I found the documentary "Cowspiracy" on Netflix because it isn't freely available. It shows how contrary to popular opinion, meat and dairy production contribute more to greenhouse gases than vehicles emissions. Methane and nitrous oxide pollute the atmosphere at higher levels than CO2, while both are disproportionately a byproduct of animal husbandry needed to feed the planet. Animals that are grown and fed to be slaughtered also require a major amount of water- one hamburger requires 660 gallons of water to sustain a cow from birth to slaughter! A further issue is that the demand for raising livestock is significantly adding to biodiversity loss, including around 80% of the clearance of the Amazon rainforest. The message is that we can conserve water, reduce pollution, and protect species by relying less on meat and dairy consumption.
The way the film is shown, there appears to be a conspiracy
by some environmental organizations to cover up this crucial fact. Most of the
people interviewed look uncomfortable, either because they are hiding something
or didn’t know. It is thought that they are not appropriately addressing
the issue because they fear a backlash to reducing meat consumption would also
reduce fundraising. There is also the threat of violence against
activists, especially in the Amazon, where deforestation for livestock is growing
at an alarming rate. I liked how one of the farmers put it, "If the land
can't sustain the animal, humans shouldn’t be eating it”.
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