Help the Environment: Eat Less Meat
October 16th 2007 00:21
Methane has a warming effect 21 times greater than carbon dioxide, according to the environmental organization, Earth Save. Eighty-five percent of methane in the environment was produced in the digestive tract of livestock. The Worldwatch Institute (WI) states that animal agriculture has increased by 60% in the last 50 years. Beef and livestock consumption in the U.S. has tripled since 1970, and in Asia it has more than doubled, according to WI.
Fast food consumption accounts for a large part of overall meat consumption. Eric Schlosser noted in his book Fast Food Nation, “Americans now spend more money on fast food—$110 billion a year—than they do on higher education. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music—combined.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a report November 2006 about the causes of global warming. Henning Steinfeld, the senior author of the report, said, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems.”
The FAO report found that livestock cause 18% of green-house gas emissions, including nine percent of all CO2 emissions, 37% of methane, and 65% of nitrous oxide. Transportation causes less emissions than livestock.
The FAO report also noted that between 1970 and 2002 the meat consumption per capita annually in developing countries increased from 24 lbs. to 64 lbs.
Twenty tons of livestock manure is produced in a year for every household in the U.S., according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) state that animal agriculture produces 130 times the excrement that humans do.
Author of The Food Revolution, John Robbins, estimates that “you’d save more water by not eating a pound of California beef than you would by not showering for an entire year.”
“We definitely take up more environmental space when we eat meat,” noted Barbara Bramble from the National Wildlife Federation. “I think it’s consistent with environmental values to eat lower on the food chain.”
Fast food consumption accounts for a large part of overall meat consumption. Eric Schlosser noted in his book Fast Food Nation, “Americans now spend more money on fast food—$110 billion a year—than they do on higher education. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music—combined.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a report November 2006 about the causes of global warming. Henning Steinfeld, the senior author of the report, said, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems.”
The FAO report found that livestock cause 18% of green-house gas emissions, including nine percent of all CO2 emissions, 37% of methane, and 65% of nitrous oxide. Transportation causes less emissions than livestock.
The FAO report also noted that between 1970 and 2002 the meat consumption per capita annually in developing countries increased from 24 lbs. to 64 lbs.
Twenty tons of livestock manure is produced in a year for every household in the U.S., according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) state that animal agriculture produces 130 times the excrement that humans do.
Author of The Food Revolution, John Robbins, estimates that “you’d save more water by not eating a pound of California beef than you would by not showering for an entire year.”
“We definitely take up more environmental space when we eat meat,” noted Barbara Bramble from the National Wildlife Federation. “I think it’s consistent with environmental values to eat lower on the food chain.”
| 67 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
