“Each year Americans consume more than 200 pounds of meat and poultry per person, but most meat-eaters are not aware of the staggering environmental impacts of raising animals for food- in particular, factory-style animal agriculture in which overcrowded conditions intensify the spread of disease, use of antibiotics, inhumane treatment of the animals and rapid degradation of implicated land and water resources.” (Trask, 2006)

The Americans get fingers pointed at them again. It always seems that there is an abundance of statistics on Americans and they are always called out on their behavior. I think this information can go for Europeans, South Africans and Asians too.

“The most basic flaw in producing meat for human consumption rests in the colossal waste and inefficiencies compared to producing other food sources. Pound for pound, far more resources go to produce meat than non-feed grains, fruits and vegetables. To produce one pound of beef protein takes vastly more water, land and energy than to produce one pound of vegetable protein.” (Trask, 2006)

But is animal protein the same as vegetable protein?

“Some of the protein you eat contains all the amino acids needed to build new proteins. This kind is called complete protein. Animal sources of protein tend to be complete. Other protein sources lack one or more amino acids that the body can’t make from scratch or create by modifying another amino acid. Called incomplete proteins, these usually come from fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts.” (Harvard School of Public Health, 2007)

“In fact, more than half of all water, one-third of fossil fuels used in the United States, and 87 percent of our agricultural land is devoted to raising animals for food. The effects are not small. Water reserves in the west are being rapidly depleted. Energy-intensive farming practices have increased agricultural-related air pollution, acid rain, smog, and greenhouse gases. Overgrazing is responsible for driving native plants, grasses and wildlife to the endangered list, degrading water quality, and compacting and eroding soil.

Another problem is the nearly 1.4 billion tons of solid manure produced by US farm animals per year- 130 times the amount produced by the human population. Runoff and seeping of more waste than the land can handle, and spills and leaks from huge waste lagoons, has led to the pollution of at least 39,750 miles of rivers and streams, and at least 943,560 acres of lakes and wetlands.

In the final analysis, reducing or giving up meat and poultry consumption could improve the environment on a number of levels.” (Trask, 2006)

I would agree that the meat industry is a major environmental issue, but at the same time, avoiding meat completely can be dangerous to certain people’s health. Each of our bodies vary in type and function differently, so it is important to keep this in mind when considering a vegetarian or vegan diet. I think simply reducing ones’ meat intake will benefit your health as well as the environment.

At the bottom of the following online article link is a chart that lists proteins and the recommended daily amounts for a 2000 calorie diet:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/protein.html

Reference:

Harvard Scholl of Public Health. (2007). Protein: Moving Closer to Center Stage. Retrieved January 8, 2008, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/protein.html

Trask, C. (2006). Its Easy Being Green. A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living. Chapter 2, page 23. Gibbs Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Theres no difference.

Christian Republicans exclaiming “God, Guns and Glory” (from rightwingstuff.com) as they fight “the war on terror” are no different to terrorists calling for Jihad. Both groups believe their religion is superior.