IDA Blog

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1) Animal Agriculture Causes  51% of Global Warming

A new study called Livestock and Climate Change reveals that animal agriculture releases over half of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The co-authors, Robert Goodland and Jeff Anhang, discuss how past estimations have been vastly underestimated and that their 51% calculation is even on the conservative side. Goodland, who was the lead environmental adviser for the World Bank for 23 years, and Anhang, also an affiliate of the World Bank as a research officer and environmental specialist, conclude that replacing animal products with plant foods would be the best strategy for reversing climate change. They contend that food producers should mount a major campaign to promote the consumption of plant-based foods, including meat substitutes.

2) Al Gore Breaks his Silence on Animal Agriculture

We’ve been disappointed for years as our King of Green has ignored the top cause of greenhouse gas emissions. But, finally, in his new book, Our Choice, Gore acknowledges that animal agriculture is a significant contributor to global warming with a two-page, full-color spread of a livestock yard with hundreds of cows. He also reveals that he has cut back significantly on eating animal products. Perhaps this accounts for his slim and trim new look? 

3) Read All About It!

New best-selling books from best-selling authors, celebrity chefs, and celebrity chicks, have put the plight of farm animals in the spotlight in 2009 on “Oprah,” “Ellen.” and “Larry King.” Eating Animals is the first work of nonfiction from Jonathan Safran Foer, the much-admired author of the novels Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. In his new book, he explores the dark world of animal farming and exposes the reality of where our food comes from. Chef Tal Ronnen whips up traditional French culinary delights forgoing animal products in The Conscious Cook. And Alicia Silverstone isn’t clueless anymore—she is instead promoting veganism in her book. The Kind Diet.

4) Stanford Biochemist Promotes Veganism

Dr. Patrick O. Brown, a renowned biochemist at Stanford University, has won numerous awards for his scientific works and is one of the first people to pioneer the use of microarray technology. In an article in Forbes , Brown announced that he will take an 18-month hiatus from his research to focus entirely on ending the number one cause of global warming—animal agriculture. Brown, a vegetarian for over 30 years and a vegan for five, explains, “I want to approach this as a solvable problem. Solution: Eliminate animal farming on planet Earth.”

5) Martha Stewart Talks (about saving) Turkey

Martha Stewart, the culinary queen of the mainstream kitchen, dedicated an entire show to a vegetarian Thanksgiving. She whipped up the traditional fare, veggie-style, and said that she would be joining her daughter’s all-vegetarian Thanksgiving.