Save the Cow, Save the World...

"If we continue to consume meat and dairy at the current rate both animals and the planet will suffer."
- Joyce D'Silva, Ambassador for Compassion in World Farming

When we look at food, we usually only think about how it affects us (i.e. "How many calories are in this?"), if we think about it at all. For example...

You wouldn't pay someone to kick a puppy, or throw rocks at a cat. But, anytime you buy red meat, you're supporting an industry built on animal cruelty. In some farms, cows are kept in filthy pens without sufficient space to move around. The weak and sick are prodded with electric shocks, and must be moved using forklifts since they are not well enough to walk on their own. It's an abomination that must be stopped. The good news is that buy consuming less red meat, it can also lessen the abuse of animals. That's one of the reasons that this diet is so great.

The second reason for our "almost-vegetarianism" is that it's great for the environment. To farm cattle (without cruelty), you need a lot of grazing land. This means you have to clear forests, and even the parts that survive will probably be trampled or eaten by the bovines. Another fact is that cows produce a lot of methane (a greenhouse gas); in a year, a cow will produce a little over 300 lbs of it! But, wait! Where's the beef? It still needs to be transported to your local supermarket. Altogether, animal production produces 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Our diet is the perfect compromise, it still allows you to eat meat and reap many of the benefits of a vegetarian diet. And, as you'll see, it's also healthier. So, come on over to the side with the turkey bacon! (Below is some additional motivation to give up red meat...)




AWWWWWWWWW!!!