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Dear CA legislators,

KOBE — Experts gathering for the Group of Eight environment
ministers meeting in the city known for its high-quality beef have
a suggestion on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Eat less
beef.

"One way to combat climate change is reducing meat consumption,"
said Ragendra Pachauri of the International Panel on Climate
Change at a symposium Saturday, the opening day of the three-day
climate meeting in Kobe.

A 2006 report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization made
clear the environmental costs of excessive beef consumption. Since
then, both the U.N. and environmental nongovernmental
organizations, including, not surprisingly, vegetarian groups,
have touted the environmental as well as the health benefits of
avoiding filet mignon and hamburgers.

According to the U.N. report, the livestock sector internationally
generates 18 percent more greenhouse gas emissions, as measured in
carbon dioxide equivalent, than the transport sector.

Furthermore, the livestock sector also damages the ecosystem, as
it is a major contributor to land and water degradation. And the
problem is expected to get worse. The U.N. noted that global meat
production is projected to more than double from 229 million tons
in 1999 to 465 million tons by 2050.

The livestock sector now uses 30 percent of the Earth's land
surface. Most of the use consists of permanent pastures. But 33
percent of the global arable land is now used to produce livestock
feed, the report said. One result is deforestation, as old-growth
forests that absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide are cleared to
create new grazing areas.

In Latin America, some 70 percent of forests in the Amazon region
have been turned over to grazing, the U.N. said.

. . . .

Full Story on Japan Times:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080526a2.html

Please include Veganism/Vegetarianism and Organic Farming in your
policies against global warming.

Thank you.


Your's sincerely

Kathleen Hogan