Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment - Environmental and Ecological

01 May 2011

Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.; Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, College of Staten Island; President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarianism; Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, and Mathematics and Global Survival discusses "Why People Should Be Vegetarians" with Rae Sikora; schwartz@jewishveg.com; http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/

Frank L. Hoffman, and his wife Mary are the founders of The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation and www.all-creatures.org We may be contacted at flh@all-creatures.org.

The Immorality of Meat Eating addresses the legal and moral standards governing the eating of animals flesh, eggs, and milk, and how the lack of true morality causes both physical and emotional pain and suffering to both the animals and to our fellow human beings.

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Death By Algae"

In this 20-minute podcast, Mike Hudak (mike_hudak@yahoo.com) suggests that a campaign to persuade the American people to drop their support of the federal grazing program should be primarily based on aesthetics rather than on ecology or economics. Hudak draws upon writings of American naturalist John Muir along with interviews from his book Western Turf Wars: The Politics of Public Lands Ranching (http://westernturfwars.com) as examples for how to make the case for removing ranching from public lands.

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Operation Ocean Plunder: Jellyfish Rules"

Well we saw a bit of history two podcasts ago from 1994 and then on the last podcast we moved to 2004 and now let's again examine a 2010 article "Meals of Mass Destruction: Shrimp" by Wendy Gordon from the Huffington Post on how much of a change Environmentalists are making in bringing this important topic to the attention of a Seafood eating world. I have only read the parts of the article that deal with the Environmental Destruction since I'm not an advocate for any sort of Sustainable Animal Farming.

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Blue Pastures"

Many thanks to the website http://guardian.co.uk.com for their continued posting of important information for a needy world. In this 18 July 2010 article "10 ways vegetarianism can help save the planet" by John Vidal for The Observer, the emphasis is on eating less meat. I think we would all agree that this is an important step in the direction of eliminating the use of animal products for our nutrition.

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Toxic Trickle"

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Desertification"

In this podcast, Rae Sikora interviews Dr. Melanie Joy about her new book "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism." Carnism is the word Dr. Joy uses to describe the widespread, invisible belief system, or ideology, that conditions us to eat some animals but not others. Dr. Joy argues that when eating meat isn't a necessity for survival, it's a choice, and choices always stem from beliefs. But carnism, unlike vegetarianism, has remained unnamed and therefore invisible. "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" explains, in plain language, the way carnism impacts our society and our minds, and helps both vegetarians and meat eaters become more informed and empowered, as consumers and citizens.

More information on Dr. Joy and her work can be found at www.melaniejoy.org and at www.carnism.com.

In this podcast, Rae Sikora interviews Dr. Melanie Joy about her new book "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism." Carnism is the word Dr. Joy uses to describe the widespread, invisible belief system, or ideology, that conditions us to eat some animals but not others. Dr. Joy argues that when eating meat isn't a necessity for survival, it's a choice, and choices always stem from beliefs. But carnism, unlike vegetarianism, has remained unnamed and therefore invisible. "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" explains, in plain language, the way carnism impacts our society and our minds, and helps both vegetarians and meat eaters become more informed and empowered, as consumers and citizens.

More information on Dr. Joy and her work can be found at www.melaniejoy.org and at www.carnism.com.

The Quirks and Quarks podcast is full of very interesting scientific material Please go to their webpage to find a complete listing of many high quality audio programs: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/podcast.html. Also subscribe to the podcast via their RSS feed: http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/quirksaio.xml

As salubrious as the sea might seem, it's in pretty bad shape. In fact, it's fair to say that the global oceans are in a state of crisis and nobody is more aware of this than the scientists studying these troubled waters.

The Quirks and Quarks podcast is full of very interesting scientific material Please go to their webpage to find a complete listing of many high quality audio programs: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/podcast.html. Also subscribe to the podcast via their RSS feed: http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/quirksaio.xml

As salubrious as the sea might seem, it's in pretty bad shape. In fact, it's fair to say that the global oceans are in a state of crisis and nobody is more aware of this than the scientists studying these troubled waters.

Many thanks to Angel Flinn for permission to read from her blog http://vegansolution.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/free-range-is-not-the-answer/ Please visit her blog for many other high quality and very informative messages on the need to move to a plant based diet.

