I posted in the past about how we have this tradition of labeling days, weeks or months after some cause, as if remembering them periodically makes much difference. Well, today is Earth Day!
There has been a lot of press about renewed efforts to address the obvious climate crisis we are in and I continue to be struck by how little, if any, mention there is about the single, most impactful behavior we can change today which will have an immediate impact on not only reducing global warming gases, but also immediately reversing it.
STOP CONSUMING ANIMAL PRODUCTS. Even the most conservative, pro-meat industry organizations, admit that this industry accounts for at least 15% of global warming gases, more than all modes of transportation, worldwide, combined. The more accurate assessment is that the percentage is at least 50% with some estimates even puting it as high as 80%.
The impact of stopping, or even cutting back on meat and other animal product consumption is immediate. Production of gases like methane and nitrous oxide, orders of magnitude more potent than CO2, stop immediately. In addition, the lands used for growing the crops to feed the animals as well as the land used for grazing are immediately released to re-grow, providing the crucial carbon trapping we need to sequester the massive amounts of carbon we have generated. We kill over 70 billion land animals and 1.7 trillion, yes trillion, aquatic animals, for human consumption annually. It is staggering.
Slowing climate change down should not be the goal. It’s too late for that. Climate change is on the precipice of progressing regardless of how much we slow it down. It’s called run-away climate change. We need to focus on reversing it.
I heard a sobering statistic this morning that since President Biden became Vice-President, only 12 years ago, humanity has generated more than 40% of all the greenhouse gases we have produced in all of human history. Despite all the recycling efforts. Despite all the focus on electric cars and ride-sharing. Despite all the feel-good efforts we think are making a difference when in fact, they are just bandaids. Like drugs to “manage” diseases. We need to stop the disease, and the drugs won’t be needed. Slowing climate change down is not enough.
THE PANDEMIC MARCHES ON. Here in North America, we are in a bubble. Duped by vaccinations numbers which are amongst the best in the world, the numbers of those getting vaccinated is quickly slowing down. To reach herd-immunity, we need at least 70% of people to be vaccinated, world wide. We are close to 40% in the US, but at least 30% have already stated that they will not get the vaccine, mostly for selfish and uneducated reasons. And then there is the rest of the world. 30 countries have not vaccinated a single person and the pandemic is exploding in some countries, previously held up as models for their ability to control the pandemic, India and Sweden, which now has the 5th fastest rising level of new Covid cases. Worldwide, this pandemic is worse than at any point since it all started.
What can we do? It is still crucial to get vaccinated. The risks are negligible and certainly orders of magnitude less common than the complications of getting the disease. Even the J&J. As far as the clot issue is concerned, there may be 2 additional cases of clotting but that’s it. 8 cases out of 6 million doses. And only one death from this condition, which again, occurs at almost the exact same rate in the general, unvaccinated population.
And PLEASE continue to behave safely. Practically, but safely.
MASK UP, and STOP touching it for goodness sakes.
DISTANCE.
WASH your hands necessary. Don’t overdo it.
VENTILATE.
VACCINATE.
GET HEALTHY.
These are all things we have 100% control over. We also have 100% control over what we eat, which again, is the single most impactful thing you can do to get healthy, save the planet, and to reduce the massive amount of cruelty inflicted on the animals, who have just as much right to be on Earth as we do.
Stay safe and be well.
AC 🌱❤🏃🏻🧘🏻