The document discusses the various motivations for becoming a vegetarian, including health, environmental, economic and ethical reasons. Health motivations include avoiding chemicals/hormones in meat and reducing risks of chronic diseases. Environmental reasons include conserving water and reducing pollution, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture. Ethical reasons involve reducing animal suffering and slaughter. Some statistics provided include that 32% of Americans choose a vegetarian diet for health and 15% to avoid hormones/chemicals in meat. [/SUMMARY]

1. Vegetarianism So Fresh, So Green

3. Most important reason for becoming a vegetarian in the United States, 2002 http://flickr.com/photos/cajie/2425523656/ Health 32% Because of chemicals and hormones in meat products 15% Don't like the taste of meat 13% Love of animals 11%

4. / http://flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2222523486/ TIME/CNN POLL: Reasons for choosing a vegetarian lifestyle Animal rights 10% Religious reasons 6% Concern for the planet 4% To lose weight 3% To reduce hunger and famine worldwide 1%

5. "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." -Albert Einstein Health Benefits

10. Moral, Human Condition By reducing the amount of meat you consume, you will decrease the number of animals slaughtered. How many animals do you eat in a given year? T h e time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men. ” -Leonardo Da Vinci http://flickr.com/photos/aasgier/489526907/

11. "The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?" -Jeremy Bentham, philosopher http://flickr.com/photos/hthg1983/1519121063/ By reducing the amount of meat you consume, you will reduce animal suffering .

13. Environmental "We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things connect.” Chief Seattle Photo by poonomo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ickypoo/764486170/sizes/o/