Counsels on Wellness

Counsel #3 — Nutrition For A Green Planet

Picture: Counsel #3 — Nutrition For A Green Planet CWe 65.1

Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. By opting for a plant-based diet, you're actively reducing your environmental footprint. Plant-based protein production requires considerably less land and water compared to raising livestock, potentially freeing up vast tracts of land. Additionally, factory farming practices often contribute to antibiotic resistance and water contamination. Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is a conscious decision to protect our planet for future generations and preserve the world God has created.^[77] CWe 65.2

“Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV CWe 65.3

“Through [God’s people] the Lord designed to teach all the nations of the world how to cultivate the soil so that it would yield healthy fruit, free from disease…” Ellen White in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1112 CWe 65.4

Reflect: Genesis 1:26 references God giving dominion over animals to humans. How do you interpret this passage in relation to responsible food choices and environmental stewardship? Does “dominion” mean exploitation or caregiving? CWe 65.5