Eating Less Meat to Cut CO2 Emissions

[Karmadillo]

http://globalwarmingisreal.com/2011/03/02/eating-less-meat-to-cut-co2-emissions/

Eating Less Meat to Cut CO2 Emissions
By GlobalWarmingisReal .Guest Post by Alexis Bonari

According to the United Nations, livestock accounts for 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the only seemingly insignificant methane expulsion from the front and back ends of cows, the raising and transportation of grains to feed them, and clearing of land for grazing. In fact, it takes 7 kg of feed to produce just 1 kg of beef, 4 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of pork, and 2 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of chicken as shown in this graphic:



The Price of Meat

What happens to the feed after it’s been, well, fed? In America—the land of CAFOs, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, the bane of green and animal activists—livestock produces around 900 million tons of waste every year. That’s 3 tons of manure per American, the equivalent of 2 Toyota Priuses.

The logic would be to turn this waste into fertilizer. The antibiotics, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers used in producing the grain and the meat that together produced the waste is so toxic, however, that farmers don’t want it. Thus, nearby every CAFO is a lagoon of toxic waste, a biological experiment producing deformed frogs and plant life, and contributing to air, water, and ground pollution.

Should every American be held accountable for said tonnage of waste? They kind of are, what with 34% of adults aged 20 and over being obese, and another 34% being overweight but not obese. Insurance premiums are going up nationwide to pay for all the obesity and heart disease-related surgeries. The earth isn’t getting any slack either, though. All that cow-burped methane has to go somewhere. Oh, right—it hurts the ozone and is raising our sea levels.

more...

[uppityperson]

1. Eat locally to cut transportation associated pollution.

[ZombieHorde]

2. Recommended. So many good reasons to be veggie. nt

[JDPriestly]

12. You need fertilizer to grow veggies. I grow some.

Peas, beans, etc. help, but manure is pretty valuable. The problem is that we feed our animals chemicals that make their waste products unusable.

I don't eat much meat, but there is no way to get enough vitamin B12 without some meat products. It is impractical to eat enough of the plant sources for vitamin B12 to keep the average American healthy.

[prolesunited]

24. You don't need cow manure to grow veggies

Regular compost from plants works fine and if you need a boost, try vermiculture with red wigglers.

And if your second statement were true, why aren't aren't all of the vegetarians and vegans dead or sick? And I would say your last statement is nearly impossible. "Plant foods do not contain vitamin B12 except when they are contaminated by microorganisms or have vitamin B12 added to them." http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/b12.htm

[JDPriestly]

38. I tried the yeast route. I could not stand it.

I tend to need a lot of vitamin B. In spite of all the hype in that article, many, perhaps most people cannot get enough B12 without eating some meat, preferably beef.

I had a vegan friend who had a number of neurological symptoms and died before her time. I blame her veganism and lack of vitamin B though I could not prove it.

Above all, I would not drink alcohol if I were a vegan.

[flvegan]

46. "most people cannot get enough B12 without eating some meat, preferably beef. "

Oh, the (facepalm).

Two cups of the soymilk in my fridge, and I'm all set thanks. And dare I ask why, were you a vegan, you wouldn't drink alcohol?

[kentauros]

55. The only thing that comes to mind about alcohol and veganism

is the problem of "isinglass". In other words, fish guts. I have no idea how it was ever determined that filtering beer through fish guts was a good thing, but that's what isinglass is all about and something more to be aware of when drinking beer.

Thankfully, not all beers use isinglass, and here's a good website for listing those beers to avoid, those that have vegan options, and those not worry about: Barnivore :)

[petronius]

60. Woah - double learning experience there! I always thought isinglass was some sort

of made up word (like a LotR kind of thing), and then when I checked the wiki page I learned that carrageenan - which I always thought was some sort of meat byproduct like gelatin - is actually an algae. Thanks!

(I did know that some beers and wines are filtered through fish guts, but I always thought the material in question was just called something like fish guts...)

[JDPriestly]

62. Why not drink alcohol? Because of this:

Folate deficiency occurs in the majority of binge-drinking alcoholics and is a common cause of anemia. Inadequate dietary intake, intestinal malabsorption, and impaired folate storage in the liver all contribute to folate deficiency. Alcohol ingestion also interferes with vitamin B12 absorption. Deficiencies of the two vitamins cause large-cell (megaloblastic) anemia.

http://www.nutramed.com/alcohol/alcoholneg.htm

My friend who was vegan and died (I blame it on the damage her veganism did to her nervous system) drank. Whether she drank to excess I do not know. But in general if you drink you may need extra vitamin B.

