Is the Rapid Growth of Meat Consumption Sustainable?
posted by: GinaMarie Cheeseman 58 days ago
Last month a Grist article denied a link between meat consumption and climate change. The article stated that the “culprit is not meat eating but rather the excesses of corporate/industrial agriculture.” He does have a point. Factory farming is the “fastest growing method of animal production worldwide,” according to Worldwatch International (WI). Factory farms are responsible for 74 percent of the world’s total poultry products, 50 percent of pork production, 43 percent of beef, and 68 percent of eggs.
People eat more meat now then in previous eras. In 1961 the world’s total meat supply was 71 million tons, and in 2007 it was an estimated 284 million tons. During the same period the per capita consumption more than doubled during the same period. Between 1970 and 2002 the annual meat consumption per capita in developing countries increased, according to a 2006 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).The Grist article points out that excess flatulence by cows emits methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) with a warming potential 23 times greater than carbon dioxide. According to the author, “excess flatulence is also a function of an unnatural diet.” He points out that grazing cows do not suffer from excess flatulence. He is right. However, as a 2008 New York Times article points out, returning to grazing beef is a "very real alternative as long as you accept the psychologically difficult and politically unpopular notion of eating less of it.” Grazing cows “could never produce as many cattle as feedlots do.”
Reducing meat consumption by ten percent may reduce GHG emissions, according to a September 2007 article published in The Lancet. The authors of the article recommend developing policy to address the growth of meat consumption. The article stated, “Assuming a 40 per cent increase in global population by 2050 and no advance in livestock-related greenhouse gas reduction practices, global meat consumption would have to fall to an average of 90 grams per day just to stabilize emissions in this sector.”
Read more: global warming
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lol i'm sorry but you people are retarded. No one is trying to preach that you should go vegan. WTF this article was trying to reach out to people to say, "hey you guys were gonna be "SCREWED" if we don't all chill the hell out on how much damn meat we eat. for real why in the hell is it so awful to say this? It's really reeeeeeeally important. It's quite possible that the survival of our species depends a great deal on us cutting back on our meat consumption. Deal with it. It's the effing facts! Get on board. This is a call to action to do what you need to do for the sake of all of us you your family and everyone else if you want a planet to live on down the road. Cut back on how much meat you eat. Is that such a difficult thing to ask? REALLY?!
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I'm so sick of preachy vegans. Being an omnivore doesn't make you a bad person, or an animal-hater. I couldn't be vegan; I've tried, and my health suffered. When I eat raw veggies (which I LOVE) I get really sick, and usually vomit or get the runs. When I eat cooked veggies (love em, but they're better raw) and meat (not particularly fond of it, can't stand the smell of it cooking) I don't throw up. And milk (as in dairy, from cows) settles my stomach, so obviously the omnivore route is the healthiest for me. So much for the "we aren't meant to eat meat" theory. Different people have different bodies, different digestive systems, etc. Maybe vegan works really well for you; great! then become vegan. But some people can't. My dad eats a ton of meat and smokes a pack a day is is perfectly healthy at 67. Different things work for different people.
I agree with the people who argue that overpopulation is the real danger. Too many people, even if they were all vegan, would still destroy our planet. We allow hunting to keep the deer population down so they don't starve, yet can't seem to make the connection that humans will also starve if there are too many of us. If humanity would just learn a little restraint, we could eat small amounts of meat/dairy and not need factory farms. If people adopted instead of giving in to the selfish desire to procreate, there would be way less humans, way less factory farming, and way less problems for the planet.
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"Turn on the TV in the evening and all you see are commercials for constipation, high cholesterol and high blood pressure."
In addition, veggies and fruit can also cause constipation, it's not just meat. Do your research.
Also, what do you think bears eat before they hibernate to get through the winter but at the same time keep them from getting up to go outside and use the John?
Also, if you're an omnivore, you can avoid cholestoral by eating egg whites, no egg yokes, or egg beaters and cheerios.
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"Turn on the TV in the evening and all you see are commercials for constipation, high cholesterol and high blood pressure."
And if you paid attention you'd know there's ways to still eat meat and at the same time combat high blood pressure and cholesterol.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or perhaps it does) to figure out that we were never meant to consume the vast quantities of meat that we've decided we need."
It also doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that humans are naturally omnivores, that means we eat both meat and plants.
