United Nations and European Commission call for shift toward vegan diet to save the Earth. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the European Commission have jointly launched a major report calling for radical change in the way that economies use resources known to be dwindling at alarming rates, in order to minimize environmental impact.
The study, titled “Assessing Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority Products and Materials,” identified two leading causes of environmental pressure: fossil fuels and agriculture, with specific attention given to the livestock raising sector.
Authored by researchers from the UNEP-hosted International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, the report states: “Agriculture and food consumption are identified as one of the most important drivers of environmental pressures, especially habitat change, climate change, water use and toxic emissions.”
The report further explains that with a growing global population and developing economies, the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation will be even more dangerous – unless patterns of production and consumption, especially starting at home, become more sustainable.
Particularly highlighted is the fact that an unsustainably large proportion of the world’s crops are currently fed to livestock, resulting in such damaging effects as excessively high water consumption and toxic use of pesticides and fertilizers, with the report saying that a global drop in meat consumption is vital to avoid devastating consequences.
The authors state: “A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner further highlighted the destructive role of livestock, stating, “Two broad areas are currently having a disproportionately high impact on people and the planet's life support systems—these are energy in the form of fossil fuels and agriculture, especially the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products…Some tough choices are signaled in this report, but it may prove even more challenging for everyone if the current paths continue into the coming decades.”
The report, which will be presented to world governments, urges policy makers to adopt strict but creative measures to avoid these adverse consequences.
Our appreciation, Executive Director Steiner, United Nations Environment Program, European Commission and International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management scientists for your leadership in stating the need to prioritize a widespread shift to a diet free of animal products. May wise governments and individuals worldwide quickly heed this call to ensure the survival of lives on Earth.
Supreme Master Ching Hai has similarly spoken on many occasions of the immense toll of meat and fish production on the planet, tirelessly urging for a global switch to plant-based fare, as in the following excerpt from an October 2009 videoconference in Germany.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: But even though our predicament is very grave, we do still have time if we act now. And the solution is still very simple. Well, you know it, right? It’s the vegan diet – no animal products.
According to the most recent figures from scientists, livestock raising is actually responsible for more than 50% of global warming. The original United Nations report in 2006, “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” spoke in bold terms even already about the damage caused by the livestock industry, saying that, “It is one of the topmost significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale, from local to global.”
First, depleted land and forests. According to the United Nations, livestock is the main reason for deforestation which in turn is causing tragic declines in natural biodiversity.
Second, wasted resources. For every kilogram of animal protein produced, livestock are fed about 6 kilograms of plant protein.
Third, wasted water. Scientists have found that each person eating a meat and dairy based diet uses around 4,500 gallons of water per day, compared to 300 gallons per day for a vegan diet.
Fourth, wasted energy. It takes 8 times as much fossil fuel to produce animal products as to produce plant food. This is the key. If everyone switches to this beneficial lifestyle, our planet will be cooled in no time, scientifically speaking and my promise.
http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/documents/pdf/PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report_Full.pdfhttp://www.uneptie.org/shared/publications/pdf/WEBx0159xPA-PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Summary_EN.pdfhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34886&Cr=sustainability&Cr1=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34886&Cr=sustainability&Cr1=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6501M0.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/avservices/player/streaming.cfm?type=ebsvod&sid=161127 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diethttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7797594/Eat-less-meat-to-save-the-planet-UN.html Extra NewsBased on data gathered from 6,300 global monitoring stations, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration expert climatologist Dr. James Hansen reports that average surface temperatures on Earth for a 12-month period ending in April 2010 are the warmest on record.
http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/nation-digest-world-at-warmest-on-record-scientist-724204.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-02/world-is-at-warmest-on-record-nasa-s-hansen-says-update1-.htmlThe world’s leading mobile phone supplier, Finland’s multinational communications corporation Nokia, releases a green bicycle-powered cell phone battery charger and four low-cost phones that can be shared among friends and family.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/nokie-unveils-pedal-powered-phones/story-e6frfku0-1225875183744 http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/broadband-stimulus/topics/mobile-networks/articles/87203-nokia-unleashes-new-lower-cost-phones-europe-plus.htmUpon the request of the public, a survey of chicken meat is conducted, with samples collected from supermarkets across Moscow, Russia revealing that 80% are contaminated with disease-causing Salmonella bacteria.
http://rt.com/prime-time/2010-06-02/chicken-meat-salmonella-moscow.htmlhttp://english.ruvr.ru/rtvideo/2010/06/02/video_8972041.html
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