Fwd: Special JVNA Newsletter on strategy ideas/suggestions on draft of ad VERY welcome

[Guest guest]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

<RSchw12345

Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 10:03 PM

Special JVNA Newsletter on strategy ideas/suggestions on draft of

ad VERY welcome

To:

 

 

*

 

*Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter

 

------------

August 11, 2009

 

Shalom everyone,

 

This special Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Newsletter considers

strategy ideas to get our Jewish vegetarian and environmental messages into

the mainstream of Judaism today.

 

The newsletter has the following items:

 

*1. JVNA Pre-Rosh Hashanah Ad/Suggestions and Contributions Very Welcome

 

2. Campaign to Start Dialogs With Rabbis and Other Jewish Leaders

 

3. Letter-Writing Campaign

 

4. A Call for Jews and Jewish Groups to Observe Parshat Noach, October

23-24, as “Global Climate Healing Shabbat.”

 

5. A draft message to be sent to vegetarian, animal rights, environmental

and related groups and individuals urging them to help increase awareness of

the VERY important connections between animal-based diets and global

warming.

 

*Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this

one from being even longer.

 

[Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded

message are my editorial notes/comments.]

 

*Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA,

unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness

and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences,

retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply

endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or

any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational

purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to

get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also,

JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are

included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.

 

*As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

 

Thanks,

 

Richard

 

=========================

*1. JVNA Pre-Rosh Hashanah Ad/Suggestions and Contributions Very Welcome

 

*Since we have had limited success in getting our messages out, I am

considering sending ads to some important Jewish publications. Two drafts

are below and your suggestions about them are very welcome. Thanks.

 

We have some funds for paying for these ads, but we could be far more

effective if we had additional money. Because the issues are so urgent, with

our very imperiled planet rapidly approaching an unprecedented catastrophe,

please consider making a generous, *tax-deductible* contribution to JVNA.

Methods of doing so are at JewishVeg.com/action, at the bottom of the page.

 

As I have indicated before, I think the most important contribution you can

make toward the future of children and grandchildren and all future

generations is to contribute to groups like JVNA, that are seeking to

awaken people to the need to switch to plant-based diets in response to the

many current threats to humanity.

 

Our ad draft (and then a shorter version) follow:

----------------------

[JVNA logo will be at the top of the page.]

 

* HIGH HOLIDAY GREETINGS AND

SOME POINTS TO PONDER

 

*WE wish all our fellow Jews a very good, sweet, healthy, peaceful year. And

we hope the holidays and future Jewish life will be enhanced by a

consideration of the following:

 

As we pray for a year of good health, shouldn't we consider switching to

plant-based diets that can prevent, alleviate and, in some cases, reverse

many diseases?

 

As we ask for God's compassion during the coming year, shouldn't we consider

that, contrary to Judaism's teachings on the proper treatment of animals,

ten billion farmed animals, including most raised for kosher markets, are

slaughtered annually, after being raised under very cruel conditions on

factory farms?

 

As we vow to live more by Jewish values, shouldn't we consider that the

production and consumption of meat and other animal products violate basic

Jewish teachings about protecting our health, treating animals with

compassion, preserving the environment, conserving natural resources,

helping hungry people and pursuing peace and justice.

 

As we celebrate the creation of the world, shouldn't we consider that

animal-based agriculture, according to a 2006 UN report, is responsible for

more greenhouse gas emissions *(*18 percent, in CO2 equivalents) than all

the cars and other means of transportation worldwide combined, and this is

contributing significantly to the world heading toward an unprecedented

catastrophe from global climate change and other environmental threats?

 

Since, G-d's compassion is over all of His creatures (Psalms 145:9),

shouldn't we observe the kapparot rite before Yom Kippur by applying the

Jewishly acceptable way of using money, rather than mishandling and killing

chickens?

 

Since Judaism welcomes discussions as a way to get to the truth, please

accept our invitation for a thoughtful dialog/debate on “Should Jews Be

Vegetarians?”

