Meat-Free Monday
Monday, February 1st 2010 @ 12:00 AM (not yet rated)
It’s not every day you can make one simple choice that would help save the planet, be good for your health, be great for your wallet and help fight cruelty all at the same time. Paul McCartney even wrote a song for this very occasion.
While many make an effort to support the environment with reduced car trips, energy-saving light bulbs and recycling, few really know that meat production in the U.S. is one of the major contributors to global warming.
A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.
Raising animals for their flesh, eggs, and milk is one of the world’s leading emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2). But global warming is caused by more than just CO2. Animal agriculture is the leading source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which—combined with carbon dioxide—causes the vast majority of global warming.
Some of you know that I recently became a vegetarian myself. There are lots of reasons for it (spiritual, environmental, health, etc.), but I completely understand why people DON'T choose this option.
I always thought vegetarians were "weird" and "out there" so no one is more surprised than me that I have become one. I have no judgments about people who choose to still eat meat. My husband and children have yet to join the vegetarian bandwagon and I still love them dearly. :)
However, understanding the process of where our foods come from and the ramifications of those processes is an important part of being a conscious global citizen. If the spiritual and health reasons of a plant-based diet aren't compelling to you personally, that is totally fine, but at least give consideration to the environmental effects that raising animals for food has on the planet we all share.
A simple way to practice awareness (without having to step too far out of your comfort zone) is to join us for Meat Free Mondays. All you have to do is skip the meat one day per week. That's it! It’s rare for one simple choice to have an impact on so many aspects of your health, your wealth and your environment.
Ever wonder what it would look like if we all stopped eating meat for just one day?
According to stats reported on doctorsolve.com, if we stopped eating meat for one whole day the U.S. would save enough water to supply 6 states- Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine – with enough water to last 4 months!
Not only would we save water, but 1.5 BILLION pounds of crops, 70 million gallons of gas (which by the way would fuel all the cars in both Canada and Mexico), 3 million acres of land, 33 tons of antibiotics, and $70 million in economic damages.
If everyone went vegetarian for just one day, we would prevent 1.2 million tons of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from polluting the air. That’s as much as the Greenhouse gas emissions from all of France!
The University of Chicago concluded that going Vegetarian for a day would be the equivalent benefit to the environment as if everyone in the states switched their cars to hybrid cars.
If every American family skipped a meat-meal one day a week and had a vegetarian meal instead, the carbon dioxide prevention would be the same as if half a million cars were taken off American roads.
This one simple action will reduce your carbon footprint and help save the planet. What will you be having for dinner tonight?
P.S. If your kids wonder why, tell them you’re doing it for their future. Have the conversation. It’s their world to inherit. Empower them with the knowledge.
Photo Courtesy of Rinalia via Flickr
