Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Vegan and veggie products

11 Comments

by Katie Kish · 03/14/07

As a newly proclaimed vegan I found this site extremely awesome and helpful. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 8 years but I never wanted to get into the vegan thing because of milk and cheese. But 3 weeks ago I decided to go for it! Now it’s great to have that site as a resource for what to look for. Any other tips on how to make it an easier transition for a pre-milk lover would be great too.

I’m not a huge fan of the PETA acts, you know, throwing pictures of dying baby pigs in your face and chickens living in cells with little to no space to even breath… But I will tell you that veganism and vegetarianism is a lot better for the environment.

Climate change: With rising temperatures, rising sea levels, melting icecaps and glaciers, shifting ocean currents and weather patterns, climate change is the most serious challenge facing the human race. The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport….Livestock are also responsible for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems.

Water: The livestock sector is a key player in increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feedcrops. It is probably the largest sectoral source of water pollution, contributing to eutrophication, “dead” zones in coastal areas, degradation of coral reefs, human health problems, emergence of antibiotic resistance and many others. The major sources of pollution are from animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feedcrops, and sediments from eroded pastures.

Land degredation: Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation, especially in Latin America where the greatest amount of deforestation is occurring – 70 percent of previous forested land in the Amazon is occupied by pastures, and feedcrops cover a large part of the remainder.

Biodiversity: Indeed, the livestock sector may well be the leading player in the reduction of biodiversity, since it is the major driver of deforestation, as well as one of the leading drivers of land degradation, pollution, climate change, overfishing, sedimentation of coastal areas and facilitation of invasions by alien species.

It’s something to consider, and getting easier to do every day!

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