I am beginning to swallow the hard truth that life will not return to "normal" once this virus presumably peaks and the quarantine lifts. COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, is not the first nor will it be the last threat to humanity. It is a symptom of biological collapse on the planet; a warning sign that we are misaligned with nature. With this in mind, I sought to understand how humans played a role in causing this pandemic.
Where exactly did we go wrong? To answer this question, I studied the history of human disease and pandemics from
Dr. Neal Barnard and
Dr. Michael Greger. I reasoned that if we could learn from the past and identify the
root cause of the problem, perhaps we could understand how to
prevent these situations from happening again. Here's what I found...
The history of human disease can be grouped into three major periods:
- 10,000 years ago: infectious disease began with the domestication of animals
- 18th—19th century: Industrial Revolution gave rise to chronic disease
- 1975—present: emerging plagues develop as we change the way animals live
According to the United Nations, the two greatest threats to our species are climate change and infectious disease (i.e., pandemic influenza). Historically, most viruses have come from animals. For example, the influenza pandemic of 1918—one of the worst plagues in human history—was triggered by the domestication of birds when influenza A (H1N1) passed from a wild duck into a flock of domesticated birds, and subsequently to humans.
Infectious disease seemed to be eradicated by the mid-20th century with the development of antibiotics and vaccines. However, mortality started to creep back up in 1975 as farming practices changed. An increasing demand for animal protein led to exotic animal markets and intensified land use and agriculture (i.e., factory farming). The grotesque and stressful conditions in which animals are raised and slaughtered today are
breeding grounds for disease. 80% of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are given to farm animals to maximize animal growth by controlling bacterial populations. As a result, bacteria are becoming resistant to these drugs, rendering them infective on humans—a major public health concern. The agriculture and pharmaceutical industries have monetary interests in keeping this practice alive. Biosecurity practices are also declining in order to cut industry costs.
In order to reduce the risk of future influenza pandemics, the UN recommends decreasing the consumption of chickens and factory farms by replacing large industrial units with smaller scale versions. This shift in animal farming practices would likely prevent other viruses as well, such as the coronavirus. Researchers believe that COVID-19 began in China's live animal markets—the same origin of the SARS coronavirus outbreak in 2003. These markets may soon reopen due to economic pressure, thereby facilitating future viral outbreaks.
I made a decision to stop eating animals three years ago after embarking on a lifelong self-study of nutritional and environmental science. I was overwhelmed by the scientific evidence supporting the idea that a plant-based diet could not only fuel the human body, but also nourish the planet. A vegan lifestyle conveniently checks all of the boxes, which has become one of my core beliefs. Although everyone should be free to make their own choices, with the survival of our species at stake, I feel empowered to inspire change.
The impact of global quarantine has reassured me of two things: that people can change and that the planet can recover. In fact,
Dr. Sailesh Rao has recently shown that we could sequester more carbon on the land that is freed up from animal agriculture than all of the carbon added to the atmosphere from fossil fuel burning and land use changes since 1750. In this way, he is optimistic that we can reverse climate change. Isn't it curious that a vegan world could significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the two greatest threats to humanity?
Without judgement, it is time to accept that how we treat animals is creating public health implications. International cooperation is needed to dispel live animal markets and factory farms. Leah Garcés with
Mercy For Animals is advocating to create a compassionate food system by collaborating
with the farmers. Nobody on the planet is unaffected by this health crisis; let us collectively foster change to alter the course of history. Money may run the world, but there will not be a world for humans if we do not change.
"The idea that some lives matter less
is the root of all that is wrong with the world."
—Paul Farmer
