Ecology
and the Environment
Raising
animals for meat has its consequences. It leads to rain forest destruction,
global heat rising, water pollution, water scarcity, desertification,
misuse of energy resources and world hunger. The use of land, water,
energy and human effort to produce meat is not an efficient way to use
the Earth's resources.
Since
1960, some 25% of Central America's rain forests have been burned and
cleared to create pasture for beef cattle. It has been estimated that
every four ounce hamburger made from rain forest beef destroys 55 square
feet of tropical rain forest. In addition, raising cattle contributes
significantly to the production of three gases which cause global warming;
is a leading cause of water pollution and requires a staggering 2464
gallons of water for the production of each pound of beef. It only takes
29 gallons of water to produce a pound of tomatoes and 139 gallons to
produce a one pound loaf of whole wheat bread. Nearly half of the water
consumed in the United States goes to the growing of feed for cattle
and other livestock.
Many
more people could be fed if the resources used to raise cattle were
used to produce grain to feed the world's population. An acre of land
growing oats produces 8 times the protein and 25 times the calories,
if the oats are fed to humans rather than to cattle. An acre of land
used for broccoli produces 10 times the protein, calories and niacin
as an acre of land producing beef. Statistics like these are numerous.
The world's resources would be more efficiently utilized if the land
used for livestock production was converted to raising crops to feed
people.
Eating
a vegetarian diet allows you to "tread more lightly on the planet".
In addition to taking only what you need and reducing excess, you will
feel better when you know that a living being doesn't have to die each
time you eat a meal.
