A few views a bit avante-garde a bit scandalous the film does not expose include the view that most planets in outer-space develop complex life in a harmonious multi-specie-ial way and other species on planet Terra could adapt to a lifestyle maintaining horticulture in reservations as well as empty city plots where such creatures are welcome. They don't have to die. As a consequence of the first view, such species may hold deeply cultural vegetarian sentiments so strong they might compare to the sentiments which have led large people's to war in the known histories of human-kind such as the spread of law and literacy which motivated Genghis Khan and Alexander with their followers in their massive campaigns of war. The second view is more of an ideal than speculation, as animals have already helped humans in their plant agriculture in ways that didn't require their deaths even if those opportunities have faded out as oxen pulling plows and turning mills have been replaced first by water- and wind- wheels then more by steam engines then practically all by gas- and electric- machinery. Other animals played their own roles too, however often in more inventive smaller scale ways that required more training and farmers each had their own approaches, especially since when enlisting the aid of animals in plant farming was once popular not all the same animals lived in all the same regions of the world, so Nordic farmers had goats guard crops while Egyptians had eagles do the same very differently.

This documentary is a great overview.

A lot of vegetarian documentaries (especially the more recent ones circulated on the internet) focus heavily on morality and the atrocities of the slaughterhouse. While being valid points, these concepts frighten off a lot of curious omnivores. THE VEGETARIAN WORLD is a rather tame introduction to the idea of vegetarianism which I would recommend to all ages and all levels of sensitivity.

There are a few slaughterhouse scenes, and there is a particulary upsetting scene of a cow being murdered (really, there is no other word to describe it; you'll see). But these are only brief clips, and they are not gratuitous at all. The majority of this 28-minute documentary is dedicated to exploring vegetarian cultures around the world, health aspects, and the historical perspectives of famous vegetarians. It focuses mainly on the positive rather than the negative.

Unfortunately, the quality of video is only about a C+ in that it is old and probably transferred from VHS. Don't bother with the 33mb download. If you have the bandwidth, download the full 300mb mpg for best viewing.

And yes, William Shatner IS a vegetarian. :)