"Do you ever hear about bears with high blood pressure and high cholesterol? No, because they were designed to eat meat and it passes through their digestive systems quickly. Unlike humans where a T-Bone steak can sit in your lower intestines for up to three weeks."
Can you provide evidence to back this up? In addition, bears are also omnivores just like humans are. Do your research before you post anything.
"To all you carnivores out there - exactly where do you plan on living once we've destroyed this beautiful Earth? Global warming is happening, it's not an urban legend."
So far all you sound like is some radical close-minded vegan who hates anyone who eats meat, because you can't seem to tell the difference between an omnivore and a carnivore. Belittling omnivores will not get you people's attention to cut back on meat.
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"I agree w/what you write for the msot part, except ALL animals can still be treated w/COMPASSION AND love, even when they are sacrificed as our food! YES! IT is possible!"
Yes they should be, and if they must be killed for consumption it should be done quickly so they don't suffer.
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THE REAL culprit is the Goddess awful farming methods that are being used today! These methods are not only HARMFUL to the environment, they are ALSO harmful to ANIMALS and subsequently to US! IF cows were raised on grass -- like they SHOULD be -- we would not have these issues.
AND, we would eat LESS MEAT b/c grassfed beef is MORE FILLING and of course FAR MORE nutritious! But oh my Goddess, WHERE would that leave CORPORATIONS that grow these animals?
And, Sarah D. I agree w/what you write for the msot part, except ALL animals can still be treated w/COMPASSION AND love, even when they are sacrificed as our food! YES! IT is possible!
Also, I for one cannot do w/o meat -- when I tried, I got really sick and almost didn't make it.
If the farming is done right -- IT ALL WORKS IN CONJUCTION FOR THE GOOD OF THIS PLANET AND US. I know many farmers who have grassfed cows and I SEE how this all works synergistically for OUR GOOD.
We MUST get away from non grassfed beef and all the other crap in restaurants (esp fast food) and keep ourselves informed! THIS is our only salvation! And if you don't want to eat meat -- good, so do and some MUST!
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As our dependence on electricity keeps on increasing, as does the size of hydro fields that many times are left natural, why not put cattle on it??? Sure, fencing is required, but most of the fields are already fenced as they don't want humans trespassing.
I doubt the cattle are going to try to climb the towers, accidentally electrocute themselves, then sue the pants of the utility company!
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You think, James, that just because you don't eat meat you're better than everyone else. The truth and reality is that you're not. All you're doing is showing that veganism/vegetarianism promotes prejudice.
Fine if you don't want to eat meat, but don't force your beliefs on those of us who eat meat and don't guilt those of us who eat meat.
I also suggest you go back to school and take a few classes on health, nutrition, biology, zoology, evolution, and anthropology.
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"You say that vegetarianism and being vegan aren't for everyone. You're right - they're for people who have empathy and compassion and actually care that our defenseless friends are being tortured and slaughtered."
Your comment spews total ignorance and prejudice James.
It makes you sound like the typical stereotypical vegan/vegetarian who knows nothing about animals and just points the finger at humans and screams "murderer!"
"It's morally proven, it's scientifically proven"
It's also scientifically proven that you can be healthy and eat meat at the same time. If you paid attention in biology, you'd know that. If you also paid attention in biology you'd know that humans are also animals, we share most of our DNA with the apes - chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and orangutans - in the wild.
Furthermore, where did I mention anything in my post that we should torture animals before we kill them for food?
Also, do you really think animals are killed humanely in the wild? Do you think a tiger, bear, crocodile, or shark or bear stops to think, "Hmmm... When I kill this animal, will they suffer?" If you watched a nature documentary, you'd notice how the animals suffer when they are caught, attacked and killed by other animals.
Dolphins and chimpanzees have been observed torturing their prey before killing them. They take pleasure in the violence, it's been observed that dolphins and chimps also take pleasure in bullying their own kind.
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Just a thought, but it appears to me that as a species, we are slowly evolving away from meat consumption. It appears that human illnesses caused by consuming meat are on the rise, and not only those caused by meat infested with bacteria. Our bodies just can't seem to handle meat very well any more, apparently rejecting the high fat content of most meats. On the other hand, it appears that we are also consuming more meat, therefore have more diet-related problems caused by meat. Whatever the case, it appears that the human body is no longer well-suited to meat consumption.
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