In her message "Free-Range Is Not The Answer" Angel goes into detail as to why Free-Range, Pasture Raised, or Grass Fed is not a solution to the Environmental Destruction and Animal Exploitation associated with Animal Factory Farming.

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Troubled Waters: Oceans In Peril"

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Cyanide and dynamite: Reefs on the edge"

In his October 16, 2009 article "The Coolness Factor is Wearing Thin. Rainforest Beef, Factory Farms and Anthony Bourdain's War on Vegetarians" Nikolas Kozloff examines Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's inconsistencies in his disdain for vegetarians and vegans.

Nikolas Kozloff is the author of the forthcoming No Rain in the Amazon: How South America's Climate Change Affects the Entire Planet (Palgrave-Macmillan, April 2010). Visit his blog at http://senorchichero.blogspot.com/

This podcast is the conclusion of the reading of four online articles about the destruction taking place in the Amazon Rain Forest by illegal Cattle Ranching. To read the articles in their entirety click on the links below:

Copyright: greenpeace.org - How cattle ranches are chewing up the Amazon rainforest:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/how-cattle-ranching-chewing-amazon-rainforest-20090129

Copyright: reuters.com - Greenpeace says global beef trade destroying Amazon
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN14290980

Copyright: reuters.com - Brazil beef industry yields to Amazon criticism
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN29452445

Copyright: csmonitor.com - Can Nike and Wal-Mart save the Amazon?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0922/p06s07-woam.html

For this podcast I'll be reading two online articles about the destruction taking place in the Amazon Rain Forest by illegal Cattle Ranching. On November 15th I'll be reading two other articles that show a glimmer of hope for the future. If you would like to read all four articles now they can be found here:

Copyright: greenpeace.org - How cattle ranches are chewing up the Amazon rainforest:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/how-cattle-ranching-chewing-amazon-rainforest-20090129

Copyright: reuters.com - Greenpeace says global beef trade destroying Amazon
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN14290980

Copyright: reuters.com - Brazil beef industry yields to Amazon criticism
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN29452445

Copyright: csmonitor.com - Can Nike and Wal-Mart save the Amazon?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0922/p06s07-woam.html

The environmental impact of eating fish is often under appreciated. Commercial fishing is one of the most environmentally destructive activities and carries grave consequences for the future of our marine eco-systems which produce most of Earth’s oxygen supply. The human race cannot survive without healthy oceans. The survival of our planet, and ourselves, is at stake. If you think that eating fish is okay, you need to hear the facts about fishing.

"We are fast approaching an irreversible TIPPING POINT that could trigger the release of billions of tonnes of methane gas, catapulting us into a period of unstoppable and ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE. Let's not reach that point. Learn how you can protect the planet as well as your own life..."

Websites for more information:
1: http://www.suprememastertv.com/sos-global-warming/methane-and-climate-change.html
2: http://bravenewclimate.com/?s=cattle
3: Walter, K. M., Zimov, S. A., Chanton, J. P., Verbyla, D., & F. S. Chapin III. 2006 Methane Bubbling from Siberian Thaw Lakes as a Positive Feedback to Climate Warming, Nature 443, 71-75. http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/ine/walter/publications_docs/Walter_nature05040.pdf
4: www.ucsusa.org/about/1992-world-scientists.html
5: Methane-driven oceanic eruptions and mass extinctions. Gregory Riskin Dept of Chemical Engineering,Northwestern University, USA. Geology;Sep 2003;v.31;no.9;p. 741-744

Contact e-mail: info@vegetarian.org.nz

Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.; Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, College of Staten Island; President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarianism; Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, and Mathematics and Global Survival discusses what should be An Alternative US Foreign Policy; schwartz@jewishveg.com; http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/

Mike Hudak, director of Public Lands Without Livestock (mikehudak.com/PLWL), draws upon passages from his book Western Turf Wars: The Politics of Public Lands Ranching (westernturfwars.com) that demonstrate how ranchers who seek more favorable management of their public lands grazing allotments use violence and social pressure to intimidate conservationists and government land managers. Contact Info: mike_hudak@yahoo.com

Many thanks to Gar Smith with the Environmentalists Against War website, Richard Schwartz, president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America as well as to Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates. The Reading from Plato's Republic is from the translation by G.M.A. Grube pages 47-49 of Book II. Another version is available online: http://www.ivu.org/history/greece_rome/platos_republic_complete.pdf on pages 49-51

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org. I'd also like to thank Dawn D'Arcangelo one of the founding members of the Albany Vegetarian Network Inc. (http://nyvegetarianexpo.org) for her great reading of "Fossil Fuel Alchemy"

Richard H. Schwartz, president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism," and associate producer of "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World" gives a great presentation "Ten Strategies Toward a Vegetarian Conscious World." Further information about Dr. Schwartz and his writings can be found at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz and "A Sacred Duty" can be seen in its entirety at ASacredDuty.com.

