Done.Thank you all for the links!

Hi all!!

The University of California, San Diego student organization: VEG (Vegetarian Environmentalist Group) is happy to present an online petition which aims to reduce the livestock industry via means of removal of governmental subsidies for livestock farmers as well as implementation of tax for livestock products for their detrimental external social burden on the environment. If you are still unfamiliar with the relationship between livestock production and the environment, I have listed the key facts below. Here is our petition link:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/livestock-production-reduction-for-the-environment


Please support us and help us spread the word! This is definitely an attempt at a baby toward in the right direction!
Thank you!

---UCSD VEG
http://ucsdveg.blogspot.com/

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: SUMMARY OF LIVESTOCK'S IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

(SOURCE: 2006 UNITED NATIONS FAO REPORT, LIVESTOCK'S LONG SHADOW)
Our current livestock industry is responsible for emitting 37% of all human-induced Methane, 65% of all human-induced Nitrous Oxide, 9% of all human-induced Carbon Dioxide, and 64% of human-induced Ammonia. The Carbon Dioxide equivalent of livestock industry emissions is 18%, which is greater than all transportation combined (transportation CO2 equivalent is 12%). So, we need to decrease the livestock industry along with turning to alternative transportation systems (like biking!!). We cannot just pin global warming on one single source and go from there, all aspects need to adapt to the current climate crisis.

In addition to the greenhouse gas emissions, livestock current needs 36% of the world grain and 74% of the world soy to sustain its industry. If you think about it, this is not sustainable at all in the long run. It is definitely not an efficient usage of world crop supplies.

Now let’s talk water. Water is essential for survival. Did you know that California currently imports 100% of its clean water supply? Yes... and we are not increasing our world water supply. Yes, there are technologies being researched to desaltize the ocean waters, but think about the cost of that. It’s not a quick and easy solution. The best solution would be for everyone to be frugal. While major medias are telling us to conserve water during showers and toothbrushing, they are leaving out a major part of water usage.

According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, 20% of all world water supply goes to industries, 10% of all water goes to households, and 70% of all water goes to producing food. These statistics awaken a lot of people because if you think about how much water we use in industries and households (it’s A LOT), many folds more is going to agriculture. Now get this: within the agricultural business (which uses 70% of all our clean water), 1 POUND OF LETTUCE takes 23 gallons of water to produce, 1 POUND OF WHEAT takes 25 gallons of water, 1 POUND OF APPLES take 49 gallons of water, 1 POUND OF CHICKEN takes 815 gallons of water, 1 POUND OF PORK takes 1,630 gallons of water, and 1 POUND OF BEEF takes 5,214 gallons of water. (You can do some research online to see how to have defined these water usage values according to pounds) So now the question is, one plate of dinner will fill most of us up (some go for seconds, thirds, but anyways..). If you fill that one plate with meat, that’s 6000 gallons of water or more. If you fill that one plate up with rice and veggies (this can be tasty faux meat too!), it takes less than 100 gallons of water. Please, be frugal and responsible. Imagine a planet with no more water.

Here are just some additional costs of livestock production. Did you know that livestock farming land takes up 70% of all agricultural land, and 30% of world's ice-free terrestrial surface? Yup. And for the forest lovers (we should all love forests, they are the lungs of our planet), 70% of the Amazon rainforest is currently being occupied by pastures; feedcrops occupy a large sector of the remaining 30%.

Everyone talks about saving energy now with new bulbs, solar power, etc. Well why not talk about food, too. The livestock sector requires 16 times more fossil fuel energy than other sectors of agriculture. Moreover, livestock is increasingly being fed with grains and cereals that could have been consumed by humans, converting only up to 33% of its nutrients for our consumption.

Lastly (for my purposes), the U.S. livestock sector alone produces 900 million tons of manure annually. Immense lagoons used to store waste are known to heavily degrade the surrounding air and water, creating dead zones within our clean bodies of water. Besides harming our precious marine life, it’s nice to know that we are surrounded by 80% of water of this planet. So if our ocean dies, we probably don’t have much of a chance for survival either.

All in all, it’s good that we are more aware of global warming and finally (most people) recognize it as partially (if not mostly) human caused. Now, besides being frugal, using a reusable bag, riding a bike or taking the bus, changing lightbulbs, and saving shower time, please also change your diet. It really makes a huge impact, even though it seems like you’re just intaking a piece of meat, that piece of meat came from loads of environmental damage (as well as suffering!). Inaction is inexcusable. If you’re a non-vegetarian, go vegetarian. If you’re already a vegetarian, go vegan. If you’re already a vegan... go organic Of course, if you can go straight to organic vegan that is the best for the environment in terms of personal contribution. Be Veg, Be Green, Save the Planet. (doubtful? do research!)

