International Vegetarian Union (IVU)
IVU logo

Congress Logo 33rd World Vegetarian Congress
Chiang Mai, Thailand, January 4 - 10, 1999
'Vegetarianism is the Way'
an unforgettable visual, cultural and gastronomic experience

Dr. Khosrow Taheri , B.Sc., D.C., M.D., M.P.H.

Postgraduated in specialties developmental pediatrics and internal medicine from London University, UK. Preventive medicine, public health, nutrition, University of California Los Angeles, USA. Formerly lecturer at UCLA. Professor of clinical and alternative medicine. Portland and Seattle, Director of Health for the Body, Mind-Soul and Environment, Institute of Education and Research. International activities for efforts to establish programmers for seizing female genital mutilation where 120 million females are affected. Aids prevention. Volunteer in Hollywood Sunset free clinic. International lecturing on the above subjects.

Vegetarianism : an Economic, Social and Ecologial Necessity

This paper and talk is focusing on the many aspects of widely spread irresponsible way of utilization of land and its resources for production of human food. In particular in the western countries, ignoring the ethical and moral values concerning producing and marketting.

Complexity of human mind and the desire in achieving vain imaginations, specifically the material aspect has caused profound distraction in the balance of ecosystem, through exhausting the limited resources, unmanageable waste materials, destruction and extinction of many species of plant and animal in land and marine life, utilization of pesticides an harmful fertilizers, genetic engineering and its devastating impact on our crops and food which have created a toxic environment and are responsible for many different diseases such as; digestive systems, numerous different cancers, examples of the degenerative diseases particularly seen on the nervous system such as the bovine spongiform encephalitis and scrapie amongst others in mankind, acid rain and many different parasites attacking the trees.

The wrong method of production of energy, exhausting resources, the pollution's and as a result of this it is putting the earth and its habitats at risk. This behavior of a small percentage of the earth's population who have the power and technology, have marginalised greater population who are relying on the old method to poorer, less able, more dependent on the western power and up to an point that are not able to feed themselves. There conditions have created such a trauma on the man and earth, that on arriving in the 21st century we are in need of intensive care unit for planet and its inhabitants.