Earth can't support this consumption
It is interesting that two letters of criticism concerning my letter "Helping to save the planet" have concentrated on the animal dung statistic (Mailbox, January 6 and 8).
What about the crops grown for livestock? It takes about 10kg of good quality plant protein to produce 1kg of meat protein.
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The UN has stated that 540 million tonnes of grain is fed to animals in the West; 40 million tonnes of grain would end world hunger.
Ninety per cent of the UK's animal feed protein concentrate comes from poor countries, often those where children are starving.
The World Health Organisation has stated that it is much more efficient for people to eat plant foods directly rather than feeding them to animals to produce meat.
Returning to the dung issue with which my critics seem obsessed, there is too much produced by the vast numbers of animals reared for meat.
The Dutch are tackling this problem by exporting their excess to Africa.
Is dumping waste on to poor countries with fewer restrictions ethical? In his book, To Care for the Earth: A call to new theology, Fr Sean McDonagh said: "The life-style and consumption patterns of many people in First-World countries are way beyond what the Earth can support, and can only be maintained by enslaving the vast majority of the world's population."
Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
7 Comments
by Karin, Oadby
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 3:01PM
“Hi Kulgan, thanks for the comments re my intelligence. Imust say the yardstick I tend to use is that if the animal is capable of demonstrating care/affection for its young then I would have no desire to eat it. It is obviously a personal thing but I have yet to meet/eat a carrot with a demonstrable maternal instinct!!”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 2:35PM
“Karin, you do seem most intelligent. As to your comment on my comment.... what about the poor carrots, peas, brocolli etc that are murdered by vegetarians and omnivores alike? Are they not living, growing things? A different perspective perhaps!!!”
by Karin, Oadby
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 1:07PM
“Hi Chaps, Veggie here, I had a full health check at a private hospital yesterday and passed my M.O.T. with flying colours. I am both slim and healthy and as for intelligent,that is for others to decide! As for the Dutch exporting their 'dung' to Africa, could this not be to perk up their infertile soil?? Just a thought. As for Kulgan's "live and let live" comments, surely that is what veggies do? They live and they let live...”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 12:03PM
“I have met a rather 'rotund' vegetarian. He was intelligent as are many omnivores.”
by Alfie Noakes, Leicester
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 11:21AM
“R.B. Leicester. I have yet to meet a FAT vegetarian!!! Or an intellectually challenged one. But there are legions of over weight meat eaters with very restricted intelligence.”
by R.B., Leicester
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 10:16AM
“I have yet to see a healthy vegetarian!”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 9:45AM
“Ms Allsion,
Enjoy your veggies and I will enjoy my meat and veggies.
Live and let live.”