 

For more information, please visit JewishVeg.com, the Jewish Vegetarians of

North America web site; JewishVeg.com/Schwartz, a site that has over 140

articles and about 36 podcasts of talks and interviews and ASacredDuty.com,

where you can see our acclaimed very pro-Jewish, one-hour documentary “A

Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World.”

 

----------------------

[JVNA logo will be at the top of the page.]

 

* HOW ABOUT A HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE AND

ANIMALS?

 

*We wish all our fellow Jews a very good, sweet, healthy, peaceful year.

And, as we ponder our deeds in the past year, pray for good health and a

good year, and think of ways of being a better Jew, please consider the many

ways that switching to plant-based diets is most consistent with Jewish

values:

 

HEALTH: Switching to plant-based diets can prevent, alleviate and, in some

cases, reverse many diseases?

 

COMPASSION TO ANIMALS: Ten billion farmed animals, including most raised for

kosher markets, are slaughtered annually in the US alone, after being

raised under very cruel conditions on factory farms?

 

PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT: According to a 2006 UN report, is responsible

for more greenhouse gas emissions *(*18 percent, in CO2 equivalents) than

all the cars and other means of transportation worldwide combined, and this

is contributing significantly to the world heading toward an unprecedented

catastrophe from global climate change and other environmental threats?

 

CONSERVING RESOURCES AND HELPING HUNGRY PEOPLE: Animal-based agriculture

requires far more water, land, grain, energy and other resources than

plant-based diets.

 

Since, G-d's compassion is over all of His creatures (Psalms 145:9), please

observe the kapparot rite before Yom Kippur by applying the Jewishly

acceptable way of using money, rather than mishandling and killing chickens?

 

We welcome thoughtful dialogs/debates on “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?”

 

For more information, please visit JewishVeg.com, JewishVeg.com/Schwartz,

and ASacredDuty.com, where you can see our acclaimed very pro-Jewish,

one-hour documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the

World.”

 

=========================

*2. Campaign to Start Dialogs With Rabbis and Other Jewish Leaders

 

*We have close to 1,000 people receiving these email newsletters, and some

are passed on to additional people. What an impact we would have if each

person receiving it had a personal meeting or just a conversation with just

one local rabbi, Jewish educator or other Jewish leader -- even if it was

only to suggest that the Jewish leader give a sermon or other talk or a

class on Jewish teachings on vegetarianism and related issues.

Unfortunately, the Jewish establishment has generally been ducking the many

moral issues related to the production and consumption of meat. At a time

when animal-based diets are having such devastating effects on human health

and the planet's ecosystems, we should respectfully challenge Jewish leaders

to get involved.

 

Perhaps volunteer to give a talk, lead a discussion or show “A Sacred Duty”

at a local school, synagogue or JCC. As indicated many times in the past,

there is an abundance of background material at the JVNA web site

(JewishVeg.com) and in my many articles, talks and interviews at

JewishVeg.com/Schwartz. Many thanks for your consideration and involvement.

 

=========================

*2. Campaign to Start Dialogs With Rabbis and Other Jewish Leaders

 

*We have close to 1,000 people receiving these email newsletters, and some

are passed on to additional people. What an impact we would have if each

person receiving it had a personal meeting or just a conversation with just

one local rabbi, Jewish educator or other Jewish leader -- even if it was

only to suggest that the Jewish leader give a sermon or other talk or a

class on Jewish teachings on vegetarianism and related issues.

Unfortunately, the Jewish establishment has generally been ducking the many

moral issues related to the production and consumption of meat. At a time

when animal-based diets are having such devastating effects on human health

and the planet's ecosystems, we should respectfully challenge Jewish leaders

to get involved.

 

Perhaps volunteer to give a talk, lead a discussion or show “A Sacred Duty”

at a local school, synagogue or JCC. As indicated many times in the past,

there is an abundance of background material at the JVNA web site

(JewishVeg.com) and in my many articles, talks and interviews at

JewishVeg.com/Schwartz. Many thanks for your consideration and involvement.

