An Inconvenient Truth

February 22, 2007

Hi,

A little off topice but not really since land use and environment are

inseperable.

I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was amazing! He was

such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting, funny. I'm renewing my efforts

to be more environmentally consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is

always so much more we can do.

Paula

February 22, 2007

Awesome! And you're definitely right, there's always more to do.

PAULA JOHNSON TEW <johnsontew wrote:

Hi,

A little off topice but not really since land use and environment are

inseperable.

I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was amazing! He

was such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting, funny. I'm renewing my

efforts to be more environmentally consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but

there is always so much more we can do.

Paula

February 22, 2007

Seeing that movie really changed my world perspective. I loved how passionate he

was and would love love love to see him in person presenting that information.

I'm so jealous!

Jessica, Robert, and Baby Jesse

Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

Norman Cousins (1915 - 1990)

PAULA JOHNSON TEW <johnsontew

Vegetarian Parents

Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:30:42 AM

An Inconvenient Truth

Hi,

A little off topice but not really since land use and environment are

inseperable.

I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was amazing! He was

such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting, funny. I'm renewing my efforts

to be more environmentally consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is

always so much more we can do.

Paula

February 22, 2007

I like Al Gore but as an ardent enviro, myself , I was very

disappointed at the overt omission of factory farmings contribution to

global warming .The UN recently released a report regarding livestock

farming and its major impact onclimate change .

here is a link to the report ;

http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.htm

here are a few excerpts from a site I like ;

United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing

herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and

wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental

crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from

producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning

rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.

The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation,

entitled Livestock’s Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by

sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world’s

1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. - Independent

" A few shocking facts from the Livestock’s Long Shadow Report:

Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that

cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of

transport put together.

Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and

to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per

cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide.

Their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of

methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.

Livestock produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more

than two-thirds of the world’s emissions of ammonia, one of the main

causes of acid rain.

Ranching is “the major driver of deforestation” worldwide.

Overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.

Cows soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres

of water to produce one litre of milk.

Wastes from feedlots and fertilisers used to grow their feed

overnourish water, causing weeds to choke all other life.

Pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into

drinking water and endanger human health.

The pollution washes down to the sea, killing coral reefs and

creating “dead zones” devoid of life.

The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the

massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as

demand for meat increases.

Essentially, by reducing or eliminating our appetite for meat, vast

tracts of land that are now straining under hooves and chemicals could

be returned to their natural carbon-absorbing state, and much needed

biodiversity can be returned. This includes not just the land cattle

roam on, but the huge tracts of land used for growing livestock feed.

Rainforests would no longer ‘need’ to be cut down, and the huge

amounts of energy consumed in meat production can be diverted to more

productive activities.

In all, livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all

agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.

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.

I’ll repeat that - livestock production ”takes up 30 percent of the

land surface of the planet.” That’s a lot of polluting, consuming,

baggage we’re carrying. Yes, we need to get rid of our incandescent

light bulbs and our gas-guzzling SUV’s - but let’s also consider the

impact of what we put on our plate "

http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

The UN report just confirms what enviros have long known, so Als

omission is a bit disenhartening esp. since he titled his doc " An

inconvienant truth " I think that perhaps his penchant for meat keeps

him avoiding the issue .It seems sadly ironic to me .I understand that

he does have a single page on 'eating less meat ' on his site but I

have not visited .

If youd like to measure your enviromental footprint upon the planet

there is a great site where you may do so ;

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

Im not trying to cause a fuss or being nasty - just stating a truth

that the vast majority of Americans want to avoid .I like Al Gore and

I appreciate his efforts

I hope that he starts telling the Entire truth though, as it does have

a tremendous impact .

Teresa

here is a link to the report ;

-

Jess <veg4animals2006

Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:18 pm

Re: An Inconvenient Truth

> Seeing that movie really changed my world perspective. I loved how

> passionate he was and would love love love to see him in person

> presenting that information. I'm so jealous!

>

> Jessica, Robert, and Baby Jesse

>

> Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

> Norman Cousins (1915 - 1990)

>

> PAULA JOHNSON TEW <johnsontew

> Vegetarian Parents

> Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:30:42 AM

> An Inconvenient Truth

>

> Hi,

>

> A little off topice but not really since land use and environment

> are inseperable.

>

> I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was

> amazing! He was such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting,

> funny. I'm renewing my efforts to be more environmentally

> consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is always so

> much more we can do.