Defenders of Wildlife campaign
Urge Your Senators to Save Snow Leopards and Other Rare Animals

The Great Cats and Rare Canids Act (H.R. 1464) provides financial support for on-the-ground conservation programs for rare great cat and wild canine populations in countries outside of North America. Because many countries lack the resources to conserve species within their borders, conservation of these great cat and rare canine species requires a global effort.
This important bipartisan legislation has already passed in the House and the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. Now, this bill awaits a vote in the full Senate.
Please read and sign and send to your Senator today and urge support for the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act~Thank you.

click here-
Urge Your Senators to Save Snow Leopards and Other Rare Animals

Protect Wolves in Canada's Central Rocky Mountains

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Wolf-Buffer-Zones

Hi everyone;

My petition against Canada's Olympics, (which you've all probably seen and signed by now) is taking up most of my time. However, I am logged in daily to our family here at Care2 to check messages and to sign all the animal petitions that come my way or in our main petition site.

The last 10 days, after most of you had had time to sign against Canada's Olympics, this petition gained ground of over 200 signatures ....and continues to grow daily.

So while I might not physically be seen around and about here, I am 100% visible to Stephen Harper (Canada's Prime Minister).

I will continue to send updates on how this petition is doing .TAB PICTURE

Grateful for all of you and your support!

..............................................................................................................River

SIGNED SEPT. 22, 2008, THANK YOU

Help Ensure a Lasting Future for Wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies

Take Action for Mexican Wolves

http://ga4.org/campaign/wild_for_wolves

Stop Alaska's Aerial Hunting Program - From Spreading To Yellowstone!

http://ga0.org/campaign/aerial_hunting

SIGNED, THANK YOU. AMBER

Tell Alaska Governor To Stop Wolf Slaughter

http://ga0.org/campaign/wolf_alaska

End the Suffering at "Great Cats of Indiana"

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/endthesufferingatgreatcatsofindiana

Please Take Action~Protect Wild Tigers~U.S. and Canada

U.S.
Please urge your Congressional representative to sign a letter to the Chinese Government supporting China’s ban on the trade in tigers.
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=186261

Canada
Please send an e-mail to the CITES authorities, urging them to fully implement the CITES decision to ban the breeding of tigers for the trade in their parts and derivatives.
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=17782

click and scroll on 'Country' on either U.S. or Canada-it might accept international signatures also.

Sent my letter.. thanks Susan!

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24987

Keep China's tiger trade ban

click on Take Action
http://www.eia-international.org/skinandbone/

We Can Protect Our Wildlife and Our Borders

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=939&s_
einterest=C3C4&s_Affiliate=act_&JServSessionIdr009=crjiw63st1.app20a

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protection-not-destruction

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/800481890

Tell Congress to Ban Wildlife Poisons!
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/Act_Now_To_Ban_Wolf_Poisons

all signed.. thanks dear friend for posting these!!!!!

Stop Federal Government from Building Misguided and Damaging Border Wall

http://audubonaction.org/campaign/sabalpalm/

SIGNED #80

THANKS SUSAN

Save the Wolves from Slaughter and Sterilization

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/7/save-the-wolves-from-slaughter-and-sterilization

Save the Cheetahs  

http://www.petitiononline.com/cheetahs/petition.html

This post was modified from its original form on 22 Feb, 19:23

Greater Yellowstone Wolves Delisted - Protest Now!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/806854919?z00m=13793363

Please Sign for the Cougars of Washington!!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/7/take-action-washington-cougars-in-jeopardy

Take Action: Stop Internet Hunting

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/internet_hunting_2007

Speak Up for Southwest Wolves!

Tell federal officials to take immediate action to support wolf management that ensures our wolves have a lasting future in the Southwest.

LETTERS SEND

THANKS FOR INFO

Thanks Susan for posting these... I have sent my letter off and forwarded it as well....

Make the Tiger Trade Ban Permanent

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/hsi_tiger_trade?rk=x725d96qjuklE

Here's another petition to sign...help stop the Bush administration from sending our precious wolves into extinction. The petition has reached it signature goal, but the more the better!

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=917&s_einterest=C3C4

wildlife petitions that need signing!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/3664689

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protect-dalls-porpoise-and-other-cetecans-from-illegal-hunting

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Grizzly

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/16/help-save-the-british-badgers