 

=========================

*3. Letter-Writing Campaign

 

*If the nearly 1,000 people getting JVNA newsletters wrote an average of one

letter a month to Jewish and other publications, what an impact that could

have*. *There are articles almost every day about health, environmental,

resource scarcity and other vegetarian-related issues, and responses

pointing out vegetarian connections could be very valuable. Once again,

material at JewishVeg.com and JewishVeg.com/Schwartz can provide valuable

background material. Thanks.

 

=========================

*4. . A Call for Jews and Jewish Groups to Observe Parshat Noach, October

23-24, as “Global Climate Healing Shabbat.”

 

*The initiative for a “Global Climate Healing Shabbat” was actually

initiated by JVNA, but we happily turned it over to the Shalom Center, since

they have greater contacts and resources and to avoid the implication that

it was primarily a pitch for vegetarianism. Of course, it is important that

vegetarianism be on the agenda for that special Shabbat.

 

PLEASE urge your local rabbis, Synagogues, JCCs and other Jewish groups to

endorse this very important effort. MANY THANKS.

 

Suggestions VERY welcome.

 

*A CALL FOR JEWS TO OBSERVE SHABBAT NOACH, OCTOBER 23-24, AS " GLOBAL CLIMATE

HEALING SHABBAT "

 

*[Message from Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center]

 

This fall, Shabbat Noach -- when Jews around the world read the Torah

portion about the Flood, Noah, the Ark, and the Rainbow -- comes on

October 23-24, the day when a number of experts on the global climate crisis

have called for world-wide actions to protect our planet from climate

disaster.

 

We urge all Jewish communities to observe that Shabbat Noach as " Global

Climate Healing Shabbat, " with special prayers, sermons, lectures, debates,

panel discussions, resolutions, kiddushes, meals, nature-walks, stories for

children, invitations to public officials and environmental activists, and

other means of bringing Jewish commitment to bear on healing the earth from

the dangers that over-use of fossil fuels is bringing upon us all.

 

This Torah passage lends itself to focusing on the danger of destruction of

life on our planet, and also on the actions we need to take to prevent

destruction and preserve the web of life in which the human race has emerged

and created civilization.

 

[Please see the statement we are appending [below] about the worldwide

scheduled events and the key planners.]

 

The international observance of " Global Climate Healing Shabbat Noach " is a

prelude to the crucial United Nations conference on global warming

scheduled for Copenhagen in December, 2009.

 

Almost daily reports of widespread droughts, floods, storms, wildfires and

melting polar ice caps, mountain snowcaps, glaciers, and the migration of

animals cry out to us for action. Passage after passage of Torah and

secular Jewish writings shout out to us that as Jews we must act more

vigorously, not only in private and communal households but in shaping

public policy.

 

We urge our own members and all Jews to contact local rabbis, Jewish

educators and other scholars and communal leaders to plan “Global Climate

Change Shabbat” events that will make this Shabbat the beginning of a truly

transformative time.

 

We call on Jews not only to green our own households and communal buildings

but also to work for major policy changes away from fossil fuels and toward

shifts in energy use, transportation, food production, housing, and other

dimensions of our society.

 

Jewish tradition about caring for the poor also guides us to make sure that

industries and regions especially affected must get help from the whole

society, and that poor countries also get special help to develop on a new

path and to ward off the destructive effects of climate change.

 

We hope the continuing momentum of Global Crisis Shabbat will help the

December UN conference in Copenhagen on the global climate crisis make the

decisions necessary to greatly reduce threats to our climate.

 

Signed:

Rabbi Steve Gutow, president, for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, for The Shalom Center, which initiated this

call.

Nigel Savage, director, for Hazon.

Debra Kolodny, director, for ALEPH : Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Richard Schwartz, president, for Jewish Vegetarian Society of North America

Rabbi Amy Eilberg of the St. Paul Interfaith Network

Ellen Bernstein, author, Birthday of the Trees and The Splendor of Creation

Rabbi Margot Stein, co-author, Guarding the Garden

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling,

 

[Partial list: Your signature welcome]

 

=========================

Related Press Release:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 18, 2009

JEWISH GROUPS URGE SHABBAT NOACH, OCT. 23-24, BE OBSERVED AS " GLOBAL CLIMATE

HEALING SHABBAT "

Further info: Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 215/844-8494

 

A number of Jewish groups, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs

(the national umbrella group on public policy) today called for October

23-24, 2009, to be declared a “Global Climate Healing Shabbat,” in

conjunction with many global climate-related events scheduled for Saturday,

October 24. [Please see statement below this release about the worldwide

scheduled events and the key planners.]

