The Power of Eating for the Planet
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Going plant-based, is an act of kindness towards the planet. What we choose to eat is one of the most significant ways that human beings can impact the world they live in. Switch from a meat-based diet to a diet based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables directly correlates to the improvement of the environment through - reducing water and land use, lowering pollution and slows down deforestation among many other benefits! Let's dive in.
A recent report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence brought up quite alarming news. A threat of water shortages around the world will be felt between now and the year 2040. The HUGE amount of water consumed by the livestock industry is at fault, meat products are sometimes hundreds of times more water intensive to produce that plant foods. Scaling back on using animals for food would be an instrumental solution and a great start for a better tomorrow.
Carbon Footprint & Animal Habitats
We cannot continue to overlook the devastating contributions that animal agriculture has on global warming. Livestock production is responsible for a very large portion of global greenhouse emissions, and not to mention the billion tons of manure sitting in factory farm "lagoons" producing astronomical levels of methane, a gas which warms the earth 20 times faster than carbon dioxide. Mix these factors in with the mass machinery and fuel used to grow and feed livestock - that's an extremely dangerous cocktail. How do these corporations find room for animal agriculture? Through deforestation, and desertification which happens when livestock grazing destroys native vegetation and speed of soil erosion. Both of these actions contribute greatly to the extinction of entire species.
The Environmental Crisis
By choosing to move towards a plant-based diet, you are making a conscious effort in fighting back against the industries that are literally destroying the world. Vital crop resources should be fed to people, not to raise cattle for the meat industry. With all the excellent resources out there and delicious plant-based options, the switch over should be seamless. In doing so you will cut down your carbon footprint, save water supples and help save the planet.