Vegan Wednesday!

The Environmental Impact of an Animal Based Diet

Vegansociety.com states:

A report commissioned by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank concluded that factory farming, "acts directly on land, water, air and biodiversity through the emission of animal waste, use of fossil fuels and substitution of animal genetic resources. In addition, it affects the global land base indirectly through its effect on the arable land needed to satisfy its feed concentrate requirements. Ammonia emissions from manure storage and application lead to localized acid rain and ailing forests.

Animal agriculture depletes valuable natural resources. An overwhelming majority of grain harvest in the United States is used to feed farm animals. Various ecosystems have been disrupted to be turned into crop and grazing land. Meanwhile, the waste produced by these very same farm animals has led to some very unsavory consequences. In states with a lot of animal agriculture have seen their waterways become rife with pfiesteria bacteria. In addition to killing fish, this bacteria causes open sores, nausea, memory loss, fatigue, and breathing problems in humans. It's become such a problem in farming areas, that no one wants to coexist with such pollution. So much for that picture perfect idea of the happy farmer on his tractor, right?

Go Vegan for a Healthy Planet
A 2006 study by Gidon Eshel and Pamela Martin, assistant professors of geophysics at the University of Chicago, found that a person switching from the average American diet to a vegan diet would reduce CO2 emissions by 1,485 kg per year.

By choosing a vegetarian or vegan diet, you are dramatically reducing the amount of land, oil, and water resources you consume. Not to mention the pollution your diet causes.

Eating 1 lb. of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving an SUV 40 miles. In other words, you help the planet more by changing your diet rather than your car. Can't afford a hybrid? Buy tofu rather than ground beef!

If you're flirting with the idea of going veg, add this to your list of "pros". Here at Food For Thought we are always adding new vegan & vegetarian items to the grocery area. We also have many animal and environmentally friendly options in our health and beauty and supplement sections. Come in and give us a look!

Oh, and HAPPY EARTH DAY!