SAVE THE PLANET – ONE FORKFUL AT A TIME
Join the Meat-Free Monday Campaign!
The raising of cows, pigs and chicken in animal factories contributes to:
* Global warming, as huge amounts of greenhouse-gas emissions are released.
The livestock sector generates enormous amounts of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (mostly coming from animal manure) and methane (largely produced by the digestive system of ruminants).
Close to 1/3 of all fossil fuels produced in the U.S. go towards animal agriculture. Every link in the chain of events that brings a meat-based diet from the factory or feedlot to the table demands huge amounts of electricity.
A 2010 United Nations report concluded that a shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.
* Water pollution from manure runoff into sources of water.
Massive amounts of manure get funneled into huge waste lagoons, which often break, leak or overflow, polluting sources of water with nitrogen and phosphorus … causing oxygen-depleting algal blooms, toxic algae and fish kills.
* Water depletion from the immense amount of water required to raise crops to feed the animals.
More water is withdrawn from the Ogallala aquifer every year for beef production than is used to grow all the fruits and vegetables in the entire country. If we continue pumping out the Ogallala at current rates, it’s only a matter of time before most of the wells in the midwest and southwest will go dry, and portions of these states will become scarcely habitable for human beings.
* Human illness.
Close to 80% of antibiotics manufactured today are fed daily – like vitamins – to factory raised livestock, to ensure rapid growth. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is taking us towards a time when antibiotics will not longer work.
Toxic algae from manure runoff and fertilizers (used on corn and soy which is fed to factory raised animals) can impair human health. Toxic algae made the water unsafe to drink for several days in Toledo, Ohio.
* Honeybee demise from the corn planted to feed the animals.
Most corn is genetically manipulated by artificially gene splicing together completely different species, bypassing the natural species barrier. These corn seeds are encapsulated with neonicotine pesticides. Neonicotines are strongly linked to the demise of honeybees, a major pollinator for our food supply.
* Foul air in rural communities from nearby animal factories.
Dust particles, carrying toxic ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, can penetrate the lungs of humans living nearby.
* Rainforest depletion as millions of trees are decimated for grazing and crop production in the Amazon.
Livestock production is responsible for 70% of deforestation in the Amazon region of Latin America, where rainforests are being cleared to create new pastures.
TAKE ACTION:
* Adopt a plant-based diet (at least) one day per week. Nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables can meet our daily nutrient requirements.
* Educate family and friends, PTA, restaurants, local grocers, and groups focused on sustainability, health and humane treatment of animals.
* Organize neighborhood block parties or potlucks with a plant-based theme.
* Show the short animated movie “The Meatrix” at gatherings. Click on http://www.themeatrix.com/
* Encourage lawmakers to pass city resolutions.
* Ask people to sign a pledge.
* Ask restaurants and schools to have a Meat-free Monday alternative.
* Offer recipes: www.vegweb.com
For more information, please contact:
Laurel Hopwood <lbhopwood@yahoo.com>
MEAL IDEAS:
Some people cannot imagine dinner without animal products. Yet there is a multitude of possibilities of nutritious, delicious meals made with legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables! Googling plant-based meals or going to the bookstore or library to learn about plant-based cooking are ways to learn.
The other good news is – although there is a tendency to equate beans with flatus – that risk can be minimized! Soak dry beans with 2 parts water overnight. Discard the water, then rinse the beans. Cook on stove top, in a pressure cooker or crockpot. (There’s no need to soak lentils or split peas.)
Examples of whole grains: barley, brown/wild rice, buckwheat, couscous, kammit, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, spelt, and whole wheat.
Examples of legumes: adzuki, lima, black bean, blackeye peas, chickpeas; Great Northern, kidney, lentils, navy, peanuts, pinto, red beans, soy (tempeh/miso), split peas.
Examples of healthy snacks to keep in your car or on your person: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Here are meals that are cheap, easy and healthy for the body and planet.
1) Indian: Cook one cup dry lentils with three parts water. Add curry, turmeric, and garlic powder. Mix with rice and chopped onions. In less than an hour, you not only have dinner, but leftovers can be frozen.
2) Mexican: Cook one cup dry pinto beans with three parts water. Add garlic, cumin and jalapenos or crushed red chili. Pour onto corn tortillas. Add onions, tomatoes and greens.
3) Lebanese: Cook one cup dry garbanzo (chickpeas) with three parts water. Add garlic, 2 Tab olive oil, 1/3 lemon juice 1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste) and 1/3 cup water from cooked beans. Mix in blender or food processor. Serve with sprouted, multigrain tortillas.
Sample Meatless Monday Resolution for any city:
A resolution declaring that the City of XXX recognizes the benefits of a diet high in plant-based sources and encourages residents to participate in Meatless Monday to improve their health and the health of the planet.
Whereas, “Meatless Monday” is a non-profit initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health which encourages people to consume plant-based food alternatives other than animal-based products at least one day a week; and
Whereas, there is a strong body of scientific evidence indicating that legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables can reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Whereas, school districts in some of the nation’s largest cities, including Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and San Diego, have adopted Meatless Monday which encourages students to eat plant-based meals to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.
Whereas, livestock production emits a significant share of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere; and the United Nations recognizes that “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems” and according to the United Nations, the world faces “severe, widespread and irreversible” effects of climate change unless it takes urgent action to limit global warming; and
Whereas, plant-based agriculture and eating habits support resiliency to climate change while limiting the likelihood of animal manure polluting fresh water and causing toxic algae blooms; and
Whereas, over ninety percent of animal-based foods come from factory farm style production where animals live in stressful confinement, endure various forms of mutilation and suffer from unhealthy conditions resulting in the overuse of antibiotics; and
Whereas, the overuse of antibiotics in animal factories is contributing to the significant public health concern of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of XXX:
That this Council declares that the city of XXX recognizes the benefits of a diet high in plant-based sources and encourages residents to participate in Meatless Monday to improve their health and the health of the planet.