Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Monday, September 14, 2009


	CVA BLOG

CVA Blog
Monday, September 14, 2009

Earth: Next Generations’ Home in Our Hands

1. Choice of Diet Affects the Environment
2. Famous Quote – Native American Proverb
3. The Cost of Cheap Food
4. Bible verse – Psalm 143:10
5. Tyson Fined For Contaminating River
6. Q&A With Serge Latouche

1. Choice of Diet Affects the Environment

Given the "cash for clunkers" program by the US government, officials expect that a quarter-million gas guzzlers will be taken off the roads, which they plan will reduce greenhouse gases. On the other hand, "Cash for cluckers" is the suggestion by Chris Holbein, writer for The Sun News, in order to reduce carbon footprint. He believes that by encouraging meat-eaters to trade in their chicken for chickpeas and their pork chops for "fib ribs" is the best way to help the environment. Considering that the United Nations concluded that the meat industry generates approximately 40 percent more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, ships and planes in the world combined, transitioning to a plant-based diet seems to be the most effective way to curb global warming. To read the full article please search online for Vegan Diet Reduces Carbon Footprint

2. Famous Quote

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” ~Native American Proverb

3. The Cost of Cheap Food

TIME Magazine’s cover story “The Real Cost of Cheap Food”, exposes the suffering farmed animals endure on a daily basis, and the reason behind it: demand for cheap food. From the overuse of antibiotics and hormones, to what farmed animals are fed, this article covers the major issues surrounding modern agriculture and the negative effects on our health, animals and the environment. Please search online for Getting Real About the Cost of Cheap Food

4. Bible Verse

(RSV) Psalm 143:10

"Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God! Let thy good spirit lead me on a level path!"

God calls us to obedience and has entrusted us with a sacred task: to be good stewards of everything our Creator made.

5. Tyson Fined for Contaminating River

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that factory farms pollute our waterways more than all other industrial sources combined. That is because animals raised for food produce approximately 130 times as much excrement as the entire human population or 87,000 pounds per second. Tyson Fresh Meats, the world's largest beef and pork supplier, is no different. The Justice Department recently fined Tyson $2 million for pumping animal waste into the Missouri River. Tyson discharges about 5 million gallons of "treated wastewater" from a Nebraska beef processing facility into the river each day, caused high levels of toxicity to aquatic life in the river. To read the full article please search online for Tyson Fined $2M For Mucking Up Missouri River

Although $2 million is not a significant amount of money for Tyson, it hopefully sends the message that greed and profit should not trump our sacred role of being good stewards of God’s Creation. However, factory farms should not be the only ones to blame, but also all those who support them knowing the havoc they create in the environment.

6. Q&A with Serge Latouche

Serge Latouche, professor emeritus of economic science at the University of Paris-Sud and one of the main proponents of "the society of de-growth", share in this interview why, in his view, the earth's resources and natural cycles cannot sustain the current way food is produced. He calls for "a society of assumed sobriety; to work less in order to live better lives, to consume less products but of better quality, to produce less waste and recycle more." To read the full article please search online for Q&A: "Time to de-grow" .

Return to CVA Blog - Home Page
Return to CVA Blog - Past Issues

Your question and comments are welcome

This site is hosted and maintained by
The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation.

Since