A vegetarian diet is not only good for your health, but also the environment; one of the most pressing global concerns.
Methane Gasses
According to a United Nations report (Livestock’s Long Shadow – Environmental Issues and Options) on global warming, livestock farming is responsible for more greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere than the entire transportation sector.
Other than for methane gasses, livestock farming is responsible for ammonia gasses from urine and other poisons from manure. In fact, one industrial pig farm in the
End of Hunger and Deforestation
Over a third of all grain produced in the world is fed to livestock. To produce 1kg of meat takes 15kg of grain, which if diverted directly to food resources would be enough to feed the entire global population.
The Vegetarians International Voice for Animals states, ‘While 750 million people go to bed hungry every night, one-third of the world’s grain is fed to farmed animals. A typical Western meat-based diet can only feed 2,5 billion people (a little over 35% of the world population): a plant-based diet will feed every one of us.’
Moreover, it takes 100 times more water to produce a kilogram of meat than vegetable matter. And livestock farming is one of the major factors in deforestation, especially of rainforests, which is a major contributor to global warming. According to Greenpeace, most of the destruction of the Amazon region is for grains for livestock and ranching.
Fish Stocks
Many fish species that were abundant a few decades ago are now threatened or endangered. Over-fishing by industrial ships has led to depletion of global fish populations, which has also had a devastating affect on coastal communities who rely on fishing for sustenance.
So remember you can do your part for one of the greatest threats to our planet by putting at least one day a week aside for vegetarian meals. And, hey, they can be more tasty and colourful than the meat variety as our recipe shows.
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Fruit and Nut Curry Serves 2 Ingredients
Method o Cook rice as per instructions on packet. Drain and set aside. o Fry onion over medium heat in a large pan until soft. Stir in peppercorns, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon and cardamoms and fry for one minute. Add dried fruits and nuts and fry for two minutes. Stir in spice powders and salt and fry for another minute. o Reduce heat, cover with water and add apple. Leave to simmer for about a half hour until the liquid has stiffened to a sauce. o Stir in rice and serve. |
