National Geographic discusses global food shortage.
In the magazine’s June 2009 issue, an article titled “The Global Food Crisis, The End of Plenty,” by Joel K. Bourne, Jr. reports that more food is being consumed around the globe than is being produced.
Highlighting meat production as one of the main causes of this crisis, Mr. Bourne wrote, “It takes up to five times more grain to get the equivalent amount of calories from eating pork as from simply eating grain itself—ten times if we're talking about grain-fattened U.S. beef.” Annual worldwide grain consumption has increased from 815 million metric tons to 2.16 billion in the last half century years as more is grown for livestock and other industries like biofuels.
The prices of corn and wheat have tripled in the past three years. Mr. Bourne, we appreciate your report that so clearly reveals meat as a cause of the world’s food crisis. May more and more people see that true food security comes from the global adoption of the plant-based diet.
In an international gathering in August 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai, who is always concerned for the welfare of humanity, spoke of the harms of raising livestock, offering a simple solution.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: We have enough food to eat, actually. You’re not taking food away from anyone. The meat consumption is the worst. Meat consumption is the one that takes away all things. Water, cereals, and the vegetable protein, up to 85 percent of it. So, it’s taking away a lot of the world resources.
We’re going to damage this planet. The resources will be running out. It’s already running out.
People are hungry worldwide, because of meat diet. Because all the food are fed to the animals; the resources and the land and everything. I can never talk enough about that.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: If the people turn to noble lifestyle, just even be vegetarian to save the planet, to save the animals, that’s enough to save them also.
Reference
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/cheap-food/bourne-text
Sir Paul McCartney advocates Meat-Free days to reduce greenhouse gases.
Former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney has launched a “Meat-Free Monday” campaign in the UK, encouraging people to give up meat to curb climate change.
Many celebrities and other notable personalities lent their support to the cause, including his two daughters Stella and Mary McCartney, celebrated Japanese-American artist and musician Yoko Ono, British entrepreneur and humanitarian Sir Richard Branson, American singer-songwriter Moby, American musician Sheryl Crow, American actor and environmental advocate Woody Harrelson, and more. Famous chefs such as Oliver Peyton, Giorgio Locatelli and Yotam Ottolenghi have also started vegetarian menus to support the meat-free mission on www.supportmfm.org.
Sir Paul McCartney stated, “Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once."
In an online video message, Sir Paul goes on to say:Sir Paul McCartney (M): This is a campaign that's already happening in the U.S. and in Australia.
It's been proved, that if this was to happen, it would have a hugely beneficial effect on the climate. So this is something you could do for the environment.
If you're interested,look up the website for more details. And join us in this effort. Reduce meat.”Our hats off to you, Sir Paul McCartney for this clarion call to action to save the planet one meat-free day at a time.
Let us all greet the heralding of a progressive new way of living, one that bring more harmony to our environment.
Reference
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/15/paul-mccartney-meat-free-monday
http://www.paulmccartney.com/news.php#/1634/2009-06
http://www.supportmfm.org/
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a3xCgBOWHyt4
http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Paul-McCartney-and-
Yoko-Ono-team-up-for-No-Meat-on-Monday-campaign-slideshow
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/mccartney-urges-
meatfree-days-to-tackle-climate-change-1705289.html