It's The Environment, Stupid!

Today, in case you didn't know, is Blog Action Day. Every blog in the world should be talking about the environment, so here it goes...

The environment topic fits nicely into my more recent posts and comments. Saving the environment is now the "in" thing to do and just about anyone could tell you two or three things you need to do to make a difference.

Of course there are the fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats, taking shorter showers, paper over plastic...
But the single most important thing you can do to save the planet is to stop eating meat, believe it or not.

The meat industry is one of the world's largest producers of greenhouse gases, consumers water and users of land. And the United States is probably the worst.

Since 1950, according to a USDA report, meat consumption in the U.S. has almost doubled. I'm sure the U.S. leads the world in this area too.

Well these tons of meat don't just fall out of the sky. It takes an amazing amount of resources to bring this meat from the cow to your table. According to one source, one meat meal in terms of resources used is the equivalent of 16 plates of pasta, 2,500 gallons of water down the drain, or leveling 55 square feet of rain forest.

Ah, so that's why they slash and burn rain forests, for livestock. Thus unfolds a nasty web of environmental destruction. We only have one planet and it can only carry so many people so we should think about taking care of it.

Now I'm not saying that all of these other energy saving ideas are not useful. Sure it helps to change your light bulbs to fluorescent and such but being a vegetarian has far more impact than anything else you could ever do.

And it's not that hard. I'll admit, it is a test of will power in the early stages but after a while you get used to it. You end up eating healthier and feeling better.

But what about the naysayers who claim you don't get enough protein? That is ridiculous. Maybe 100 years ago it would have been difficult to find other sources of protein. But with modern dietary science, we know exactly what nutrients plants and vegetables contain and we can even find sources of proteins and amino acids in the plant kingdom that are better for your body than meat.

But still, you say, how can you turn down a nice juicy porterhouse or a dripping barbecued pulled-pork sandwich? That's where the will power comes in, and you'll need a lot.

But each time your tempted, think about that 55 square acres of rain forest.