Do you know where the B12 in soymilk comes from?

Here is one explanation.

They are mostly synthesized from GMO bacteria.
“Because of the intricacy of synthesizing B12 and the length of time necessary, biotechnology is mostly used in the production of the vitamin, reports the GMO-Compass.org website. In fact, some bacteria are “genetically modified” for B12 synthesis”
“Vitamins E (tocopherols) and C are the most common vitamins raising GMO concerns, since E is derived from soy and C from corn. But Baker believes that both B2 and B12 (cyanocobalamin) are now primarily derived from GM microorganisms. Meanwhile, biotechnology companies have received patents in recent years to produce other vitamins, such as A (betacarotene) and C, from GM microorganisms.”


as for supposedly plant sources of b12, here some info from the VEgan Resource Group:
“Tempeh, miso, sea vegetables, and other plant foods are sometimes reported to contain vitamin B12. These products, however, are not reliable sources of the vitamin. The standard method for measuring vitamin B12 in foods measures both active and inactive forms of vitamin B12. The inactive form (also called analogues) actually interferes with normal vitamin B12 absorption and metabolism (7). When only active vitamin B12 is measured, plant foods including fermented soyfoods and sea vegetables do not contain significant amounts of active vitamin B12 (8).

Very small amounts of vitamin B12 have been found in plants grown in soil treated with manure (9). It is not clear whether this vitamin B12 is the active form or the inactive analogue. In any case, the amounts are so small that more than 23 cups of organically grown spinach would have to be eaten every day in order to meet the adult RDA for vitamin ”

http://vitaminb12info.com/?p=131

[flvegan]

63. Sounds like you have unresolved issues in regards to your friend.

I won't comment further out of respect to that.

[JDPriestly]

67. Yes. I have unresolved issues because I think that everyone should

eat more vegetables, but that entirely going without meat is very bad for your health. In particular, beef is a good source for B12. Especially, don't drink alcohol (or at least if you do, drink very little) if you are a vegan.

[undeterred]

70. "entirely going without meat is very bad for your health"

Wow. Just wow.

[prolesunited]

73. Wow, I'm in better health than ever before

and I even drink. Go figure. :shrug:

[undeterred]

78. 11 months as a vegetarian and I'm in better health

than I was before I made the change and have eliminated one chronic illness

[flvegan]

77. I respect your right to your opinion.

No matter how nutritionally and scientifically incorrect it may be. You have your reasons, so no further qualm from me.

[prolesunited]

56. I have no actual evidence

but I believe it in my gut, therefore, it's true. :crazy:

I agree that whether people eat meat or not, if they don't make proper choices, it could make them ill. However, my guess is that there are far more beef eaters sick and dying of obesity and heart disease than vegans dying of B12 deficiency.

I don't care what you eat. That's your choice, but I'm not going to let such misinformed comments stand.

[flvegan]

58. Well said.

Very well said.

[prolesunited]

59. The end times really are at hand.

:hi:

[Ignis]

72. +1

[liberal life]

39. nutritional yeast is full of B12 and other good vitamins, minerals and protein

Protein 9 g 18%

Thiamine (B-1) 820%
Riboflavin (B-2) 720%
Niacin (B-3) 370%
Vitamin B6 560%
Folic Acid 310%
Vitamin B12 150%
Biotin 10%
Pantothenic Acid 15%
Phosphorus 20%
Magnesium 6%
Zinc 25%


Pretty tasty stuff too, a little like cheese flavor. People make vegan mac and cheese with it.







http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[AndyTiedye]

3. Free Range

You don't have to give up meat to avoid the evil CAFOs.

You can buy free-range chicken in most supermarkets now,
and grass-fed beef is pretty widely available too.

These tend to be small, local operations, unlike CAFOs.

The cows don't burp so much if they eat grass, because
that's what cows are supposed to eat.



CAFOs are most likely doomed by rising grain prices.
Then all the cows will be eating grass again.

[Gormy Cuss]

43. Also, relying on locally raised animals who forage would limit meat consumption because of cost.

Prices for CAFO meat are very, very low compared to historic prices as a percent of food budget. There's no doubt that CAFOs made it easier for people to consume much more meat than 40 years ago, when there was already plenty of meat on American plates. Those recommended 3 oz portions of red meat may make a comeback when the prices are double or triple those of today.

[shockra]

4. Reduce consumption to the equivalent of one hamburger per day?

Geez. That really doesn't sound like too much to ask.

