MEAT AND THE PLANET:Livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect

As the human population continues to multiply -- and our biological footprint on the planet becomes larger -- so do all the things associated with us, including our livestock, says the New York Times.

For example, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:

At present, there are about 1.5 billion cattle and domestic buffalo and about 1.7 billion sheep and goats in the world. Global livestock grazing and feed production use 30 percent of the land surface of the planet. Livestock -- which consume more food than they yield -- also compete directly with humans for water. But what is even more striking, and alarming, are their effects on the environment:

Livestock are responsible for about 18 percent of the global warming effect, more than transportation's contribution. The culprits are methane -- the natural result of bovine digestion -- and the nitrogen emitted by manure. Deforestation adds to the effect; the drive to expand grazing land destroys more biologically sensitive terrain, rain forests especially, than anything else. There are no easy trade-offs when it comes to global warming -- such as cutting back on cattle to make room for cars, says the Times. The human passion for meat is certainly not about to end anytime soon. Our health and the health of the planet depend on pushing livestock production in more sustainable directions.

Donner und Blitzen,Shermy! Your crude and insensitive post has shocked me, shocked me, I tell you!

Are you so benighted as to be unaware that out of that planet-killing 18% of Global Warming caused by the domestication and eating (ugh) of livestock, fully 4.3% is scientifically attributable to the common domestic reindeer?

Did you not know that members of ethnic groups such as the Lapps, that traditionally consume large amounts of reindeer meat and reindeer byproducts, all die? OK, that alone wouldn't be so bad. But Women, Children, and Members of Federally Protected Minority Groups who live with them and consume reindeer products will also all die. They will still all die even if they were just visiting, you heartless plutocrat!

Enjoy your little Prancer und Dancer canapés with the other Republicans at your exclusive club. But stop and ask yourselves this question:
...was it this blasé attitude toward the epic human tragedy surrounding reindeer consumption that cost the Republicans the last elections?

Definitely. The chart in post 35 proves it beyond the shadow of a doubt. It also proves that this thread is George Bush's fault.

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