>

> Paula

>

February 22, 2007

Hi,

I agree that the omission is a disappointment. I always get frustrated with the

" environmental scientists, " " ecotourism experts/advocates, " et cetera at work

who consume meat and don't give it a second thought. Who don't even consider the

impacts of their lifestyle.

I am wondering if it would have turned off many people, caused them not to

listen, if their beloved diet was criticised. We see how defensive people get

about what they eat. Baby steps....

Al Gore did mention that if we are overwhelmed then our reaction is often to

give up/not think about it. It's something to do with the way our brains are

wired...why we can be scared of snakes but not take any action on climate change

even though climate change is a much scarier thing. I'm not saying that it was

even part of the thought process but it may have made the entire argument

" unpalatable " to the avereage person.

Thanks for the link etc. I always like to have this stuff in my futile attempts

to talk reason with my colleagues.

Paula

" outonalimb " <outonalimb

Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:37:46 PM

Re: An Inconvenient Truth

I like Al Gore but as an ardent enviro, myself , I was very

disappointed at the overt omission of factory farmings contribution to

global warming .The UN recently released a report regarding livestock

farming and its major impact onclimate change .

here is a link to the report ;

http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.htm

here are a few excerpts from a site I like ;

United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing

herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and

wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental

crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from

producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning

rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.

The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation,

entitled Livestock’s Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by

sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world’s

1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. - Independent

" A few shocking facts from the Livestock’s Long Shadow Report:

Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that

cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of

transport put together.

Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and

to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per

cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide.

Their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of

methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.

Livestock produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more

than two-thirds of the world’s emissions of ammonia, one of the main

causes of acid rain.

Ranching is “the major driver of deforestation” worldwide.

Overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.

Cows soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres

of water to produce one litre of milk.

Wastes from feedlots and fertilisers used to grow their feed

overnourish water, causing weeds to choke all other life.

Pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into

drinking water and endanger human health.

The pollution washes down to the sea, killing coral reefs and

creating “dead zones” devoid of life.

The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the

massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as

demand for meat increases.

Essentially, by reducing or eliminating our appetite for meat, vast

tracts of land that are now straining under hooves and chemicals could

be returned to their natural carbon-absorbing state, and much needed

biodiversity can be returned. This includes not just the land cattle

roam on, but the huge tracts of land used for growing livestock feed.

Rainforests would no longer ‘need’ to be cut down, and the huge

amounts of energy consumed in meat production can be diverted to more

productive activities.

In all, livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all

agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.

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.

I’ll repeat that - livestock production ”takes up 30 percent of the

land surface of the planet.” That’s a lot of polluting, consuming,

baggage we’re carrying. Yes, we need to get rid of our incandescent

light bulbs and our gas-guzzling SUV’s - but let’s also consider the

impact of what we put on our plate "

http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

The UN report just confirms what enviros have long known, so Als

omission is a bit disenhartening esp. since he titled his doc " An

inconvienant truth " I think that perhaps his penchant for meat keeps

him avoiding the issue .It seems sadly ironic to me .I understand that

he does have a single page on 'eating less meat ' on his site but I

have not visited .

If youd like to measure your enviromental footprint upon the planet

there is a great site where you may do so ;

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

Im not trying to cause a fuss or being nasty - just stating a truth

that the vast majority of Americans want to avoid .I like Al Gore and

I appreciate his efforts

I hope that he starts telling the Entire truth though, as it does have

a tremendous impact .

Teresa

here is a link to the report ;

-

Jess <veg4animals2006

Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:18 pm

Re: An Inconvenient Truth

> Seeing that movie really changed my world perspective. I loved how

> passionate he was and would love love love to see him in person

> presenting that information. I'm so jealous!

>

> Jessica, Robert, and Baby Jesse

>

> Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

> Norman Cousins (1915 - 1990)

>

> PAULA JOHNSON TEW <johnsontew

> Vegetarian Parents

> Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:30:42 AM

> An Inconvenient Truth

>

> Hi,

>

> A little off topice but not really since land use and environment

> are inseperable.

>

> I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was

> amazing! He was such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting,

> funny. I'm renewing my efforts to be more environmentally

> consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is always so

> much more we can do.

>

> Paula

>

February 22, 2007

Wow, I'd never seen the statistics like that. I knew eating meat was bad for the

planet but that's amazing how very huge it is.

