Could Your Choice of Meat Be Harming the Amazon and Environment?
When you’re tucking into a burger, trees are probably the last thing on your mind. But, sadly, the existence of your meal probably depends on their destruction. Every single time you eat beef from an unsustainable farm, you’re adding to deforestation. And, thereby, you’re giving global warming a serious boost.
In fact, in nearly all the countries that the Amazon Rainforest calls home, cattle ranching is the main cause of deforestation. All in all, cows cause a mind-blowing 80% of the Amazon’s deforestation. Yep, it’s hard to believe, I know. But true. If you don’t believe me, wander over here, to this WWF’s report. Since 1978, 750,000 square kilometers of the Amazon have been destroyed. To put the numbers into perspective for you, that’s an area about the same size as the entire nation of Chile.
First up, let people know how you feel. Shout it from the top of the Facebook Mountain. Bring it up with your friends – I wouldn’t advise preaching at them when they’re wolfing down a burger. But there’s no harm in mentioning a few facts or statistics here or there. Write emails and tweets and letters to companies and restaurants that sell beef. Write emails and tweets and letters to governments that set policies that tell companies and restaurants what they can and can’t do.
Second up, think before your spend your money. At the end of the day, big beef companies can only survive because consumers buy their products. Therefore, one of the most powerful ways of helping to create change is boycotting companies with bad ethics. Instead, buy beef from local farmers who practice sustainable, responsible techniques.
http://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/meat-harming-environment/
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