MEAT KILLS

 

The driving force behind the destruction of the tropical rain forest is the American meat habit. The rain forests are cleared then planted with grass for grazing livestock to create Hamburger for fast food restaurants. More that half of all the water used in the United States is used for raising animals for food. 25 gallons of water is used to produce a pound of wheat. 2500 gallons of water is needed to produce a pound of meat. Dependence on foreign oil is one of the principle reason for US intervention in the Persian Gulf The length of time the world's oil reserves would last if all human beings ate a meat based diet would be approximately 13 years. The length of time the world's oil reserves would last if all human beings ate a plant based diet would approximately 260 years. Feedlots and slaughterhouses are both major polluters of rivers and streams. Filling them with poisonous residues and animal wastes, 250.000 pounds of animal excrements is produced every second in the US and there are no sewage systems to treat the wastes. In 1989, over 40% of the world's grain harvest was fed to animals going to slaughter. lf the same grain was fed directly to human beings, there would be more than enough grain to feed the entire world. over 20 million people will die as a result malnutrition this year. in the third world private and government money has gone to developing cash crops for export while food production for the poor majority is neglected. 80% of the corn grown in the US is fed to animal raised for food rather than going to hungry people. On a purely vegetarian diet the world can support a population many times its present size. Ort a meat based died the current world population could not be sustained. Cattle ranching has always competed with wildlife. coyotes and wolves would not be shot and poisoned by ranchers if people did not eat steak and lamb chops. Destroying the rain forests to raise cattle is causing millions of birds, monkeys, snakes and other species to lose their homes and lives. In the US this year alone 37.5 million cattle, 85.5 million pigs, 5.5 million sheep, 242 million turkeys, 4.147 billion chickens will be murdered for the taste of their flesh. Pain, frustration, stress, fear abuse, neglect, and deprivation are realities of the raising of animals in today's factory farms. Animals are artificially inseminated, fed growth hormones, overcrowded, chained and caged. Raising livestock for profit is a competitive business. Being humane means costs will go up. These animals are kicked, prodded, electro shocked, dragged, and finally transported to their deaths. A vegetarian diet promotes superior health, endurance, and longevity. Animal products have 3 nutritional disadvantages. They contain too much protein, too much fat, and no fibber. Do not believe the protein myth. It was based on a study done by the meat and dairy industries to rats, animals who need 1.000 times more protein in their diet than humans.