Mike Hudak, director of Public Lands Without Livestock (mikehudak.com/PLWL), draws upon passages from his book Western Turf Wars: The Politics of Public Lands Ranching (westernturfwars.com) to illustrate how public lands ranchers use the political system to achieve land management that benefits their profits in the short term, but that degrades America's natural resources in the long term. Contact Info: mike_hudak@yahoo.com

David Pimentel and his colleagues at Cornell University in New York set out a number of strategies which could potentially cut fossil energy fuel use in the food system by as much as 50 percent.

The first, and very astute suggestion they put forward is that individuals eat less, especially considering that the average American consumes an estimated 3,747 calories a day, a staggering 1200-1500 calories over recommendations. Traditional American diets are high in animal products, and junk and processed foods in particular, which by their nature use more energy than that used to produce staple foods such as potatoes, rice, fruits and vegetables. By just reducing junk food intake and converting to diets lower in meat, the average American could have a massive impact on fuel consumption as well as improving his or her health.

For information directly about the report "Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System" by David Pimentel, Sean Williamson, Courtney E. Alexander, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Caitlin Kontak and Steven E. Mulkey (http://www.springerlink. com/content/k487435204442t48/) and (http://www.sciencedaily. com/releases/2008/07/080723094838.htm).

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A few days after the presentation Dr. Pimentel agreed to be interviewed for the VSSE podcast by Louisa Dell'Amico an Environmental Activist.

A few days after the presentation Dr. Pimentel agreed to be interviewed for the VSSE podcast by Louisa Dell'Amico an Environmental Activist.

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David Pimentel and his colleagues at Cornell University in New York set out a number of strategies which could potentially cut fossil energy fuel use in the food system by as much as 50 percent.

The first, and very astute suggestion they put forward is that individuals eat less, especially considering that the average American consumes an estimated 3,747 calories a day, a staggering 1200-1500 calories over recommendations. Traditional American diets are high in animal products, and junk and processed foods in particular, which by their nature use more energy than that used to produce staple foods such as potatoes, rice, fruits and vegetables. By just reducing junk food intake and converting to diets lower in meat, the average American could have a massive impact on fuel consumption as well as improving his or her health.

For information directly about the report "Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System" by David Pimentel, Sean Williamson, Courtney E. Alexander, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Caitlin Kontak and Steven E. Mulkey (http://www.springerlink. com/content/k487435204442t48/) and (http://www.sciencedaily. com/releases/2008/07/080723094838.htm).

Mike Hudak, director of Public Lands Without Livestock (mikehudak.com/PLWL), an organization that informs the public about environmental harms and economic costs entailed by ranching on America's public lands, presents an overview of ranching impacts on wildlife and explains the banking connection behind ranchers' clout with federal management agencies. Hudak, author of Western Turf Wars: The Politics of Public Lands Ranching (westernturfwars.com) cites passages from his book that illuminate the topic. Contact Info: mike_hudak@yahoo.com

Discover the true cost of producing the food on your plate. The greatest water savings you could make, the greatest gift you could offer to preserve our precious land and soil, the most powerful protection you could offer to our home planet at this time of crisis - it's right there on your plate. Be Veg, Go Green, Save Our Planet." Websites for more information: 1: http://www.suprememastertv.com 2: NZ Vegetarian Society website: www.vegetarian.org.nz e-mail: info@vegetarian.org.nz

17 December 2008

Lee Hall, legal director for Friends of Animals (www.friendsofanimals.org), an animal-rights organization founded in 1957, gives a succinct and inspiring overview of the importance of vegan living -- for our health and that of the planet -- and then explains why "animal rights will have unprecedented power to confront the environmental crises of our time." Hall is one of the creators of VeganMeans.com, and author of the forthcoming book On Their Own Terms: Bringing Animal Rights Philosophy Down to Earth. RELATED: University of Chicago, "Vegan Diets Healthier for Planet, People Than Meat Diets" (http://www.news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060413.diet.shtml) and Claudette Vaughan's interview of Dennis Kucinich, Abolitionist-Online (http://www.abolitionist-online.com/_06kucinich.html)

