A Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices

[Guest guest]

This the title of a new book, the first chapter can be read at

 

http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/guide.ch1.html

 

UCS, (Union of Concerned Scientists) in the USA, developed an

economic model to analyse the impact of household spending on the

most significant consumer related environmental problems:

Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Alteration of Natural Habitats;

and Global Warming.

After grouping 134 consumer spending choices into 50 categories

(Like furnishings, clothing, computers) the authors discovered that

most environmental degregation is linked to just 7 categories:

CARS (At the top)

MEAT!!!!!!

Produce & grains;

Household appliances and lighting;

Home heating and cooling;

Home construction;

Household water & sewage.

 

Cars and light trucks cause the MOST environmental damage overall and

are responsible for nearly HALF of the toxic Air Pollution and more

than 25% of the Greenhouse gases traceable to HOUSEHOLD consumption.

 

Food is second only to transportation as a source of consumer related

environmental problems. RED MEAT causes especially high amounts of

environmental damage for the nutrition it delivers. According to the

book cutting the average household's meat consumption (Red meat &

poultry) in half would reduce food related land use and common water

pollution by 20% & 24% respectively.

 

Replacing beef with grains and produce can significantly improve

the environment said Brower. People can also help the environment by

buying ORGANIC foods.

 

There is a " Great Green Web Game " at www.ucsusa.org Try it!!!

 

Hope you find this interesting and informative.

 

Love Peace & harmony

 

Chris