[jwirr]

5. If that is all they want me to do I am already there.

[bluestate10]

26. So am I. I am more like one hamburger every quarter. nt

[petronius]

11. They probably ought to specify that they mean a 1/4 pound burger,

not a quintuple gargantua-burger. :)

[Gregorian]

6. Have fewer children- Cut CO2 Emissions

By far the most effective means. Magnitudes more effective than anything else. Cue the angry denying replies.

[FLPanhandle]

7. Yes, but that doesn't dove tail with the anti-meat crowd.

They really aren't concerned about the environment. They just latch onto this argument since it's convenient. Probably they have a few children and already have a higher impact on the environment than a omnivore childless person.

You see this come up every once in a while.

They forget that we ate meat for a millennium before now and there were more Buffalo on the plains than cows a mere 200 years ago. The only thing that changed is there are too many people now.

Population is the problem, not eating meat.

[handmade34]

17. the large meat-eating population

is the problem...

I do not eat meat and it is largely because of my concern for the environment... not a good idea to make blanket statements about groups...

[FLPanhandle]

19. If you have children you've already done more to the environment,

than any childless meat eater.

Like I said, humans have been eating meat for a millennium. The only reason it's a problem now is there are too many people.

If you are truly concerned about the environment, you'd be focusing time/energy on the stopping/reducing the human population instead of convincing people to give up meat. Anything else is whistling past the graveyard.

[liberal life]

40. that is bullshit

It is about consumption.

My children consume 1/50th that of the average overweight meat eater daily shopper at walmart for stupid shit they don't need have to drink a soda every time I am thirsty typical American.

The US alone consumes 25% of the world's resources but by all means blame everyone for having too many children.




http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[Gormy Cuss]

44. American children, even vegan ones, consume far more resources than children in most of the world.

Even if no one drives or flies and you live in a modest size house powered by solar energy you're still consuming a much greater share of resources per child than in much of the world. That's why an serious discussion of reducing consumption must include the effect of having children on that equation. The big difference of course is that some human procreation is necessary for the survival of the species, whereas there is no biological imperative to eat meat.

[liberal life]

47. Are humans capable of intelligent thinking, of growing and changing?

How about intelligent free thinking liberals focus on that rather than attack people here for having children. What do you all want, a country full of duggards?

The US does not HAVE to consume so much of the world's resources.

We CAN learn to live with less.

We can find alternative energy that is not consuming resources.

There are filtration systems that can be put on industry polluters right now but they aren't doing it because they are too damn cheap and our government is too damn weak.

We are supposed to be the greatest country on earth but we are leading on teh stupid?

I believe that we could reverse this trend with intelligent Americans (BEFORE this idiocracy trend that people are pushing takes hold and then we will have no one capable of thinking at all.)


And if we really care about the environment, we CAN stop purchasing things from countries that are polluting freely and demand our government reinstate tariffs that we have had since the beginning of the American Revolution for good reason.



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[Gormy Cuss]

49. Meanwhile, wouldn't one of those intelligent choices be to limit procreation

until we have addressed those other ways to reduce consumption?


eta: one simple way to address procreation in the equation is to stop treating people who choose not to have children like a threat to our society, and to support free access to birth control so that everyone can be parents by choice rather than chance.

eta2: same deal with vegetarians and vegans: not consuming animal products is a choice, not a threat to our way of life.

[liberal life]

50. limit perhaps, but not eliminate. Particularly liberals NEED to procreate or we are in big trouble

I don't know if you have seen the documentary Idiocracy?



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[Gormy Cuss]

52. Limit is all any reasonable person could suggest, and only if that is limiting by choice.

As for liberals needing to procreate, that assumes that children of those who aren't liberal have less value and for a whole lot of reasons I can't agree with that, but the biggest reason being the presumption that children will mimic the philosophy of their parents. There are plenty here on DU who are children of conservatives.

[bluestate10]

27. Agree. More people should chose not to have children.

This may sound harsh. What purpose does having a child serve?

[Quantess]

34. People need to ensure that their *fantastic* DNA is perpetuated.

Sort of like any other animal who reproduces.

[Gregorian]

31. It's nice to know there are a few sane ones out there.

The problem is, we're now on the vertical curve of the population growth rate, but people are still living like it's 1800. Time delay is a big problem. The time it takes for people to see the results of their behavior. But we only live around 75 years. So there is a disconnect in all but those who are actually looking and SEEING.

