Meat consumption devastating world’s waters.

A study by the US-based World Resources Institute (WRI) shows that the rise in meat consumption and demand for fossil fuels is a direct cause of oxygen depletion in the world’s coastal and freshwater areas. Saying that close to 500 coastal areas now suffer from hypoxia, the report indicated that this number is expected to rise.

The researchers also found that a full 80% of the nitrogen used in factory hog farm production is being returned to the environment as a pollutant through pig manure and the growing of animal feed. Lead author Mindy Selman said, “One swine operation in the Black Sea region that is now closed had more than 1 million pigs and generated sewage equivalent to a town of 5 million people.”

We appreciate your endeavors, Ms. Selman and associates at World Resources Institute in bringing more understanding of our aquatic environments’ critical plight. Let us all turn to the life-saving and green vegan lifestyle for the safety of the waters and the planet.

Reference:
http://www.wri.org/press/2009/07/worlds-waters-choking-meat-consumption-and-other-human-activities, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Resources_Institute, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication

Climate change accelerates water hunt in U.S. West

California facing steep losses due to drought. With global climate change causing increased water scarcity, farmers in California, USA suffered losses of at least US$300 million last year. Last month, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency due to the extreme water shortages, and the city of Los Angeles is now planning to ration water for the first time in 15 years.

Most recently, Kern County in southern California announced the likelihood of another US$300 million in losses this year, with some 40,000 acres of crops that will be under-irrigated and another 40,000 acres that won’t be planted at all. The state has called for emergency measures to cope with the shortages, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is suggesting more focused recovery measures such as groundwater cleanup and storm water harvesting.

We appreciate the efforts of the Natural Resources Defense Council and all others working to alleviate this dire situation. Let us all join together in adopting new levels of sustainable living that support all life on our Earth.