The full impact of the livestock sector

The livestock industry is degrading land, contributing to the greenhouse effect, polluting water resources, and destroying biodiversity.

…the cow, pig, chicken sector is

“one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale”.

…the livestock sector accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than transport, which emits 13.5%. Livestock occupies 26% of Earth’s ice-free land. Producing their feed occupies one-third of global cropland.

Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale. 10 billion cows, pigs, lambs, chickens (and various other creatures) are slaughtered per year in the United States alone.

Story at New Scientist


Justin Erik Halldór Smith
http://www.jehsmith.com/

“The present system of meat production is perceived as acceptable by most not due to any widespread consensus that animals are not the sort of creatures that have rights, and thus that whatever happens to them behind the gates of a factory farm is morally irrelevant. It is perceived as acceptable only because it is not, for the most part, perceived.”