Eating our planet to death

[MummaBear03]

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/dec/truth.htm

Very good article, not sure if it's been shown before but here it is.

Livestock’s Long Shadow
According to a report, Livestock’s Long Shadow –Environmental Issues and Options, released in November of 2006 from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock* emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to every one of the most serious environmental problems. (The release of this report was not covered by any of the major news outlets, only a few mentions are found on the Internet.)
*livestock refers to beef cattle, dairy cattle, chickens, pigs, and a few other animals domesticated for food uses.

[~Temet Nosce~]

Id much rather get rid of cars before my steak lol. I dont drive anyway. Walk or bus. Mostly walk now since I live 10 min walk to city centre.

[MummaBear03]

Our house, DD's daycare and my work are all within 5 minutes of each other so the car is hardly used. We're out and about on a Tuesday and sometimes go places on a weekend but that's about it. I know that cars cause damage to the environment, but this article is about a lifestyle change that anyone and everyone can make, many people rely on their car for work and study purposes but definately there is a need for people to realise they can change the way things are going. However this thread is about the environmental impact of livestock ;)

[naiwen]

Thats very interesting,

I have seen a few studies before showing that cows both for dairy and meat purposes were the worst polluters.

Although I can imagine sheep and pigs would impact as well.

Chicken I am less concerned about as they are smaller animals with a far lower methane output and take up a small amount of space.

I do not eat steak and I might try to make 1 night a week a totally meat free night, might save some money as well!

[MummaBear03]

Since becoming vegetarian, I've spent less on groceries each week and had more energy and felt much better. Even my skin tone is much better than it was before. I do still have milk but limit the use of it. I know it's too much for people to all just suddenly become vegetarians, but like you say, making one night a week a meat-free night will still cut down on how much will need to be produced. I only use cow's milk in my coffee, and sometimes DD has it, although she has rice milk mostly for her cereal and soy milk if she wants a drink of milk and our ice cream (however rare it is to have ice cream) is So Good Bliss of different flavours. Just making small changes will make a big difference!