 

That Shabbat is in Jewish tradition Shabbat Noach, when Jews around the

world read the Torah portion about the Flood, Noah, the Ark, and the

Rainbow. This reading lends itself to focusing on the danger of destruction

of life on our planet, and also on the actions we need to take to prevent

destruction and preserve the web of life in which the human race has

emerged and created civilization. The Call to shape Shabbat Noach in this

way was initiated by The Shalom Center.

 

The international observance of " Global Climate Healing Shabbat Noach " is

a prelude to the crucial United Nations conference on global warming

scheduled for Copenhagen in December, 2009. The Jewish groups are urging

that there be many global climate-related educational events that are

consistent with the laws and spirit of Shabbat on that day.

 

“Almost daily reports of widespread droughts, floods, storms, wildfires and

melting polar ice caps, mountain snowcaps, and glaciers indicate that we

are already in a lot of trouble. So much trouble that I feel the words

'global warming' give people a false sense of comfort, and I call the

danger 'global scorching' instead,” commented Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director

of The Shalom Center, author of Down-to-Earth Judaism, and editor of two

major anthologies of eco-Judaism. “Many climate scientists are projecting

far higher temperatures and some, including James Hansen of NASA, are

warning that the climate crisis will spin out of control with disastrous

consequences in a few years, unless major changes soon occur.”

 

Rabbi Steve Gutow, President of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs,

pointed out that " The truth that climate change is caused by us humans is

no longer debatable. The science is clear. The danger to our way of life on

this planet is equally clear. We, as a Jewish community, who ought to take

the lead in trying to stop this scourge, have not done so. It is time to

change that. Dedicating Shabbat Noach to increasing awareness and action is

a good way to move this process along. "

 

Another leader of eco-Jewish activism, Nigel Savage, Hazon's director,

added: “Organizations like Teva, Adamah, the Jewish Farm School, and Hazon

have grown so strong precisely because we're striking a chord with so many

people, especially the best of our young people. Jewish tradition cares

about the world, and Jewish leaders and institutions, increasingly, want to

make a real difference. This winter - from Parshat Noach in October to the

Copenhagen Conference in early December, offers a unique opportunity for the

Jewish community to stand up and speak out. And, most of all, to start a

determined multi-year campaign to effect change within and beyond the Jewish

world.”

 

" Israel is especially threatened,” stated Richard Schwartz of the Jewish

Vegetarians of North America. “It is now facing the worst drought in its

history, and in 2007 the Israel Union for Environmental Defense projected

that, if present trends continue, global warming will produce major heat

waves, a decrease in rainfall of 20 - 30 percent, severe storms and a

flooding of the coastal plain where most Israelis live by a rising

Mediterranean Sea.”

 

“Global Climate Healing Shabbat” events could include sermons, lectures,

debates, panel discussions, resolutions, special kiddushes and meals,

nature-walks, invitations to public officials and environmental activists,

stories for children, and much more. Environmental movies could be shown

during or after Shabbat, in accordance with the practice of each

congregation.

 

The Jewish groups plan to urge their members to contact local rabbis,

Jewish educators and other scholars and communal leaders to urge them to

plan “Global Climate Change Shabbat” events that will make this Shabbat

the beginning of a truly transformative time.

 

Jews need not only to green their own households and communal buildings but

also to work for major policy changes away from fossil fuels and toward

shifts in energy use, transportation, food production, housing, and other

dimensions of our society.

 

Jewish tradition about caring for the poor also guides us to make sure that

industries and regions especially affected must get help from the whole

society, and that poor countries also get special help to develop on a new

path and to ward off the destructive effects of climate change.

 

We hope the continuing momentum of Global Crisis Shabbat will help the

December UN conference make the decisions necessary to greatly reduce

threats to our climate.

