Archive for September 22nd, 2008
Climate Change
Eating meat is the single leading cause of global warming, which is one of the main causes of the unprecedented ice melts in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
The most devastating effect of rising temperatures and melting ice is the release of 400 gigatons of methane gas from the ocean seabed. This gas, in such huge quantities, is enough to end life on Earth as we know it.
Climate change could release unexpectedly huge stores of carbon dioxide from Arctic soils, which would in turn fuel a vicious circle of global warming.
The production and consumption of cheeseburgers in the U.S. during 1 year produces as much greenhouse gas emissions as the amount emitted by up to 19.6 million 4WDs in the U.S.
RESOURCES: Methane Burps: Ticking Time Bomb (Energy Bulletin) March Supports Vegetarianism as Climate Solution (Scoop) Global warming time bomb trapped in Arctic soil: study (AFP)
1.2 Billion suffer from Hunger
Starvation
Every 2.3 seconds, a child dies from malnutrition.
The 760 million tonnes of grain fed to animals could cover the global food shortage 14 times.
1 hectare of land produces:
- potatoes to support 22 people
- rice to support 19 people
- lamb to support 2 people
- beef to support 1 person
Malnutrition costs US$ 20-30 billion a year globally.
RESOURCES: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2006 Lester R. Brown, Outgrowing the Earth, chap. 3, W.W. Norton & Co., 2005 WHO/FAO, Diet, nutrition, and the prevention of chronic disease. (Report of the Joint WHO/FAO expert consultation, 26 April 2002) http://www.muslimahwritersalliance.com/projects/mwa_hunger_awareness_newsletter_06.pdf http://www.globalissues.org/article/7/causes-of-hunger-are-related-to-poverty http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/0/5/0/p100501_index.html
1 Billion Obese
Obese
The average American eats more then 2,400 animals in a lifetime.
(2,287 chickens, 92 turkeys, 31 pigs, and 12 steers & calves)
Conversion inefficiency of meat production:
16 pounds of grain used to produce 1 pound of beef.
RESOURCES: Ingrid Newkirk An Interview With Kids Can Save the Animals (VegetarianTeen.com) Food Revolution, John Robbins, 2001.(p.293)
Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
Healthy Diet
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Reduce type 2 diabetes
- Prevent stroke conditions
- Reverse atherosclerosis
- Reduce heart disease risk - 50%
- Reduce heart surgery risk - 80%
- Prevent many forms of cancer
- Stronger immune system
- Increase life expectancy up to 15 years
- Higher IQ
RESOURCES: Vegetarian Diets (American Dietetic Association) Preventive Medicine Research Institute There Is a Cure for Diabetes The Tree of Life 21 Day Program (DiabetesDietFood.net) High IQ link to being vegetarian (BBC News)
Meat-Free Advantages
Environment
- Stops 70% of deforestation
- Uses 2/3 less fossil fuels
- Reduces pollution from untreated animal waste
- Maintains cleaner air
- Saves up to 4.5 tons of emissions per household per year
- Stops 80% of global warming
- Vegetarian diet will cut more greenhouse gas emissions than switching to a hybrid car
- Eating vegan 1 day per week reduces emissions more than eating locally produced food all year
Stop World Starvation
- The 760 million tones of grain fed to animals could feed over 11 billion people.
- It could cover the global food shortage 14 times.
Quicker & Easier Results
- Turnover rate of farm animals is 1 to 2 years, while turnover rate of cars & power plants, etc. can be decades.
- Methane can disappear from the atmosphere in 9 to 15 years, while CO2 can stay in the atmosphere for more than a century.
- Introduction of new techniques and further research takes many years.
- Cut in CO2 involves fighting powerful and wealthy business interests, while veggie foods are readily available.
You Can Save The Planet
By choosing a vegetarian diet,
you will be healthy,
you can stop world starvation,
you can save the planet.
Be a Hero!