I wrote this as a letter to the editor a while back, around Earth Day last year, and I sent it to a couple of local papers. One called me and said they would print it. Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. I never saw it. But at least I can get it out there by posting it here:
This Earth Day, much attention is turned to the controversy of global warming and its dramatic effects. These eminent catastrophes, (which include species extinction, more severe weather and storms, and an increased threat of hunger and disease) and ideas for their delay have been frequently making the headlines as of late, as scientists and politicians alike probe for answers and solutions. As you ponder this hot topic, here is some food for thought:
In a recent issue, Time magazine reported that 18% of greenhouse emissions are generated by the meat industry (this is even more than the emissions generated by all forms of transportation worldwide), and that by switching to vegetarianism, a person’s carbon footprint can be drastically reduced. We know that trees, in their process of photosynthesis, feed upon greenhouse gases, such as CO2, and expel oxygen back into the atmosphere as a waste product. Unfortunately, 70% of deforested land was cleared to provide a place for beef cattle to graze. After the cattle have completely grazed the land and depleted it of its nutrients so that no more grass may grow for them to graze upon, more forests are destroyed. So, the meat industry is polluting the air with massive amounts of dangerous greenhouse emission, yet it is also destroying the natural means of eliminating them.
So, this Earth Day, consider making a switch to vegetarianism, or at least consider decreasing your amount of beef consumption if becoming a vegetarian altogether does not seem viable.
EDIT: Here is one of several websites out to proove this point: http://www.veganoutreach.org/globalwarming.html
