MEAT and the ENVIRONMENT

MEAT and the ENVIRONMENT

Did you know that livestock production is very inefficient... 80% of world’s farm lands are now being used to produce meat, dairy products, and eggs - foods that supply only 30% of our calorie needs. Meat and dairy production involve the use of massive amounts of water, grains, fossil fuels and other resources to convert plant foods, which are naturally low in fat, high in fiber, and contain no cholesterol at all, into substances that are high in fat, high in cholesterol, and contain no fiber at all. Animal products also require far greater energy use for refrigeration than foods from plant sources.

“Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is needed to remedy the situation.” That's from the 2006 UN report "Livestock's Long Shadow", which states that livestock produce more climate changing greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined. The human appetite for animal flesh is also a driving force behind air and water pollution, soil erosion, fresh water scarcity, and deforestation, including the clearing of tropical rain forests to grow feed for livestock animals. Our personal food choices wield tremendous power... the power to say "NO" to the industries that are driving the destruction of our planet, and
say "YES" to Life.

Did you know that the meat and dairy industries use massive amounts of water, grains, fossil fuels and other resources to convert plant foods, which are naturally low in fat, high in fiber, and contain no cholesterol at all, into substances (meat and milk) that are high in fat, high in cholesterol, and contain no fiber at all...

 Livestock's Long Shadow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock's_Long_Shadow

A vegan diet uses about 300 gallons of water per day and a meat eater uses more than 4,000 gallons per day. That means a vegan could shower night and day continuously for a year straight and still not even begin to come close to the water use of a meat eater.

 Meat is actually a big cause of global hunger. Learn more here…
www.viva.org.uk/guides/feedtheworld.htm

When it comes to environmental destruction, animal agriculture is the elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge, confront, or talk about. Animal-based agriculture is the number one cause of deforestation, air pollution, water pollution AND greenhouse gas emissions (yes, greenhouse gas emissions—see below). Therefore, those people who still incorporate meat, eggs, or dairy products in their diet cannot claim to be environmentalists.
Here is a summary of how the production of meat, eggs, and dairy products takes a staggering toll on the ecosystem:

http://www.adaptt.org/veganism.html#

http://www.peacetoallbeings.com/

Jonathan Foley: The Other Inconvenient Truth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFTdfeOfc1U

 Meat the Truth - FULL DOCUMENTARY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHCCFjB8M48&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_meat_production

http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/environment.html

http://www.wholevegan.com/vegan_organic_and_environment.html

http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/Meat_and_the_Environment/

http://www.emagazine.com/archive/142

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianvegan101/f/waterpollution.htm

http://life.gaiam.com/article/what-environmental-impact-eating-meat

http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2010/06/24/environmental-impact-of-eating-meat/

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/08/why-the-no-impa.html

http://factoryfarmingconference.org/program.php

http://veglov.blogspot.com/2011/05/united-nations-says-be-vegan.html