Vegetarians Gaining Followers in Meat-Loving Argentina

阿根廷素食主义人群逐渐扩大

Argentina is one of the world's leaders in beef consumption. Many people there love to eat meat.

阿根廷是牛肉消费的大国之一。很多阿根廷人都喜欢吃肉。

But the country's meat-eating tradition is being threatened by a growing number of vegetarians and vegans, especially among young people.

不过，阿根廷的吃肉传统正在受到越来越多素食者和严守素食主义者的威胁，尤其是这样的年轻人。

A recent online questionnaire found that six out of every ten Argentines are willing to stop eating beef.

最近，一项网上问卷发现——六成阿根廷人都愿意不再吃牛肉。

Adrián Bifaretti is head of marketing at the Institute for the Promotion of Beef. He wrote a report about the online survey.

艾德里安·毕法雷迪是牛肉推广协会的市场部负责人。他就这项在线调查写了一份报告。

Bifaretti noted that the findings show a growing cultural divide. The younger generations "have grown up amid the debate over abortion in Congress; inclusion, gender equality ... These collective questions have started to gain weight in decisions about the purchase of foods," he said.

毕法雷迪认为，问卷的发现表明文化差异正在扩大。年轻人长大的过程伴随着国会对堕胎的讨论；包容性、性别平等……这些问题对于人们在决定购买什么食物的时候也开始起了作用，他这样说道。

The Chamber of Commerce for Beef and its Derivatives reported in July that Argentines are consuming on average 50 kilograms of beef a year. That number represents what it calls the lowest level of meat consumed in the country's history.

牛肉及衍生物商会7月在报告中指出——阿根廷人每年平均消费50公斤牛肉。这个数字是阿根廷史上牛肉消费水平的最低值。

This concern about cruelty and slaughter is here and is going to be felt, Bifaretti said. He added that movements from other parts of the world are arriving in Argentina. "It is starting to be a challenge," he said.

毕法雷迪表示，“关于残酷和屠杀的担忧就在这里，人们会感觉到的。”毕法雷迪补充说，世界其他地方的运动也传播到阿根廷了。这开始成为一种挑战了，他这样说道。

The cultural divide was clear several weeks ago when animal activists gathered near an event at the Buenos Aires Rural Society. They were met by cattle ranchers who charged at them on horses.

几周前，当动物活动人士聚集在布宜诺斯艾利斯乡村协会的一场活动附近时，这种文化差异就很明显了。他们遭到牧牛人的袭击，牧牛人骑着马向他们冲去。

Much of the anti-beef activism comes from vegans.

许多反牛肉运动是由纯素食主义者发起的。

Veganism developed as a movement in London during World War II. It is based on a diet free of animal products. Vegans also reject animal labor or use of animals in scientific experiments.

素食主义是第二次世界大战期间在伦敦兴起的一场运动。素食主义是基于不吃含有动物产品的饮食结构。素食主义者也反对畜力劳役以及在科学实验中使用动物。

There are no official numbers in Argentina. But Adrian Bifaretti's group estimates vegans and vegetarians represent 7% to 8% of the population.

阿根廷方面没有官方数据。但是艾德里安·毕法雷迪的小组估计纯素食者和素食者占全国人口的7%到8%。

I don't love eating animals, said Melissa Aruj, a 25-year-old. "Without a doubt, I estimate that in 10 to 15 years a large part (of the population) will be vegetarian."

25岁的梅丽莎·阿鲁(Melissa Aruj)表示：“我不喜欢吃动物。毫无疑问，我估计在10到15年内，很大一部分(人)将成为素食者。”

I don't know if they will be vegan, she added. The change will be "little by little."

她补充道：“我不知道他们是否会成为素食主义者。但改变将一点一点的发生。”

A group of young people from the animal liberation group Voicot held a protest on a recent Saturday. They gathered at the entrance to a meat-processing center in Buenos Aires.

最近一个周六，动物解放组织Voicot的一群年轻人举行了抗议活动。他们聚集在布宜诺斯艾利斯一家肉类加工中心的入口处。

It makes me very sad. Words are not enough for me to apologize to the animals because they have miserable lives. They are born with a date to die, said one protester, Jazmín Romero.

这让我感到很悲伤。对我来说，跟动物做言语上的道歉是不够的，因为动物的生活十分凄苦。他们生来就注定要死去，一位名叫贾斯明·罗梅罗的示威者如是说道。

She wore clothing with the words: "We are the species threatening to destroy everything."

她穿的衣服上写了字：我们人类是威胁着要摧毁一切的物种。

On the other side of the divide, many Argentines see eating beef as part of their history and culture.

文化差异的另一面是很多将吃牛肉作为阿根廷历史和文化一部分的人。

We aren't talking about killing the animal for sport. The animal is being transformed into food, said Bifaretti. "It has been like this throughout the history of humanity."

我们讨论的并不是为了好玩儿而宰杀动物。动物已经成为食物的一部分，毕法雷迪如是说道。人类历史长河中一直都是如此。

I'm John Russell.

约翰·拉塞尔为您播报。

（来源：小e英语）