 

Information on Jewish teachings on environmental stewardship and

sustainability can be found at the websites of The Shalom Center 's Green

Menorah Covenant (http://www.shalomctr.org <http://www.shalomctr.org> ), the

Coalition on the Environment and Jewish life (COEJL - www.coejl.org <

http://www.coejl.org> ), Canfei Nesharim (www.canfeiNesharim.org), Hazon,

Teva, Adamah Fellowship, Jewish Farm School, <http://www.shalomctr.org)/ <

http://www.shalomctr.org)/> <http://www.shalomctr.org)/ Jewish

Vegetarians of North America (JVNA -www.JewishVeg.com),

 

=========================

*5. A draft message to be sent to vegetarian, animal rights, environmental

and related groups and individuals urging them to help increase awareness of

the VERY important connections between animal-based diets and global

warming.

 

*{My article below makes a comprehensive case for why a major societal shift

to plant-based diets is essential to effectively respond to global warming

threats. Please help to make other people aware of it. Many thanks.]

 

*Veganism's Essential Role In Preventing

an Unprecedented Global Catastrophe

* Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D

 

Synopsis: The world is rapidly approaching an unprecedented catastrophe from

global climate change and other environmental threats, and a major societal

shift to plant-based (vegan) diets is an essential part of the necessary

responses to avoid that catastrophe. Since methane emitted by farmed animals

is in the atmosphere for less than 20 years and is 72 times as potent as a

greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide during that time, reducing the number of

farmed animals would have a major, rapid effect in reducing climate change.

A major shift to plant-centered diets would have many other benefits,

including reducing diseases, hunger, water and energy shortages, rapid

species extinction, water pollution, destruction of rainforests and other

valuable habitats and soil erosion and depletion.

 

----------------------

 

*Global catastrophe or sustainable future? It will depend largely on our

food choices!

 

*It may seem naïve to argue that dietary shifts can make a major difference

in responding to today's many crises, but if we stopped raising the current

60 billion farmed animals that are slaughtered annually worldwide, it would

make a tremendous difference with regard to many, if not all, of today's

current problems. Let us consider how.

 

First, it is important to recognize that the world is rapidly heading toward

an unprecedented catastrophe from global climate change and other

environmental threats. There are almost weekly reports of severe droughts,

heat waves, storms, flooding, wildfires and meltings of polar icecaps and

glaciers. [1] While these events have occurred due to an average temperature

increase of less than 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 100 years, global

climate scientists, including those with the Nobel Prize-winning UN

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are projecting an increase

of from 3 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 100 years [2], which would

have devastating effects on humanity and all of life on the planet.

 

And we are talking about threats that must be addressed very soon. Some

climate scientists, including James Hansen, director of the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space

Studies, are warning that global warming could reach a tipping point and

spin out of control within a few years, with disastrous consequences, unless

major changes soon occur. [3] Scientists at the February, 2009 annual

meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science indicated

that global warming will likely increase more rapidly than expected because

greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) have increased faster than recent

predictions and increased temperatures are setting off positive feedback

(self-reinforcing) mechanisms in global ecosystems. [4]

 

There is increasing awareness of the need to make major changes in many

phases of society to reduce global climate change. However, most lists of

recommendations ignore or give little attention to the impact of our diets

on GHGs. A landmark 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agricultural

Organization estimated that livestock production globally is responsible for

more GHGs (in CO2 equivalents) than the world's entire transportation sector

combined (18 percent of worldwide anthropogenic GHGs for livestock vs. 13.5

percent for transportation). [5] The report, “Livestock's Long Shadow,” also

projects that the world's current population of about 60 billion farmed

animals will double in 50 years if human population growth and dietary

trends continue. [6] The resulting increase in GHGs would largely negate

reduced GHG emissions from improved efficiencies in transportation,

electricity and other sectors and conservation steps, and make it extremely

difficult, if not impossible, to reach the GHG reductions that climate

experts think are essential to avoid a climate disaster.

