16-17 Nov 2007 Vege For Healthy Living Regional Congress – Kuala Lumpur Impact of Farms on the Environment

Vegetarian Society Singapore Founded 1999 – non-sectarian Founded 1999 – non-sectarian Member of International Vegetarian Union Member of International Vegetarian Union Objectives: public education; support for vegetarians Objectives: public education; support for vegetarians Members: 150 – all volunteers Members: 150 – all volunteers E-Newsletter recipients: 3200 E-Newsletter recipients: 3200

Preview Eating Meat Is Wasting Food! Eating Meat Is Wasting Food! Meat Gives The Earth Gas = Global Warming Gas! Meat Gives The Earth Gas = Global Warming Gas!

1 st Key Point – Eating Meat Is Wasting Food! When children grow up, what is the most weight they gain in one year? When children grow up, what is the most weight they gain in one year? How many kgs? How many kgs?

How Much Weight Do We Gain? Adolescence - time of most rapid growth Adolescence - time of most rapid growth 12-yr-old girl gains about 4.7kgs 12-yr-old girl gains about 4.7kgs 13-yr-old boy gains about 5.2kgs 13-yr-old boy gains about 5.2kgs

How Much Do We Eat? How many kgs of food do adolescents eat in a year? How many kgs of food do adolescents eat in a year?

It takes > 10 kg of grains to produce 1 kg of beef Diet for a Small Planet Eating Meat Is Wasting Food

The grains and soybeans that are fed to US livestock could feed 1.3 billion people.

It takes > 10 kg of grains to produce 1 kg of beef Eating Meat Is Wasting Other Resources More land More land More water More water More energy More energy are needed are needed

…so what happened to the other 9 kg? It takes > 10 kg of grains to produce 1 kg of beef

The animals we eat produce many times more excrement than the entire human population.

Meat Pollutes Animal livestock produces many times more excrement than the entire human population Animal livestock produces many times more excrement than the entire human population Waste from meat production massively pollutes the air and water Waste from meat production massively pollutes the air and water Single greatest polluter of our waters Single greatest polluter of our waters

Meat Wastes Water Livestock is the key player in depletion of water supplies Livestock is the key player in depletion of water supplies Over 8% of global human water use is expended on animals Over 8% of global human water use is expended on animals Takes more than litres of water to produce 1 kg of beef Takes more than litres of water to produce 1 kg of beef

VS 200 Times More!

Meat Destroys Forests

Cleared to grow crops to feed livestock Cleared to grow crops to feed livestock 70% of Earth's agricultural land is used as pasture or to grow food for livestock 70% of Earth's agricultural land is used as pasture or to grow food for livestock Cattle ranching is the primary reason for deforestation in the Amazon Cattle ranching is the primary reason for deforestation in the Amazon

Factory Farmed Fish Many of the fishes who we eat arent wild fishes who live free until they are captured and killed Many of the fishes who we eat arent wild fishes who live free until they are captured and killed These fishes are raised in fish farms which are just like the factory farms where chickens, pigs, etc. are forced to live These fishes are raised in fish farms which are just like the factory farms where chickens, pigs, etc. are forced to live

Fishes 5kgs of wild-caught fish to produce 1 kg of factory-farmed fish 5kgs of wild-caught fish to produce 1 kg of factory-farmed fish Most of what the fishing fleets pull in isn't even eaten by human beings Most of what the fishing fleets pull in isn't even eaten by human beings

Global Warming Meat Gives The Earth Gas = Global Warming Gas!

Meat Heats Up Global Warming

Lee Kuan Yew Headline: Green future: Why MM is not optimistic (August, 2007) Byline: Lynn Lee A PESSIMISTIC Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said he could not predict what would impact regional growth in 50 years given the damage now taking place to the global environment. Headline: Green future: Why MM is not optimistic (August, 2007) Byline: Lynn Lee A PESSIMISTIC Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said he could not predict what would impact regional growth in 50 years given the damage now taking place to the global environment.

Global warming is one big enormous problem that we end up with,' he said, pointing to out-of-whack weather patterns that have spawned droughts, hurricanes and typhoons, and led to glaciers melting. Global warming is one big enormous problem that we end up with,' he said, pointing to out-of-whack weather patterns that have spawned droughts, hurricanes and typhoons, and led to glaciers melting.

He asked: 'Will we have the wisdom and ability to prevent this degradation of the environment? He asked: 'Will we have the wisdom and ability to prevent this degradation of the environment?

'I have very serious reservations, because I don't see any government telling its people to consume less...less travel, less food, eat more vegetables, don't eat more protein. That's not the way the world is going.'

GW – Key Greenhouse Gases 18% of greenhouse gas comes from production of animal-based food 18% of greenhouse gas comes from production of animal-based food Thats more than transportation!! Thats more than transportation!! Livestocks Long Shadow, a report by the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation Livestocks Long Shadow, a report by the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide Methane – 20+ times more powerful Methane – 20+ times more powerful Nitrous Oxide – almost 300 times more powerful Nitrous Oxide – almost 300 times more powerful

CO2 Meat production accounts for 9% of carbon dioxide emissions Meat production accounts for 9% of carbon dioxide emissions 70% of agricultural land is used to produce animal-based food 70% of agricultural land is used to produce animal-based food When previously forested areas are converted into grazing land or arable land for feed, a significant amount of carbon dioxide is released When previously forested areas are converted into grazing land or arable land for feed, a significant amount of carbon dioxide is released Eating Meat Is Wasting Food! Eating Meat Is Wasting Food!

Methane Methane-emitting livestock contribute massively to the Greenhouse Effect and global warming. Animals whom we eat, produce 37% of global methane emissions

Animals like cows and sheep produce methane as they digest food Animals like cows and sheep produce methane as they digest food Methane

Nitrous Oxide 296 times global warming power of CO2 296 times global warming power of CO2 65% of human related emissions of nitrous oxide are from the nitrogen in animal manure 65% of human related emissions of nitrous oxide are from the nitrogen in animal manure

Conclusion Eating Meat Is Wasting Food! Meat Gives The Earth Gas = Global Warming Gas!

We are destroying our only home

Humans are in some ways the superior species on earth. If we have done wrong to other species and to the planet, we have the responsibility to correct this and not deny or ignore it

Many Ways to Slow GW Most ways to slow GW are inconvenient or worse, e.g., dont fly, dont drive, no IT Most ways to slow GW are inconvenient or worse, e.g., dont fly, dont drive, no IT Eating less meat is relatively easy. To me its very easy Eating less meat is relatively easy. To me its very easy For you, it can become easy For you, it can become easy

How Many Times a Week Do You Eat Meat? 7 days X 3 meals/day = 21 meals in a week 7 days X 3 meals/day = 21 meals in a week Just increase by 1 plant-based meal/week Just increase by 1 plant-based meal/week

Virtuous Circle – By Eating Less Meat … We help our health by eating less meat We help our health by eating less meat We help the env, which enhances our well-being We help the env, which enhances our well-being We show compassion to fellow humans & fellow animals, which helps our psychological health We show compassion to fellow humans & fellow animals, which helps our psychological health

Eat Less Meat

Save the Earth

Upcoming Events Sun, 3pm, 28 Oct, – Global Cooling Recipes Sun, 3pm, 28 Oct, – Global Cooling Recipes 3-18 November – Exhibition at 3-18 November – Exhibition at