Live green: Eat your greens

By Rebecca Harnik

Caring for the environment is one more incentive (amid a whole host of ethical, nutritional and economical reasons) to become a vegetarian.

Speaking from the perspective of a biased vegetarian, I will attempt to tantalize you with the fruitful lifestyle of a vegetarian. Perhaps even if I can’t convert you, some of these facts might make you order the vegetarian option a few times a week, for the sake of the planet. (And your own well-being, too!)


Energy:
Raising animals for livestock requires an immense amount of energy, compared to how much energy would be required to stay at the same trophic level. Producing one pound of beef requires seven pounds of feed grain, and 7,000 pounds of water, according to a Time article.
Eating lower on the food chain (more vegetables, grains and fruits) requires fewer energy inputs, and helps to prevent unnecessary usage of water, fertilizers, and chemicals.

Water:
Agriculture in the United States, which is predominately geared towards the demand of livestock industries, contributes to nearly ¾ of all water quality issues in U.S. rivers and streams, according to studies by the EPA. Excrement, antibiotics and pesticides are key players. Also, many countries experiencing severe shortages of water can attribute their issues to meat production, because of the tremendous amount of water needed to raise livestock.

Greenhouse gases:
According to a recent New York Times article, a 1,100 pound beef cow can produce 14.6 tons of manure annually. The resulting emissions create a very large environmental footprint. In the U.S., livestock produce 130 times as much waste as people do!

Antibiotics:
Use of antibiotics has become very prevalent in order to allow for mass production of meat. This can be dangerous because it can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten effectiveness of medicines for people.

Degradation of natural resources and habitat:
Agriculture is the world's number one cause of deforestation, and the growth in the demand for meat is the largest force for expanding agriculture. Destroying natural habitats decreases biodiversity and puts many species at risk.

This list is not all-inclusive, it simply lists a few of the main issues.

For more details on effects from livestock farming, check out Factory Farm. A good resource if you are thinking of becoming a vegetarian: the Vegetarian society. Another great resource for eating locally, finding hormone free dairy near you, and other community farming organizations is the Eat Well Guide.