In honor of Earth Day today, we're going to explore exactly how much we can shrink our carbon footprint by adopting a more plant-based diet. Did you know that factory-farming of animal products is the number two cause of environmental destruction in the United States? (First is airline travel.)
Livestock factories are also responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases (which is more than the worldwide production from transportation). This means that by eating meat, you are doing more damage to the environment than driving your car! In fact, the energy it takes to raise, slaughter, and drive meat across the country, having a 16-oz T-bone is comparible to driving a Hummer. In a recent Time magazine article, I even learned that by going vegan I cut out 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide! If I traded in my Altima for a hybrid, I would only be cutting out 1 million. Livestock are also responsible for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems.
There are so many more ways the environment is bearing the toll of meat. The rainforest is suffering from our meat-lust. 70% of previously forrested areas in the Amazon is now pasture for your Big Mac. This is contributing to the decline of several species of animals. Our water supply is being wasted and contaminated by mass pork operations. We are overfishing the world's waters and are therefore devasting the aquatic food chain. And perhaps, most horribly, some hog farms release so many toxic fumes that it actually makes their neighbors sick and forces them to wear gas masks (just think of how much the animals must suffer)!
It is so easy to reverse this destruction. The next time you are out with your friends or family, opt for a meal with no meat. Check out your local farmers' market, or if you are really ambitious, look for a produce co-op in your area. Whatever you do, think about the future of the planet we live on. I, for one, want my children to have a healthy earth where they can go outside without fear of asthma or acid rain and still have the land that is going to be covered up if we allow the polar icecaps to melt.
Eat vegan, eat local, and save our planet! For more information, please check out:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/article/0,28804,1602354_1603074_1603171,00.html
http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/environment.html
http://www.sierraclub.com/factoryfarms/factsheets/
Or buy/borrow the book "Veggie Revolution" by Sally Kneidel and Sara Kate Kneidel (It's a really great, fun read!)
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4 comments:
Interesting take on the vegan-lifestyle choice. Many choose the route because of "animal rights," but I think a eco-friendly approach may attract more people because it can be more-widely accepted.
Though, still not enough to pull me from my meat-eating ways.
We're not asking you to give up meat entirely; we're not that arrogant OR that ambitious. We're just suggesting that maybe you don't need to eat it at every meal.
Don't be such a republican, Jeff. :-P
Do any of you have a response to the recent article about the Vegan parents who are facing a life sentence for murdering their child?
He died at 3 1/2 pounds because of being fed a diet of Soy Milk and Apple Juice.
Not to be accusing, I am just wondering what thoughts you might have (and perhaps hinting that you need to blog a little more!).
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=185948
Hello, I live in greenville and I appreciate your blog! I would like to meet more people in our area who are into animal rights and veganism. my email address is lauraleighsmith@hotmail.com. If you know of any groups, etc just let me know. :)
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