Re: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

In many cases, "vegatarianism" is not a lifestyle choice as it is in America, but rather is an economic necessity. Certain economies are simply not set up to supply the population with meat. In these cases, it becomes very expensive -- food only for the elite classes. In other cases, diet is part of a religious belief system. I would be interested to hear about other parts of the world where "vegetarianism" is associated with morality (at least in the eyes of those who choose to practice).