Originally Posted by Woogie Man (Post 3593186)

Hi, Gail....no, I didn't see it , but it's along the same lines as the post of yours I responded to in the other thread.

On the energy front, I think there's some good news. Viable electric cars are just around the corner. For elctricity, we still mostly rely on coal , but I've seen a new technology that is already on the market, though not yet for home use. It's called the Bloom Box..check it out. Bloom Energy | Be The Solution

What worries me is the destruction of forests..our natural air cleaners. Also, the loss of habitat for so many animals and the complete extinction that looms for many.

I'm repeating myself from my other post, but growth for growth's sake is killing the planet. Why do we feel entitled to have so much stuff? Do we ever give a thought to what it takes to produce it and get it to us? The short answer is no, we don't.

I do think that global warming is very real and will show to be our biggest problem in years to come. It's not just energy consumption, either. It's tearing down woodlands, and building housing tracts and roads. I'm amazed that there's any argument as to whether it's real or not. Of course it's real!! Here's a little test for anyone. Go outside barefoot, put one foot on the grass and the other on the pavement. See the difference? Now multiply that by all the roads, parking lots and rooftops and you get an idea of man's footprint.

I'm probably about the same age as you and grew up worrying about nuclear war. It's now obvious that it's much more probable that we'll 'die the death of a thousand cuts' rather than nuclear annihilation.

The answers are obvious but difficult. We have to attain zero population growth and then dial back even further. There are just too many of us here. We also have to practice conservation on a level not yet seen. Here's a link that touches on that. How to Do Animal Rights. Human Overpoulation

Many of us bemoan what is happening to animals and the rain forests, but fail to see the part we play in this. The Western world is beginning to see the big picture, but the new wealth is in the developing world and frankly, they are on a tear to catch up in terms of development and consumption. I have no clue what's to come due to this new wrinkle in the picture. I don't think it will be pretty.

The problem is that it's a beautiful summer night and all seems well. Hard to visualize the cancer we have wrought upon the Earth from our insulated little worlds.

Okay, now everyone knows I'm crazy :D. My fear is that I will appear a little saner year by year.

Originally Posted by Jinger (Post 3619054)

I read today that if everyone in the country had a meatless/dairyless day once a week it would be like taking 7.6 million cars off the road! I knew it had an impact, but didn't know it was THAT great!
I'm actually thinking of becoming a vegetarian for both health and "kindness" reasons.
Are any of you vegetarian?

Originally Posted by Jinger (Post 3619054)

I read today that if everyone in the country had a meatless/dairyless day once a week it would be like taking 7.6 million cars off the road! I knew it had an impact, but didn't know it was THAT great!
I'm actually thinking of becoming a vegetarian for both health and "kindness" reasons.
Are any of you vegetarian?

Originally Posted by gemy (Post 3619181)

I was at one point a vegetarian, but a poor one, in that I didn't balance my diet, and then after about eight years, I needed to introduce protein back into my diet.

Our family only eats meat about 3-4 x per wk. And we usually only eat about 4ounces or so at dinner. I buy from local organic farmers, who don't use all the chemical stuff in the feed and so on. So free range eggs, pasture grazed beef and from local suppliers.

It is relatively painfree to do this, especially if you create a menu plan once wkly for you and your family. I started doing this years and years ago, as a way to save money and I did, save the downpayment on a home in about 4 yrs with much reduced grocery bills. Of course that was when you could place 10$15K down on a $100K home.

Now at that time I was not buying organic, so the price of food today for organic is more costly.

I've enrolled into a couple of food groups that send you daily some recipes and ideas, which can help inspire you when you run out of ideas.

The other benefit of a menu plan, is that you don't have to think about what is for dinner tonight, and the other family members can see the menu plan on the fridge and say for eg: not eat the left over chicken, because it is on the menu for chicken salad tonight:D

I often have soups, salads, pasta with meatless different kinds of sauces, the very much loved macaroni and cheese; I do have a portobello mushroom stronganoff which is quite tasty.

Originally Posted by Woogie Man (Post 3619147)

I'm not, and don't think I could ever be. We do eat a lot less meat, though, for many reasons.

What you read only addresses air pollution. The biggest problem, especially from factory farms, is water pollution. Do you remember the hurricanes that flooded the hog farms in N. Carolina some years back? It was an ecological disaster.

If we all only, like you said, went meatless one day a week, or the equivalent in reduced consumption, it would make a huge difference. There would be less need for the horribly cruel factory farms and all the problems that go with them.

Here's a couple links about the hog farms if you're interested.

DOVE IMAGING

http://www.vivavegie.org/101book/tex...dehogwaste.htm

Pigs AND THE FACTORY FARM | Animals | Find Articles at BNET

Originally Posted by celstu1 (Post 3619876)

I am not a vegetarian, and I do eat dairy. I eat a yogurt everyday and I drink milk in my coffee. I could easily switch to a rice milk or soy milk for that.... but what about yogurt? I know they have soy yogurt but does it have all the good bacteria in it? I really need that... my stomach is a mess and a yogurt a day over the last year has made a huge difference for me. Ive tried supplements, but they didn't do anything for me.

About meat though.... I could easily go without it 5 days a week and not even 'think' about it. Then I start to feel weird and realize I haven't had enough protein all week and have to make a meal with meat. However, a year ago I moved in with my boyfriend. He has 2 kids, boys and himself. I swear I introduced them to vegetables. They would eat meat and only meat for all meals. I was shocked. Hot Dogs and Hamburgers on buns, no salad, no nothing just 3-4 hamburgers or hot dogs. Steak with french fries (I guess maybe a stretch veg would be that fries are potatoes). It was really weird. Oh and pasta... 5 nights a week. No vegs, all meat sauce with cheese.

Now I can get them to eat meatless a day a week for sure. I make a potato salad with veggies and stuff in it and they dog it down until they are full. Or I'll make a cold pasta dish with chopped herbs, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers and they eat until they are full without even thinking about meat. I will be more conscience about making a true effort to skip meat once a week though!