Now all I need to do is figure out how to either eliminate, or live with, disgust. Because I'm disgusted about 50% of the time. For example, this morning started out with a beautiful blue sky, and it's cloudy now. Not real clouds. Fake ones. People jaunting all over the globe in jets. Contrails from the water vapor in jet exhaust. I am so overly sensitive that little details like not being able to see a beautiful blue sky bother me. It's me, you know. Fake skies shouldn't bother one. And it's population based. But people don't see that connection.

I'm not rambling. But I have wild turkeys to go hang out with. So off I go. It's nice to know you're out there. Thanks.

[liberal life]

41. if you were concerned about the environment you'd go talk to Al Gore about canceling the WTO

and bring our jobs back from countries like China where they pollute freely.


It would be very helpful for Al Gore to publicly announce that rather than change our lightbulbs, he has made a grave error in encouraging our manufacturing plants to move to countries with no environmental standards.



Stupidity is the problem, not people.



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[wickerwoman]

10. Why not do both to the extent that you're able?

Having a lot of pets also greatly increases your carbon footprint. People love eating meat, having kids and having pets but most can (and would be willing) to do each a bit less of each to help the planet. Why set it up as an either/or?

[AndyTiedye]

53. Our Cats Were Rescued from the Streets…

…and they are very efficient at keeping small critters out of our garden and house.

[JDPriestly]

13. Most important -- cut back on the population growth.

Seems like that concept has become very unpopular, in fact, taboo.

Our grandchildren will pay the price. The planet is way overpopulated. Sounds horrible, but the reality is far worse.

[bluestate10]

28. Having fewer humans can be done by reducing birth rates.

The problem is cultures don't want to vanish from the earth. If the current path is followed nature will take charge and kill off large swaths of human, animal and plant populations.

[JDPriestly]

36. And not just nature. Watch what is happening in Japan.

The combination of natural disaster and human folly can kill -- and not just human life.

[handmade34]

16. and dogs

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-26/living/dog.hybrid.mnn_1_dog-food-dog-owner-doggie-diet?_s=PM:LIVING

"If you're a dog owner and call yourself eco-conscious, guilt might set in after reading the book "Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living" by Robert and Brenda Vale, which reveals dogs are worse for the environment than SUVs..."

[WatsonT]

71. Eat children instead of beef- Cut CO2 emissions even more.

[Ignis]

75. Bonus: Most are free-range!

[WatsonT]

79. But not organic

they're chock full of chemicals these days.

Also good luck getting a lean cut.

[MikeW]

8. first the popcorn police now the meat police

ENOUGH!!!

:banghead:

[ZombieHorde]

15. Do you believe the information in the OP is false?

What is your concern?

[bluestate10]

29. The question is not whether it is false. The OP seems to have a position to push.

As some have pointed out not having children will accomplish more than reducing to one hamburger a week. Not having pets will be an improvement.

[ZombieHorde]

33. I don't understand the point of your post.

I get the feeling you are really just concerned about people advocating a veggie diet.

[flvegan]

9. Also, since future wars will likely be over water rights/usage

one might be interested in seeing how many gallons of water go into making one pound of beef. It's pretty staggering. Yet another good reason to either stop eating meat altogether or cut back significantly.

[JDPriestly]

14. How many pounds of water do you think go into growing the veggies

that a person who eats no meat would need to eat in order to stay healthy?

As a backyard gardener, I can tell you that it would be a lot.

[demmiblue]

18. What about the water that goes into growing food for the animals? Hmmm. n/t

[handmade34]

20. in all my years of gardening

I only had to water a handful of times... MULCH and proper gardening eliminates the need for excessive watering

[JDPriestly]

21. I am in Los Angeles -- working on mulch. But my soil is really bad.

The Central Valley in California is the source of a large quantity of our vegetables and fruits. It has had a drought in recent years and much of the land lies dormant.

[handmade34]

22. I 've driven through

every summer for the past 5 years (work) and have seen the soil and fallow fields (and signs protesting the protection of smelt
( http://thousandoaks365.com/p/ )

I will be working in LA again in June... B-)

When I was farming I was able to bring some fields to life by using green manure, mulching, organic additives, lots of compost and animal manure when available... I know how difficult it is to try to grow in 'bad' soil. I have used raised beds in the past with lots of success.

I am very sensitive to the fact that there is good soil, not so good soil and other factors that make the work more difficult (not impossible) but I am positive that we (the country) could, if we worked together and outside the box, on smaller organic farms, produce the food needed...

