually very happy with Peta pointing this out, I think if Al Gore really wants to be a environmentalist, he should go vegan or at the very least vegetarian, but it's his choice.

Posted by: Keira | March 18, 2007 02:08 PM

Just how much HOT AIR d