Kofi Annan: Eat Bugs To Stop Global Warming

[tecelote]

Source: Daily Caller

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants you to eat more insects. Why? It’s better for the environment and your health, he argues.

“Keeping meat consumption to levels recommended by health authorities would lower emissions and reduce heart disease, cancer, and other diseases,” Annan told The Guardian Sunday.

“And of course there are alternative sources of protein. For example, raising insects as an animal protein source,” Annan said. “Insects have a very good conversion rate from feed to meat. They make up part of the diet of two billion people and are commonly eaten in many parts of the world.”

“Eating insects is good for the environment and balanced diets,” Annan said.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/04/kofi-annan-eat-bugs-to-stop-global-warming/

---

The original source:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/03/kofi-annan-interview-climate-change-paris-summit-sceptics

[Wilms]

1. Don’t bug out, but your food is covered in insects

http://www.salon.com/2013/06/05/your_breakfast_of_champions_includes_bugs_partner/

Despite all the potential knee-jerk revulsion, it’s important to remember that like all the animals we eat, insects share the planet with us. They outnumber us by a wide margin. If anything, we share the Earth with them. To have insects spice up our food is unavoidable, but harmless. The op-ed pieces screaming about what “gross stuff” the FDA lets us eat are over-blown and under-informed. Think of how many pounds of food you have eaten in your lifetime. How many plates were infested, and how many times were you hospitalized with chitin-related injuries? The fact of the matter is that insects were here first. We do our best to minimize our contact with them, but the circle of life offers the little creepy crawlies up as a viable, nutritious food source, and we should embrace that.

After all, humans have eaten insects for millennia, and one day they will return the favor.

[tecelote]

10. Great article!

"humans have eaten insects for millennia"

[Adrahil]

2. Nope.

Nopiddy Nope Nope!

Unless they are ocean bugs. I'll eat ocean bugs like shrimp and crabs.

[Roy Rolling]

3. Really?

When animal slaughter isn't efficient enough we turn to insect slaughter? The problem is SLAUGHTER. It isn't a sustainable policy.

The answer is plant-based food for humans, not double-down on a failed method.

When there are unlimited resources, animal slaughter doesn't "break the system". But when there are humans on every square inch of the planet there is not enough water or other resources to sustain animal slaughter.

Even a planet has its capacity.

[Bosonic]

4. I'll wait for in vitro meat, thanks all the same

&hd=1

[KamaAina]

5. Better idea: Feed them to chickens

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026597596#post32

and save a whole bunch of grain.

[Mosby]

6. I would rather turn vegan than eat bugs.

[chernabog]

7. But you'll still eat other animals?

Why?

[GGJohn]

15. Because they're sooooooooooo good,

especially smothered in BBQ sauce, onions, mushrooms and grilled on a charcoal BBQ.
Yummmmmy.

[Major Nikon]

22. Results...

On Tue May 5, 2015, 09:14 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Because they're sooooooooooo good,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1085859

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Insensitive, trolling post

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue May 5, 2015, 09:24 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I believe that this is commonly referred to as "sarcasm".
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Terrible alert. Get thicker skin.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Other than confusion about what BBQ is, I see nothing wrong with the post.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This alert should be a 7-0 to leave_it_alone.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[In_The_Wind]

23. That was quick.

[GGJohn]

25. Thanks for the results.

Juror #1 got it right, it was sarcasm.
Whomever alerted just lost their alert privileges for 24 hours.

[truthisfreedom]

17. Psst... read the article. Veggies are CHOCK FULL of bugs.

[Retrograde]

20. I know a place in San Jose that makes great chapulinas

aka grasshoppers. They clean them, remove the shell, head and legs, then marinate them in chiles and lime juice, and grill them. What you get is a spicy, meaty little morsel, not unlike a small shrimp. And I believe locusts are kosher, unlike most molluscs and crustaceans.

So why would an invertebrate source of animal protein turn you to veganism? How is muscle from an insect different than muscle from a cow or sheep or chicken?

[tecelote]

8. Healthy for you and healthy for the planet.

No Pesticides
No Hormones
Non-GMO
Can grown on bio-waste
Can be grown in urban areas
Grown by local farmers not big corporations (so far)

Twice the protein of beef
High in iron and calcium
Low in fat
All 9 essential amino acids
Omega 6:3 ratio of 3:1
Chitin Fibre – A source of Prebiotics – used as an antimicrobial gut agent

Healthy for you and healthy for the planet.

[handmade34]

9. excellent idea!

[dembotoz]

11. remember the china olympics with all the bug stands

sure why not

if ground up and formed into patties....

[drm604]

12. I have a negative emotional reaction to this like many here,

but intellectually I recognize the wisdom in this.

Grind them up and use them as an additive to burgers or flour. It's good for you and good for the environment.

[KittyWampus]

24. that's how I'd do it. Grind them into protein powder and I'd have no qualms

[tecelote]

13. Humans took until 1800 to reach one billion

By 1960 we were 3 billion.

Within 50 years we'll be 10 billion.

Meat is not an option. Too much land and water use.

---

meat - seafood - fruits - vegetables - beans - nuts - grains - dairy - eggs

Why not Insects? Maybe that's what's missing in our diets.

[roamer65]

14. No thanks, I'll go vegetarian first.

I have greatly reduced my meat consumption anyway.

[GGJohn]

16. Fuck that!!!!

I'll continue to eat meat, be it beef, venison, chicken, pork, turkey, etc.
If Kofi wants to eat bugs, he's welcome to.

[kentauros]

18. Technically, many people already are.

If you eat any food containing the food coloring "carmine" then you're eating dried and ground up cochineal insects.

Bon Appétit!

[truthisfreedom]

19. I like the idea of lab meat coming from insect beginnings.

Take all that protein and make me some real lab meat with it. Something I can broil that won't smell like burned hair.

[lordsummerisle]

21. Critters are critters

I'm always impressed when people will readily eats cows and pigs but are revolted by the thought of eating insects (which as noted we're doing anyway), even if they're ground up. Here's one company I came across that uses cricket flour for protein bars (I have no financial interest):
https://www.exoprotein.com/

From the icky files I also had an idea of going into cockroach infested areas with some means to attract, capture and render them to make them palatable (and I guess unrecognizable). You'd be getting rid of a pest and providing snacks to boot...

[840high]

26. No.

[jwirr]

27. Did he include the recipes?

[former9thward]

28. How many insects is Kofi eating?

Answer: None. The only people eating insects are those who are starving.

[Puzzledtraveller]

29. Of course

The oligarchs need to remain strong, they can't suffer any bottom feeders cutting in on their food supply.

[tecelote]

30. Check out where your meat comes from:

[Major Nikon]

31. Believe it or not there are choices

I can (and do) get these locally. Naturally they are more expensive, but if I'm going to take the time to cook a chicken, I want the best I can get.

[tecelote]

32. A place to buy edible insects!

A whole store of just bugs to eat: http://www.EntoMarket.com

[jamzrockz]

33. As someone who has eaten

roasted giant termite before, trust me, they do taste like chicken. I am completely serious about this, it tastes like white meat on chicken