TOVE:
We are actually seeing the entire planet move towards what we call
『tipping points,』 the point where we lose control and no one can really
tell us exactly what’s going to happen, except that it’s going to be
big, it’s going be ugly, it’s going to lead to even more emissions and
we are not going to be able to reverse it.
HOST: Welcome
to Planet Earth: Our Loving Home. Scientific studies from around the
world conclude that the cycle of producing and consuming animal products
is directly responsible for the heating of our planet, and the
consequences of climate change are frightening for humans, animals and
the environment.
The polar ice caps are melting, sea levels are
rising, droughts, floods and extreme weather events are occurring with
increasing frequency and drinking water is rapidly becoming scarce.
If
we do not stop this cycle, runaway climate change will become a
reality, with humankind being unable to save our planet. On today’s
program, we’ll examine several critical signs that show we’re on the
verge of disaster and need to take immediate, rapid action to correct
our current course.
Daniela (f):
One of the real problems that we are facing now is the amount of people
with respect to the amount of land for producing food to enable those
people to live.
So, the stress that we’re putting on land and
water more than anything is extremely high, because growing plants and
growing food for animals is what weighs more on agriculture. And animals
are basically being fed in order to feed humans.
HOST: The 2010
book, 『Livestock In a Changing Landscape,』 by Henning Steinfeld, Chief
of the Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch of the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and other experts
present the following sobering facts about how animal agriculture
has overtaken our planet:
• Livestock production occupies more than one-fourth of Earth's land mass
• Production of animal feed consumes about one-third of Earth's total arable land
• Only one-third of the nutrients fed to livestock are absorbed; the resulting animal waste seriously pollutes land and water
For more details on the individuals featured in today’s program, please visit the following respective websites:
Charles Hleronymi
www.Bafu.Admin.chDr. Charles Ian McNeill
www.UNDP.orgTove Maria Ryding
www.greenpeace.org/denmarkDaniela Tarizzo
www.UNCCD.int