 

Expert recognition of the importance of diet in preventing global warming is

growing. In the Fall of 2008, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC,

which shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2008, called on people in

the developed world to " give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and

decrease [meat consumption] from there.” [7] More recently, James Hansen,

perhaps the most prominent scientific advocate of aggressive action against

global warming -- told an interviewer:

 

" ... if you eat further down on the food chain rather than animals, which

have produced many greenhouse gases, and used much energy in the process of

growing that meat, you can actually make a bigger contribution in that way

than just about anything. So, that, in terms of individual action, is

perhaps the best thing you can do. " [8]

 

The main reason that animal agriculture's contribution is so great is that

farmed animals, especially cattle and other ruminants, emit methane as part

of their digestive processes (belching and farting) and methane is about 23

times as potent as CO2 in producing global warming, when standard 100 year

periods are considered. [9] However, since most methane survives in the

atmosphere for less than 20 years, if a 20 year period is considered,

methane is about 72 times as potent as CO2. [10] (While the 23 number is

more commonly used, the 72 factor is really far more meaningful, since the

methane is not acting at all for at least 80 years of the 100 year standard

period.) By contrast, CO2 is in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and its

impact is reduced by the predominantly cooling aerosols emitted by typical

CO2 sources like smokestacks and tailpipes. [11]

 

Since methane contributes a significant amount of GHGs (in CO2 equivalents)

[12] and since farmed animals and their manure are by far the major source

of methane, and since methane is in the atmosphere for only a short time, a

major societal shift to plant-based diets would have a substantial and very

rapid effect in reducing global climate change. Having major world leaders

call for such a change, preferably after publicly announcing suitable

changes in their own diets, could very dramatically increase awareness of

the threats of global warming and the need for major dietary and other

lifestyle changes. Such changes could provide some breathing space, during

which other important changes could be made.

 

Additional factors that make switches to plant-based diets even more

important are: (1) the production of animal products causes about nine

percent of total CO2 emissions, from the production of pesticides and

fertilizer, use of irrigation pumps, extensive refrigeration and other

processes; [13] (2) nitrous oxides are emitted from animals' manure and from

chemical fertilizer used to grow feed crops and these gases are almost 300

times as potent as CO2 in producing warming; [14] (3) the burning of

rainforests to create grazing land and land to grow feed crops for animals

releases substantial CO2 and also destroys trees that would absorb CO2; [15]

(4) because they feast on the charred remains of these trees, termites are

perhaps the fastest growing animal species on the planet, and they also emit

methane as part of their digestive processes. [16] Taking all of the above

factors into account, the UN FAO estimate that animal agriculture emits 18

percent of anthropogenic GHGs (in CO2 equivalents) is arguably significantly

lower than the true number, as incredible as the 18 percent value is when

one considers that percent is more than 30 percent greater than the percent

for all the cars, trucks, buses, planes, ships and other means of

transportation worldwide combined.

 

Major shifts to vegan diets would also provide substantial relief to many

other threats to humanity:

 

* Widespread hunger is an increasingly important issue. A June 2009 UN Food

and Agriculture report indicated that the number of chronically hungry

people passed the one billion mark (almost one person in six) for the first

time. [17] An estimated 20 million people, mostly children, die annually

from hunger and its effects and many more suffer permanent physical or

mental damage due to insufficient nutrition. [18] While more than enough

grain is produced today to feed all of the world's people [19], over 70

percent of the grain produced in the United States and almost 40 percent

produced worldwide are fed to animals raised for slaughter. [20] The hunger

situation is likely to become even more critical as world population

continues to increase and droughts, reduced soil fertility, storms and other

effects of global warming reduce food production. [21]

 

* It is projected that half of the world's people will live in areas

chronically short of water by 2050. [22] Some climate experts are calling

this the “Century of Drought.” [23] Many US regions have experienced severe

droughts for the past few years. According to California's governor, the

state's drought has resulted in its wildfire season, which used to last a

few months, now lasting all year round. [24] Major parts of Australia have

experienced drought for ten years, and there are fears that this may become

a permanent condition. [25] Israel is facing the worst drought in its

history, one so severe that the level in the Sea of Galilee dropped to a

level too low to have water pumped from it. [26]

 

The dietary connection is that it takes up to 14 times as much water per

person for a typical animal-based diet than for a vegan diet. [27] The

amount of water necessary to raise one steer to maturity would float a naval

destroyer. [28] Also, as indicated above, animal-based agriculture

contributes significantly to global warming which contributes to droughts

and to the melting of glaciers and the reduced flow of rivers and streams

and levels of lakes and ponds.