I have never advocated that everyone should quit eating meat, just less of it and the meat eaten should come from local sources. There is plenty of grassland optimally suited for grazing and not much else... One problem is that developers have too often developed beautiful agricultural land x(

[JDPriestly]

23. We don't eat much meat.

I am trying to learn more and more about the elementary aspects of organic farming.

I have a small raised bed and mostly garden in pots. This year I have focusing on peas and beans in those portions of my vegetable garden that are in the ground. I tested my soil last year and found I have next to no nitrogen.

I'm getting lots of greens and lettuce in my pots. The big question now is what the Fukushima incident will mean for California gardens, if anything.

I have quite a few tomato plants. One, a Roma, has about ten very small tomatoes on it thus far.

I really love gardening.

In addition to vegetables, each year I add more flowers to my front yard. It is becoming quite colorful. I'm mixing succulents and drought resistant varieties like cosmos, geraniums, California poppies and a number of other beautiful plants.

[wickerwoman]

25. For the same amount of water it takes to grow one pound of beef,

you could grow:

200 pounds of potatoes
111 pounds of wheat
71 pounds of corn
52 pounds of rice
50 pounds of soybeans

You can make a complete protein by combining the soybeans with any of the starches.

http://www.vegsource.com/articles/pimentel_water.htm

I'm not a vegetarian, but I try to cut back on meat. It's just cheaper, healthier and better for the planet to get protein from plant sources instead.

[Karmadillo]

30. Wow. Thanks for posting the numbers.

nt

[ZombieHorde]

32. The meat meat-eaters eat requires veggies to become meat. nt

[Quantess]

48. Shhussh!! Blasphemy!!!

Oh, now you've done it. You just sullied the reputation of meat.

:rofl:

[Ignis]

68. Less.

[pulledpork]

51. Now that you mention that

The fact is, MUCH of the reason for strife between Israel and its neighbors has to do with water supply control. We hear much more about the settlements on the West Bank, the fighting in Gaza, and how the religious and cultural differences are the main source of friction - but we rarely, if ever, hear about how water ties in to all of that strife.

But the underlying fact is, it's an arid place, and water is key #1 to many of the regional disputes. Israel does have desalinization plants, but they won't be supplying their neighbors with that water, and they do not meet all of Israel's needs. The dispute over the Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria in 1967, is related to water rights too. The region supplies 15% of Israel's water.

It always comes down to water, for which our entire survival depends.

[AndyTiedye]

54. Substantially Less Water Needed if you Feed the Cows Grass Instead of Grain

[upi402]

35. book; Diet for a Small Planet

the hippies were right!

[liberal life]

42. love that book!

Still love the recipes. It solidified my vegetarianism 20+ years ago.


http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[Modern_Matthew]

37. So be it. I won't sit around and nibble on baby carrots. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

61. That might have been a smart thing to say if someone was asking you to do that.

But they didn't. So it's not.

[flvegan]

64. Oh, shush. Leave the uber-defensive wanna-be carnivores alone. n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

66. I-ah know! He done did climbed up dat evuhlootionery ladder all bah hisself and his dog teeth

needs meats. :-)

[GoneOffShore]

45. Good call - America is addicted to "cheap" protein

That we don't really need. - Mrs GoS and I are down to three or four meals with animal protein a week.

Why?

Ethical - we don't buy supermarket meat or poultry, because of the way it is manufactured (and no, that's not a mistake in word choice).

Practical - buying well sourced, locally and humanely raised meat or poultry is expensive. Same with line caught fish.

Environmental - see the OP.

Health - who wants to eat something that is laced with growth hormones and antibiotics? We don't because we're not sure what the long term health effects are. So we make a version of Pascal's Wager when it comes to what we eat. This includes dairy - hence as much local organic sourcing as we can.

[moparlunatic]

57. I raise my own beef and

nothin better than a big ole rib eye steak, mmmmm.

[GoneOffShore]

65. Grass fed and no antibiotics - oh yes!

No argument from me.

[Ignis]

69. BINGO!

:party:

[War Horse]

74. For those looking to increase protein intake,

pea protein isolate is actually an option. Taste has improved a lot in recent years. Usually only available in chocolate, b/c that's the only taste that really works at present.

The amino profile isn't perfect, but not too bad either. As someone who's trying to keep my protein intake at 250 - 300 grams per day, it's an alternative. And no, it doesn't cause gas. Many people who have been using whey pro (esp. concentrate) prefer pea, actually, for that very reason.

Soy has been getting a bad rap because of its estrogenic properties, but soy protein isolate seems like a good alternative for men.

[snooper2]

76. I only eat the stray's in the back alley

So no harm from me :P