A newsletter originally posted on the USDA website read, "One way to reduce your environmental impact while dining at our cafeterias is to participate in the Meatless Monday initiative." After backlash from politicians and agricultural interest groups, the USDA retracted their recommendation, tweeting that the "Statement found on USDA website was posted w/o proper clearance."
The USDA's own food pyramid lists beans, peas, processed soy products, nuts and seeds as protein sources along with meats. The average U.S. diet is unimaginative and heavy on meats, to the detriment of human and environmental health. No one is forcing citizens to give up meat. The Meatless Mondays initiative or similar promotion of non-meat proteins would simply encourage people to be more imaginative in their eating choices and more conscious of how their diets affect their health and the world around them.
In 2010, the Obama administration announced its plan to tighten smog standards in accordance with the EPA's proposals. On September 2, 2011, President Obama reversed this plan, preserving dangerous Bush-era standards and endangering public health.
This decision is a huge shock and disappointment to environmental groups, as well as the 24 million men, women and children currently suffering from asthma in the United States. According to the EPA, the tighter regulations would save 12,000 American lives and prevent 58,000 asthma attacks every year.
Public health is a higher priority than the success of big businesses, and healthy people are the key to a healthy economy. Ask President Barack Obama to reconsider his decision and protect U.S. citizens from pollution.
There is still time to convince President Obama to change his mind and accept the new EPA smog standards! Please sign the care2 petition available here to let Obama know you disagree with his current decision.
In the beginning of
April, I started a
petition to urge the FDA
to stop requiring any
animal testing on any
drugs. I almost have
3,000 signatures, but I
need your help to get
more! We need to show the
FDA that we won't stand
for this any more.
Please,...
Joseph Kony deserves to
be arrested tomorrow.
He's spent two decades
committing horrific
crimes against humanity.
However, if he were to be
arrested, would the
children be safe? Not in
the least. So, what can
you do? 1. Only buy
fair trade 2...