Most people don't think that what they put on their plates has an effect on the environment. But it is HUGE!
Meat production is extremely inefficient. One acre of land yearly can produce 40,000 lbs of potatoes, 50,000 lbs of tomatoes, or just 250 lbs of beef.
That's because first we have to grow the grain to feed the animals! Did you know that if Americans reduced their meat consumption by just 10%, enough grain could be saved to feed all 60,000,000 people who die of hunger each year?
The energy required to produce a single hamburger is enough to drive a small car 20 miles. Why is meat so cheap then? Because of government subsidies. We're actually paying for meat when we pay our taxes ... (and of course we know how our government pays for things) ... If not for subsidies, a pound of hamburger would cost about $35. If meat sold at its real market value, think of how much healthier we would be!!
Did you know that we are tearing down rain forests in Central America to convert it to grazing land to raise beef for American and European plates? Between 1960 and 1985 alone, 40% of all Central American rain forests were destroyed to create cheap grazing land. We're losing trees and biodiversity ...
Livestock are also responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured on carbon dioxide equivalent (a higher amount than transportation), and almost 2/3 of anthropogenic ammonia emissions. This contributes to global warming, acid rain, and acidification of ecosystems.
Raising animals requires much more water, and is probably the biggest sectoral source of water pollution. It's also depleting our topsoil, which is a huge deal and is historically responsible for the demise of great civilizations.
This is the last reason I'm going to post as I end my Veg Week.
Changing our diets can go a long way toward saving our own health, and the life-supporting capacity of our planet!
P.S. Try these books!
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