To Save the Earth by Vegetarianism
How do we deal with the serious problem of global warming?
The UK’s Environmental Minister Ben Bradshaw has warned British shoppers on a new government website that Britain may need to go back to 2nd World War style rationing of meat if climate change runs out of control. Mr. Bradshaw further pointed out that food production has the same effect on global warming just as private transport and housing and cutting meat consumption is the best long term solution to stabilize the climate change.
Mr. Bradshaw said on a new website (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/index.htm) that “the production of meat and dairy products has a much bigger effect on climate change and other environmental impacts than of most grains, beans, fruits and vegetables". However, Rosamund Raha, Head of Information at the British Vegan Society said: “I am pleased that the government has at last recognized the damage being caused by eating meat and dairy products but would urge them to promote a vegan diet which is the best option for the environment".
In order to satisify the demand for meat, much energy and land are needed to raise animals and poultry. According to a nutritionist at the Harvard University it takes about 8 lb of grains as feed to produce about 1 lb of beef or lamb. In other words, if American people can reduce the meat consumption by 10 % during the next ten years the amount of grains saved is sufficient to feed almost 600 millions people. Statistic shows that 2/3 of cultivated land is used to raise animals and poultry. Farmed animals are responsible for about 16% of "man-made" methane emissions worldwide and the methane gas is one of the main components causing greenhouse effect. The sum total of the energy consumed in the production of meat during the process of raising, packaging, transportation, and cooking plus the production of dairy products far greater than that from grain, bean, vegetable and fruit production altogether and contributes to 25% of green house effects caused by collective human factors. The aeroplane contributes about 2%. Therefore, meat production is another main contributing factor leading to abnormal climate change after private transport and housing...
