Rethinking the Meat Guzzler
Feb 2, 2008 - A New York Times article by Mark Bittman cites a "sea change" in meat consumption, and details the effects meat production has on our environment. Health problems and animal cruelty are mentioned in passing.
Rethinking the meat guzzler
Highlights:
The United States comprises 5% of the world's population, yet slaughters 15% of the world's total farmed animals (10 billion).
A third of all ice-free land is directly/indirectly involved in meat, dairy and egg production.
Nearly 20% of all greenhouse gases are produced by the livestock industry.
Two to five times more grain is required to produce the same caloric amount through livestock than direct consumption of grain.
Americans consume twice the maximum, suggested allowance of animal protein a day! Humans only need about 30 grams of protein a day, yet Americans consume around 110 grams.
The production of animal products is a burden to the environment, our bodies and necessarily cruel to animals.
Reduce and eliminate - it isn't hard to do!
