People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) , the Humane Society and other groups, are pointing fingers at what we’re eating. They argue that the meat industry is more detrimental to our environment than any other practice we engage in – including burning fossil fuels.

Meat is killing our planet?

In late November, the U.N Food and Agriculture Organization issued a report stating that the livestock business generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined.

The problem I have with this argument is that the U.N.’s findings do not take into account greenhouse gases generated from power plants, and other forms of electricity generation. I also do not think people will sacrifice eating meat on a large scale – and our energy, no real pun intended, should not be spent trying to change this. Rather, changing our modes of transportation seems like a much better way to spend our time, and the prospects for progress are very good. On that note, as Congress reconvenes in September they will be conferencing the energy bill…

That being said, the meat industry is horrifying, and anyone who has read “Fast Food Nation” or the “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” knows that the large-scale meat industry does terrible things to sentient animals, and to our environment.  I do agree that environmentalists should minimalize their meat intake, and I do not eat meat on a daily basis. Environmentalists should also only consume cage free/free range meat and dairy products – not only for the sake of the animals and the environment, but for your health as well. There are scary hormones in meat that is mass produced.  

While these choices may seem to be more expensive, the prices more accurately reflect the true cost of good food. Somehow, the notion has evolved that all food can be cheap – but the pricetag of cheap food is even higher.