 

* A recent report by 11 retired US generals and admirals indicated that

global warming is a multiplier effect for potential violence. They pointed

out that there will be increasing numbers of desperate refugees fleeing

floods, storms, droughts, wildfires, heat waves and other conditions caused

or worsened by global climate change, and this increases the potential for

instability, violence, terrorism and war. [29] Several experts assert that a

major factor behind the recent violence in Darfur is the severe drought that

has afflicted the area and created many refugees. [30]

 

* Species of plants and animals are disappearing at what many experts

consider the fastest rate in history. One major reason is the rapid

destruction of tropical rainforests (where over half of the species of

plants and animals live) at a very rapid rate to create pasture land and

land to raise feed crops for animals. One study indicated an average of 55

square feet of rainforest are destroyed for every quarter pound hamburger

patty produced and exported for consumption in a fast food market. [31] A

recent report indicated that our oceans may be virtually free of fish by

2048, because huge trawlers put out very wide nets that capture all marine

life in its area. [32]

 

* There is currently an epidemic of heart disease, various types of cancer

and other chronic, degenerative diseases. Efforts to treat these diseases

has resulted in soaring medical costs which have resulted in major deficits

and other financial problems at national, state and local levels. These

financial difficulties reduce money available for environmental protection

and for many other essential services. Yet, there is little effort to inform

people that well-balanced, nutritious vegan diets can prevent, alleviate and

sometimes reverse diseases. Instead, there are major debates about how to

end the current dysfunctional medical system, in which millions of people

have no or inadequate medical insurance coverage.

 

* Many more examples of problems made worse by animal-based agriculture can

be given related to such issues as the destruction of coral reefs, soil

erosion and depletion, animal wastes polluting our waters and

animal-initiated diseases such as swine flu.

 

In view of the above and more, the world's people face a major choice. We

can continue basically with current practices as the world continues on its

increasingly rapid path to an unparalleled cataclysm. Or we can adopt

healthy plant-based diets and other practices that can help shift our very

imperiled world to a sustainable path. If we fail to act and soon, how will

we explain our inaction to future generations?

 

1. See, for example, “Climate Change, Global risks, challenges & decisions,”

Copenhagen 10-12 March, 2009, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, *

http://lyceum.anu.edu.au/wp-content/blogs/3/uploads//Synthesis%20Report%20Web.pd\

f

 

*2. “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth

Assessment Report,” February, 2007. *http://www.ipcc.ch/

 

*3. James Hansen, “Tipping Point: Perspective of a Climatologist,” 2008=2009

State of the World, 6,

*http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/StateOfWild_20080428.pdf

 

*4. American Association for the Advancement of Science, February, 2009

annual conference, *Public release, *“Climate change likely to be more

devastating than experts predicted, warns top IPCC scientist,”

*http://www.eurekalert.org/aaasnewsroom/2009/index.php?start=25

 

*5. FAO Newsroom, “Livestock a major threat to environment,” November 29.

2006,

*http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448

 

*6. Ibid.

 

7. Juliette Jowitt, “UN says eat less meat to curb global warming,” The

Observer, September 7, 2008, *

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

 

*8. Be Veg! Go Green! Save the Planet, February 8, 2008, “Dr. James Hansen:

“We have only four years left to act on climate change,” *

http://veg4planet.blogspot.com/2009/02/dr-james-hansenwe-have-only-four-years.ht\

ml

 

*9. Noam Mohr, “A New Global Warming Strategy:

How Environmentalists are Overlooking Vegetarianism as the Most Effective

Tool Against Climate Change in Our Lifetimes*,” *Earthsave,

*http://www.earthsave.org/globalwarming.htm

 

*10. Supreme Master TV Video, “Methane __ 72 Times the Warming Potential of

CO2,” June, 2009,

*

http://vegclimatealliance.org/methane-72-times-the-warming-potential-of-c02/

 

*11. Same as #9

 

12. Ibid.

 

13. UN News Centre Report, “Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases

than driving cars, UN report warns, *

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772 & Cr=global & Cr1=environment

 

*14. Ibid.

