Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Halve meat consumption, scientists urge rich world [View all]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/18/halve-meat-consumption-scientists<snip>
People in the rich world should become "demitarians" eating half as much meat as usual, while stopping short of giving it up in order to avoid severe environmental damage, scientists have urged, in the clearest picture yet of how farming practices are destroying the natural world.
They said the horsemeat scandal had uncovered the dark side of our lust for meat, which has fuelled a trade in undocumented livestock and mislabelled cheap ready meals. "There is a food chain risk," said Prof Mark Sutton, who coined the term demitarian and is lead author of a UN Environment Programme (Unep) study published on Monday. "Now is a good time to talk to people about this."
The quest for ever cheaper meat in the past few decades most people even in rich countries ate significantly less meat one and two generations ago has resulted in a massive expansion of intensively farmed livestock. This has diverted vast quantities of grain from human to animal consumption, requiring intensive use of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides and, according to the Unep report, "caused a web of water and air pollution that is damaging human health". The run-off from these chemicals is creating dead zones in the seas, causing toxic algal blooms and killing fish, while some are threatening bees, amphibians and sensitive ecosystems. "The attention this meat scare has drawn [highlights] poor quality meat. It shows society must think about livestock and food choices much more, for the environment and health," said Sutton.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
115 replies, 9571 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (66)
ReplyReply to this post
115 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I'm with you. I had pasta with cream of mushroom soup and peas poured over it. It was actually
Ed Suspicious
Feb 2013
#28
not that difficult to cut out meat 4 to5 days a week, then on to 7 days a week nt
msongs
Feb 2013
#3
yup.I could never be a hunter myself, but the lives the animals lead before death are so much better
renate
Feb 2013
#78
We should eat more Burmese python. They are a real PITA in FL, and we would be doing FL a favor. nt
raccoon
Feb 2013
#8
This describes us. When we're out at somebody's house, we'll eat what's served
riderinthestorm
Feb 2013
#56
Maybe he should tell the Chinese to cut it out. They lead the world in absolute terms
Ikonoklast
Feb 2013
#17
I have been trying to eat all of the cows, pigs, birds, and fish, but they keep making more!
Dustlawyer
Feb 2013
#26
I agree with almost everything you just posted except for the "model for all" line.
Gorp
Feb 2013
#110
Allan Savory's "Holistic Pasture Management" is incredible in rebuilding soils...
drokhole
Feb 2013
#60
Eat organic free-range birds, eggs, pork and beef. We had already cut back on chicken and beef
firenewt
Feb 2013
#47
You just keep your pale, pasty and chapped hands off my 'beef, pork, lamb, goat'... ;) eom
Purveyor
Feb 2013
#51
I didn't think that I could give up meat, but I really enjoy my meat & dairy-free meals
emsimon33
Feb 2013
#63
IIRC some vegies such as spinach have much more protein than meat, without the risks
Fire Walk With Me
Mar 2013
#114