- checking login information
Loading...Is Our Diet Depleting the Planet?
- Laura Shults
- March 14, 2012
- 3:30 pm
- 90 comments
Everyone has heard of Global Warming, but Global Depletion is much less known. As vast as Global Warming may seem, it is only a small piece in the growing puzzle of Global Depletion, which refers to the loss of all of Earth’s renewable and non-renewable resources.
One of the few books that captures the whole scope of Global Depletion, instead of focusing on issues that branch off from the real problem, is Comfortably Unaware, by Dr. Richard A. Oppenlander. This book reaches deep into the heart of the issue, where society seems to avoid looking.
While unaware of the issue of Global Depletion, many of us are not even aware of the true cause of Global Warming, which has been given such publicity. While carbon dioxide is allocated the majority of the blame for climate change, Oppenlander reveals that “Our current food choices detrimentally affect climate change and global warming more so than do all the cars, planes, trucks, buses, and trains used worldwide.”
It is not our lights being left on or our fans running (although they contribute) that are destroying our planet; it is our eating habits. And it is not turning off the light or air conditioning that will save the Earth, it is the shift to a plant based diet.
Read more: Do Good, Eco-friendly tips, Environment, Food, Global Healing, Health, Make a Difference, Vegan, environmental health, global depletion, global warming, vegan, veganism
Laura Shults
Laura Shults is working to spread peace through veganism, and is devoted to finding the truth through love and harmony.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Good tips to know.
I've tried #9, vegan omelete and it's great! Thanks for all the ideas.
Thank you.
interesting
Thanks .
90 comments
+ add your ownthanks for sharing
Carl, continuing with a meat based diet is devastating our environment and the U.N. reported that raising animals for food is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale from local to global." This would be true regardless of the rising population, although the huge rise in population is also a very big problem.
Dee, this is a great point but a bit off topic. We cannot continue to consume a meat and dairy based diet or soon the shortages of resources are going to kill so many people than are already dying because of the ignorance of so many!
thank you
Roberta - Then support Planned Parenthood and contraception programs around the world.
Of course, I'm doubting a village of Etheopians would consume as many resources as one typical American, but it would help them by perhaps easing their poverty. One less mouth to feed equals more for the rest of the family.
Elizabeth G. - I agree that it would be great for people to cut down on animal consumption but please share - why does everyone have to "not give up meat"? Does everyone really have to eat animal flesh and if so, why do you think that way?
the reason you should be concerned Carl is because if everyone in the world ate a typical American diet we would need 4 earth-sized planets to meet the need for meat. other countries may be having larger populations explosions but we're the ones wasting a greater amount of energy and other resources. so unless you know where we can get our hands on 3 more earth-like planets you need to make more responsible choices.
Good point Chelsea, you are on target. I'm a vegan. I have it down pat. I haven't been sick in years because I am a vegan. I eat no animal fat, only plant protein and my heart loves it. My brain is fed by ground flaxseed for Omegas and I have vegs and fruits and vegs every day. 4 1/2 cups of them. I don't get colds, i don't get high blood pressure and I exercise plus do yoga. The last time I went to a doctor he was smoking in his office. Not cool. Write to me if you have any questions at all. Make sure you get enough fiber. I aim for 38 grams daily. OH, protein I eat approx 41 grams daily. VEGANISM is EASY! I endorse a plant protein drink that is chocolate. Write me for the name. :) :)
To me, this article is about 3 conversations at once:
1) The problems with consumerism (thank to Pamela H. for pointing this out)
2) Human overpopulation
3) Animal suffering because of humans and our activities/habits
All three should be addressed directly. Many point out that certain nations disproportionately consume the planet (quite literally), while others continue to indulge in rampant and flagrant overpopulation (usually facilitated by religions) and this is in many ways levied on the backs of OTHER species, free (wildlife) and slave (domesticated) alike, and there does need to be fact-finding and truth seeking independent of the animal industries in whose interests "studies" are conducted that support the consumption of other species in one form or another.
This is a good article - it's opened the Pandora's Box of discussion on three fronts, and those three topics can be addressed as stand-alone issues or as macro-intertwined issues.
Why should I restrict my lifestyle to handle the irresponsible population growth in other parts of the world ?
E.g. in my lifetime the population in my country has risen by 10% and this is due to immigration.
In the same time Somalia's population has grown by 200%, India's by over 100%, Pakistan's by over 200%, China's by about 90%, Iraq's by almost 300%, Iran's by 200% and so on
And except for China none of them are doing anything significant about it.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment