Canadian citizens talk about “meat tax.”

Recently, an article appeared in “The Citizen,” the largest newspaper in the city of Ottawa, describing how meat production contributes greatly to global warming . The article cited the 2006 United Nations report, which found that the livestock industry generates 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than all the world’s transportation sectors combined.

Citizen, Ottawa, Canada

Young man: There are tons of transport trucks transporting these cows across the country.

Older woman 1: I have read articles and there has been some research done, particularly with the methane gas.

Young man: Raising the animals and just the sort of hidden costs that you don’t, can’t see when you eat a steak or whatever.

The author of the article titled “Pot Roasts Should Cost,” is Kate Heartfield, an Ottawa Citizen editorial board member. She stated: “When people talk about carbon taxes, they never talk about meat. This strange silence is partly attributable to a vocabulary problem: we talk about carbon dioxide so much, we forget that it’s not the only greenhouse gas, or even the most dangerous one.” 

Ms. Heartfield continues to explain: “Livestock rearing does release carbon into the atmosphere, in particular through the razing of forests (cattle need a lot of land and food). But that’s nothing compared to the scary amounts of methane and nitrous oxide emitted by cattle herds and manure.”


A tax on meat would encourage people to shift toward a meat-free diet. Supreme Master Television’s correspondent finds out what the people of Ottawa think about the “meat tax” concept and the greenhouse gas-reducing vegetarian (vegan) diet.

Middle-aged woman 2 in Ottawa, Canada: I think a vegetarian (vegan) diet should be encouraged for health reasons, not only the environment, and achieve both goals at the same time.
Young Man in Ottawa, Canada: I don’t think necessarily a tax on meat is the way to go per se, but perhaps making people more aware of the choices as far as what they can eat.

As the author of the article noted, “Meaningful environmental policy means re-ordering our values.” Perhaps those who are the most ready to make lifestyle changes that ensure the sustainability of their long-term environment are citizens with children.

Supreme Master Television correspondent, Canada: There was an article a few weeks ago about the possibility of putting a tax on meat to encourage people to be a little more vegetarian (vegan). What do you think about that concept?

Father with 2 young daughters: I have no problem with that. I think we need to address global warming. But obviously everybody’s got to do their part to help save the planet for our children.

Father with young daughters: You don’t have to suffer to enjoy vegetarian (vegan) food.

Are you concerned about climate destabilization or global warming?

Mother with 3 young kids: Yes indeed, I’m very concerned. Big concern for any parent.

And you’ve got a couple of young children?

Mother: Three.

The United Nations did a study a couple of years ago, and they linked meat production as a major contributor to global warming.

Mother with 3 young kids: There’s a big demand for fast food and so on. It seems like it is a big problem, in more ways than one, and health benefits as well. Health detriment, I should say.

Are you a vegetarian (vegan)?

Mother with 3 young kids: Yes. Yes I am.

We thank Ms. Heartfield and the Ottawa Citizen newspaper for stimulating the public’s awareness about the impact of meat on global warming. We urge our brave leaders in all countries to take a stand on the reality of the unacceptable costs of producing meat - for the environment and our families’ health.

Food shortages and famine can be halted by giving up meat, fish and dairy.

In the article titled “Why Vegans Were Right All Along,” prize-winning investigative journalist George Monbiot of the UK’s Guardian explains that raising animals for meat make very inefficient use of water and grain, with each pound of beef protein requiring 100,000 liters of water and 5.86 pounds of grain. As demand for meat increases, the animals and the grain needed to feed them goes up

exponentially.  Mr. Monbiot states, “Structural global famine will be avoided only if the rich start to eat less meat.” However, a further shift to a complete plant-based (vegan) diet without dairy and eggs is necessary to truly reduce resources consumed enough to avert famine. He concludes by stating: “Faced with these figures, it now seems plain that (eating vegan is) the only ethical response to what is arguably the world's most urgent social justice issue.”

Thank you, Mr. Monbiot, for helping us to see how our food choices contribute directly to the current global food crisis. We pray that everyone will soon choose from the wide array of delicious vegetarian (vegan) foods for the benefit of all world citizens.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/dec/24/christmas.famine, http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/101.2005.htm 


Warming temperatures could trigger tsunami in North Sea.
 
Global warming, which is heating up the world’s oceans, could also cause the dissolution of methanhydrates or ice caps that contain methane gas. In their solid state the caps act as a cement to underwater geological structures. However, according to research by Dr. Angus Best of the UK’s University of Southampton, rising temperatures could cause the gases to release and the structures to collapse. This in turn could trigger tsunami-size waves in the North Sea, with damage expected to be greatest in Norway and Scotland.

Our sincere gratitude Dr. Best and colleagues for pointing out the potential consequence of upsetting our Earth’s delicate balance. May the care of our planet be a foremost concern, to ensure our survival and her future health.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,441819,00.html

Asian forum participants advocate less meat consumption.

This weekend at China’s international Boao Forum for Asia 2008, participants also met for a session called “Climate change: Change Business, Change Us.” Gerard Kleisterlee, chairman and CEO of Royal Philips Electronics Group, was among several who suggested that vegetarian (vegan) options can reduce CO2 emissions. 

We convey our thanks, green participants of the Boao Forum for Asia and all leaders who encourage turning toward a plant-based diet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. May all people the world over be graced to go vegetarian (vegan) and save our precious planet.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7969665.htm