 

15. “Burning rainforests, melting tundra could accelerate global warming

well beyond current projections.” mongabay.com, February 16, 2009

*http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0216-climate.html

 

*16. Greg Brockberg, “Termites as a Source of Atmospheric Methane,” *

http://www.iitap.iastate.edu/gcp/studentpapers/1996/atmoschem/brockberg.html

 

*17. UN FAO Report, “1.02 billion people hungry; one sixth of humanity

malnourished - more than ever before.” June 19, 2009, *

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/20568/icode/

 

*18. “Our Food, Our World,” Earthsave Foundation, 1992, p.6.

 

19. ”Eating up the World: the Environmental Consequences of Human Food

Choices,” 16 page booklet, Vegetarian Network Victoria, 2009,

*http://www.vnv.org.au/site/htmfiles/eatinguptheworld.htm

 

*20. GoVeg.com, “Wasted Resources - Food,”

*http://www.goveg.com/environment-wastedResources-food.asp

 

*21. Paul Kedrosky, “Lester Brown on the Coming Food Crisis (Again),

Infectious Greed, May 20, 2009,*

http://paul.kedrosky.com/archives/2009/05/lester_brown_on.html

 

*22. Dan Vergano, “Water shortages will leave world in dire straits,” USA

Today, January 26, 2003,

*http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-01-26-water-usat_x.htm

 

*23. Michael McCarthy, “The Century of Drought

One third of the planet will be desert by the year 2100, say climate experts

in the most dire warning yet of the effects of global warming,”

CommonDreams.org, October 4, 2006,

*http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1004-02.htm

 

*24. Brad Johnson, The Wonk Room, “”Global Boiling: In California It's 'Fire

Season All Year Round,'”

*

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/17/schwarzenegger-always-wildfires/

 

*25. Kristin Underwood, “Australia's Drought Worsens,” Treehugger, February

9, 2008,

*http://www.treehugger.com2008/09/australias-drought-worsens.php

*Also: “Report: Climate Change 2009 - Faster Change and More Serious Risks,”

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, July 9, 2009,

*

http://www.anu.edu.au/climatechange/content/news/report-climate-change-2009-fast\

er-change-and-more-serious-risks/

 

 

*26. Jewish Telegraphic Agency Report, “Israel* *halts Sea of Galilee water

pumping, January 22, 2009, *

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/01/22/1002430/israel-halts-sea-of-galilee-water\

-pumping

 

*27. Tell Youth the Truth, “Animal Agriculture Equates to Wasted Resources

and environmental Degradation,”

*http://www.all-creatures.org/tytt/env-animalag.html

 

*28. “The Browning of America,: *Newsweek*, February 22, 1981, p. 26.

 

29. John Timmer, ars technia, “Ex-military leaders call climate change a

national security issue,” May 28, 2007, *

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070528-ex-military-leaders-call-climate-c\

hange-a-national-security-issue.html

 

*30. Jacl Burton, “Climate Change as Catalyst for War: Can We Stop the

World's Water Crisis or Is Darfur Only the Beginning,” Suite 101.com,February

11, 2008,

*http://war-poverty.suite101.com/article.cfm/war_and_water

 

*31. Crede Calhound, “Kids Can Help Save the Rainforest,”

*http://www.deepcreektimes.com/kids/march2005.html

 

*32. John Roach, “Seafood May Be Gone by 2048, Study Says,” National

Geographic News, November 2, 2006,

*http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061102-seafood-threat.html

 

*=========================

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*=========================

 

 

 

 

Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island

Author of " Judaism and Vegetarianism, " " Judaism and Global Survival, " and

" Mathematics and Global Survival, " and over 130 articles at

www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz

President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) www.JewishVeg.com

and Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV)

Associate Producer of A SACRED DUTY (asacredduty.com) of Veg Climate Alliance (www.vegclimatealliance.org)

president

 

 

 

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