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Eating for a Cooler Planet

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It is seldom mentioned in the media, but it's a scientific fact: today's massive herds of cattle and pigs are the fourth largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The numbers of these animals on the land (and in factory farms) have grown enormously over the past half century to a point where they are now a major contributor to toxic water pollution as well as global warming from release of methane gas. This gas is produced when cattle and pigs belch and flatulate, referred to as animal 'tailpipe pipe exhaust'. (more)

K EY STATISTIC

"Nearly 80 percent of the world's crop land is used to feed livestock, not hungry humans. And half of the forest land cleared each year is for grazing more cattle."

The most critical actions in reducing herd sizes

The most critical actions to take in reducing greenhouse gases from large herd animals and food shipping are the following:

1… Alternate your usual beef and pork meals with poultry and occasionally fish.

Smaller is better! If you primarily eat beef and pork, alternate these dishes with poultry and occasionally fish (but also be aware of the depletion of fish stock in the oceans).

2… Twice a week replace your usual meat dishes with meatless meals.

Go boneless! Twice a week, substitute meat meals with meatless ones whose protein can be supplied by such foods as tofu, eggs, and cheese.

3… Buy regional foods as much as possible.

Eat local, cool global! Concentrate your food shopping more on local and regional food produce and products. This helps reduce pollution from long-haul trucking and international shipping.

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