I'm so out of the loop, I don't even know when the next presidential election

is!! I voted in the last one but I never even know what day it is, much less how

long ago I did something... I should start reading the news... Who the heck is

Al Gore, anyway? Just kidding. My news research is limited to Fark.com! (not

kidding)

outonalimb wrote: I like Al Gore but as an ardent enviro, myself , I

was very

disappointed at the overt omission of factory farmings contribution to

global warming .The UN recently released a report regarding livestock

farming and its major impact onclimate change .

here is a link to the report ;

http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.htm

here are a few excerpts from a site I like ;

United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing

herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and

wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental

crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from

producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning

rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.

The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation,

entitled Livestock’s Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by

sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world’s

1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. - Independent

" A few shocking facts from the Livestock’s Long Shadow Report:

Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that

cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of

transport put together.

Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and

to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per

cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide.

Their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of

methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.

Livestock produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more

than two-thirds of the world’s emissions of ammonia, one of the main

causes of acid rain.

Ranching is “the major driver of deforestation” worldwide.

Overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.

Cows soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres

of water to produce one litre of milk.

Wastes from feedlots and fertilisers used to grow their feed

overnourish water, causing weeds to choke all other life.

Pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into

drinking water and endanger human health.

The pollution washes down to the sea, killing coral reefs and

creating “dead zones” devoid of life.

The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the

massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as

demand for meat increases.

Essentially, by reducing or eliminating our appetite for meat, vast

tracts of land that are now straining under hooves and chemicals could

be returned to their natural carbon-absorbing state, and much needed

biodiversity can be returned. This includes not just the land cattle

roam on, but the huge tracts of land used for growing livestock feed.

Rainforests would no longer ‘need’ to be cut down, and the huge

amounts of energy consumed in meat production can be diverted to more

productive activities.

In all, livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all

agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.

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.

I’ll repeat that - livestock production ”takes up 30 percent of the

land surface of the planet.” That’s a lot of polluting, consuming,

baggage we’re carrying. Yes, we need to get rid of our incandescent

light bulbs and our gas-guzzling SUV’s - but let’s also consider the

impact of what we put on our plate "

http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

The UN report just confirms what enviros have long known, so Als

omission is a bit disenhartening esp. since he titled his doc " An

inconvienant truth " I think that perhaps his penchant for meat keeps

him avoiding the issue .It seems sadly ironic to me .I understand that

he does have a single page on 'eating less meat ' on his site but I

have not visited .

If youd like to measure your enviromental footprint upon the planet

there is a great site where you may do so ;

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

Im not trying to cause a fuss or being nasty - just stating a truth

that the vast majority of Americans want to avoid .I like Al Gore and

I appreciate his efforts

I hope that he starts telling the Entire truth though, as it does have

a tremendous impact .

Teresa

here is a link to the report ;

-

Jess

Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:18 pm

Re: An Inconvenient Truth

> Seeing that movie really changed my world perspective. I loved how

> passionate he was and would love love love to see him in person

> presenting that information. I'm so jealous!

>

> Jessica, Robert, and Baby Jesse

>

> Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

> Norman Cousins (1915 - 1990)

>

> PAULA JOHNSON TEW

> Vegetarian Parents

> Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:30:42 AM

> An Inconvenient Truth

>

> Hi,

>

> A little off topice but not really since land use and environment

> are inseperable.

>

> I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was

> amazing! He was such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting,

> funny. I'm renewing my efforts to be more environmentally

> consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is always so

> much more we can do.

>

> Paula

>

February 23, 2007

Okay, this inspired me to send an e-mail out to a whole bunch of family

and friends with some of the points from the study, saying " some of you

were puzzled as to why we became vegan... " . I was careful to make it to

the point but not heavy-handed and said I absolutely do not expect

everyone to give up meat but it's easy to cut back by a few meals a

week, and offered recipes. It was tough to push the send button on that

one because I don't know what I'll get back! I just sent it 20 minutes

ago and I already got this back from my cousin:

Those were some interesting facts but please keep in mind too that by

people eliminating eating meat their will also be alot of lost jobs

which in turn leads to more people depending on food banks which can't

keep up to begin with, more people on social assistance which would put

our government in more of a deficet, lost revenue, all of which put a

strain on living which in turn would make the rate of depression higher

and those would have to use our health system which is already in dire

need of help, we already have a shortage of doctors and nurses, we

wouldn't be getting the sources of protein that you need for healthy

living, and really canada's food guide has always contained meat as one

of the essential foods to eat. I think people who become vegetarian or

vegan should do so on their own and not have people make this choice for

them. I also know that from some of my friends that have children who

are vegetarian and vegan and make their children eat the same as them

their children have lots of health problems and always seem to be more

sick then friend who eat a balanced diet. I'm not trying to rain on your

parade Heather, but the fact of the matter is that everyone makes their

own choices and their are arguments for boths sides of every situation.

