This was the title of an article in Scientific America last month. See the full text here
The article raises the following ideas:
- Pound for pound, beef production generates greenhouse gases that contribute more than 13 times as much to global warming as do the gases emitted from producing chicken.
- Beef consumption is rising rapidly, both as population increases and as people eat more meat.
- Producing the annual beef diet of the average American emits as much greenhouse gas as a car driven more than 1,800 miles.
There are also health issues associates with the continual rise in meat consumption. There is a long association between eating too much fat and heart disease. Recent news reports in the UK predicted that we are storing up enormous problems due to the rise in obesity.
I don’t think anybody really expects a mass movement away from eating meat but maybe cutting down is something we should consider. To start try having one day a week when you don’t eat meat. See the Meatlessmonday web site for some ideas. You never know you might like it and save some money too especially if you grow your own fruit and veg!
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The grain saved from a 10% reduction in American meat consumption would completely offset world hunger.
While not totally vegetarian, my wife and I eat some form of meat perhaps 5-6 times a year. We are doing our part.
I guess that trying to convince people to reduce meat consumption is as hard in the UK as it is in the US? Then there are the health issues. I stopped eating meat many years ago for health reasons (cardiac) Most of the time it’s OK but very occasionally I am tempted. The anticipation is always better than the experience.