Dr. Tuttle discusses the main ideas in his recent book, The World Peace Diet, which has been called one of the most important books of the 21st century. It provides the foundation of a new society based on the truth of the interconnectedness of all life. Dr. Tuttle makes explicit the invisible connections between our culture, our food, and the source of our broad range of problems - and the way to a positive transformation in our individual and collective lives. Anyone wishing to understand the big picture of our culture and why we have the unyielding dilemmas we face, and how we can solve them, will be fascinated by these provocative, challenging, and ultimately inspiring ideas.

In this overview, Dr. Tuttle discusses the power of food, the underlying crisis in our culture, and veganism as as path to peace and environmental sustainability.

See www.worldpeacediet.org for more details.

Products: Book - The World Peace Diet - regular book printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and 13.5 hour audio book.

Websites: http://www.worldpeacediet.org and http://willtuttle.com - signed book is available through these websites - also as an audio book.

Other audio presentations by Dr. Tuttle can be found at
http://www.trianglevegsociety.org/podcast/index.html

Dr. Tuttle discusses the main ideas in his recent book, The World Peace Diet, which has been called one of the most important books of the 21st century. It provides the foundation of a new society based on the truth of the interconnectedness of all life. Dr. Tuttle makes explicit the invisible connections between our culture, our food, and the source of our broad range of problems - and the way to a positive transformation in our individual and collective lives. Anyone wishing to understand the big picture of our culture and why we have the unyielding dilemmas we face, and how we can solve them, will be fascinated by these provocative, challenging, and ultimately inspiring ideas.

In this overview, Dr. Tuttle discusses the power of food, the underlying crisis in our culture, and veganism as as path to peace and environmental sustainability.

See www.worldpeacediet.org for more details.

Products: Book - The World Peace Diet - regular book printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and 13.5 hour audio book.

Websites: http://www.worldpeacediet.org and http://willtuttle.com - signed book is available through these websites - also as an audio book.

Other audio presentations by Dr. Tuttle can be found at
http://www.trianglevegsociety.org/podcast/index.html

I wish to thank Pamela Rice for so graciously giving the "Vegan - Vegetarian Solutions for a Sustainable Environment" (VSSE) podcast permission to read from her book, "101 Reasons Why I'm A Vegetarian." In this podcast I've read #8 "World Water III." Please visit her webpage to find information about her work and how you can support it by buying her very important and well written book: http://VivaVegie.org

UN Says Eat Less Meat To Curb Global Warming

- Climate expert urges radical shift in diet
- Industry unfairly targeted - farmers

Juliette Jowit, environment editor
The Observer,
Sunday September 7 2008

People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.

His comments are the most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how individuals can help tackle global warming.

Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems - including habitat destruction - associated with rearing cattle and other animals. It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport, he said.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are generated during the production of animal feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set to double by the middle of the century.

'In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,' said Pachauri. 'Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there,' said the Indian economist, who is a vegetarian.

However, he also stressed other changes in lifestyle would help to combat climate change. 'That's what I want to emphasize: we really have to bring about reductions in every sector of the economy.'

. . .the rest of the article can be read by visiting the online version of The Observer:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink

Richard H. Schwartz, president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism," and associate producer of "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World" is interviewed about global warming and other environmental threats to all of humanity, how a shift toward vegetarianism can help reduce the threats, and other ways of responding to current global problems. Further information about Dr. Schwartz and his writings can be found at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz and "A Sacred Duty" can be seen in its entirety at ASacredDuty.com.

A fourth-generation cattle rancher, Howard Lyman is now a prominent advocate of plant-based diets and sustainable agriculture. Lyman burst into the national spotlight in 1996 after an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show. On that show he discussed the way meat is produced and the dangers of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease. Lyman's revelations prompted Oprah to say on air, "I will never eat a hamburger again." Beef sales dropped noticeably after the show, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association sued both of them for libel. On February 29th, 1998, an Amarillo, Texas, jury found them not guilty.