Me again: I just though maybe it would make people think a bit, and if

it just convinced a couple of people to cut back a bit... but I wonder

how many of them will read it and have this same reaction and be less

likely to listen to my points in future. Sigh :-(

Heather

outonalimb wrote:

> I like Al Gore but as an ardent enviro, myself , I was very

> disappointed at the overt omission of factory farmings contribution to

> global warming .The UN recently released a report regarding livestock

> farming and its major impact onclimate change .

> here is a link to the report ;

> http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.htm

>

> here are a few excerpts from a site I like ;

>

> United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing

> herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and

> wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental

> crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from

> producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning

> rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.

>

> The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation,

> entitled Livestock’s Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by

> sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world’s

> 1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. - Independent

>

> " A few shocking facts from the Livestock’s Long Shadow Report:

>

> Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that

> cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of

> transport put together.

> Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and

> to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per

> cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide.

> Their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of

> methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.

> Livestock produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more

> than two-thirds of the world’s emissions of ammonia, one of the main

> causes of acid rain.

> Ranching is “the major driver of deforestation” worldwide.

> Overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.

> Cows soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres

> of water to produce one litre of milk.

> Wastes from feedlots and fertilisers used to grow their feed

> overnourish water, causing weeds to choke all other life.

> Pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into

> drinking water and endanger human health.

> The pollution washes down to the sea, killing coral reefs and

> creating “dead zones” devoid of life.

> The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the

> massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as

> demand for meat increases.

>

> Essentially, by reducing or eliminating our appetite for meat, vast

> tracts of land that are now straining under hooves and chemicals could

> be returned to their natural carbon-absorbing state, and much needed

> biodiversity can be returned. This includes not just the land cattle

> roam on, but the huge tracts of land used for growing livestock feed.

> Rainforests would no longer ‘need’ to be cut down, and the huge

> amounts of energy consumed in meat production can be diverted to more

> productive activities.

>

> In all, livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all

> agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet.

> 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.

>

> I’ll repeat that - livestock production ”takes up 30 percent of the

> land surface of the planet.” That’s a lot of polluting, consuming,

> baggage we’re carrying. Yes, we need to get rid of our incandescent

> light bulbs and our gas-guzzling SUV’s - but let’s also consider the

> impact of what we put on our plate "

> http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

> The UN report just confirms what enviros have long known, so Als

> omission is a bit disenhartening esp. since he titled his doc " An

> inconvienant truth " I think that perhaps his penchant for meat keeps

> him avoiding the issue .It seems sadly ironic to me .I understand that

> he does have a single page on 'eating less meat ' on his site but I

> have not visited .

> If youd like to measure your enviromental footprint upon the planet

> there is a great site where you may do so ;

> http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

>

> Im not trying to cause a fuss or being nasty - just stating a truth

> that the vast majority of Americans want to avoid .I like Al Gore and

> I appreciate his efforts

> I hope that he starts telling the Entire truth though, as it does have

> a tremendous impact .

> Teresa

>

> here is a link to the report ;

>

> -

> Jess <veg4animals2006

> Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:18 pm

> Re: An Inconvenient Truth

>

>> Seeing that movie really changed my world perspective. I loved how

>> passionate he was and would love love love to see him in person

>> presenting that information. I'm so jealous!

>>

>> Jessica, Robert, and Baby Jesse

>>

>> Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

>> Norman Cousins (1915 - 1990)

>>

>> PAULA JOHNSON TEW <johnsontew

>> Vegetarian Parents

>> Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:30:42 AM

>> An Inconvenient Truth

>>

>> Hi,

>>

>> A little off topice but not really since land use and environment

>> are inseperable.

>>

>> I got to see Al Gore last night at University of Toronto! He was

>> amazing! He was such a fantastic speaker - dynamic, interesting,

>> funny. I'm renewing my efforts to be more environmentally

>> consciouss!! We are pretty good at home but there is always so

>> much more we can do.

>>

>> Paula

>>

February 23, 2007

What the devil?? I just simply cannot come up with anything else to say to

that...

Brave of you to send out to people, I would never have the guts because, well,

we're Texas folk and our families are not the classiest of people. We might get

a bag of deer guts for Christmas or something, and I'm almost not kidding.

Hopefully you'll get a few positive responses and no more of whatever the heck

that was that your cousin sent!

Heather Hossfeld <hlh4850 wrote: Okay, this inspired me to send an

e-mail out to a whole bunch of family