Should the government promote and rewardShould the government promote and rewardvegetarianism as a way of combatingvegetarianism as a way of combating
global warmingglobal warmingand obesity? and obesity? YESYES
Melissa Melissa HengHengXuanXuan DaoDao
ClaribelClaribel CandaCanda
Vegetarianism and Global Warming
? Carbon Dioxide is the main source of global warming.– FALSE!
? Methane is the main source of global warming. – Largest source of methane emissions in the United
States: animal agriculture?Animal agriculture produces more than 100 million
tons of methane a year.– Twenty times stronger of a greenhouse gas than carbon
dioxide.
Vegetarianism and Global Warming
How do we reduce methane emissions?? Reduce meat consumption? Eliminate meat consumption? Stop producing more livestockIn other words:? Stop supporting meat industries? Stop eating meat!
Vegetarianism and Global Warming
ONE calorie of protein from soybeans = TWO calories of fossil fuels expended.
ONE calorie of protein from beef = SEVENTY-EIGHT calories of fossil fuels expended
Which is better?
Vegetarianism and Global WarmingWater Wasted From Meat Consumption (in gallons)
4,000
1,200300
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
Meat-Eaters Vegetarians Vegans
Vegetarianism and Global Warming
? A typical family uses an average of 2,500 gallons of water for all of their household needs in a month.
? It takes the same amount to produce a single pound of beef.
? It takes 14 TRILLION gallons of irrigation water to produce feed for US livestock.
Vegetarianism and Obesity
? Obesity is one of the most critical health problems in the US and will soon become the country’s leading cause of preventable deaths.
? Vegetarians, especially vegans, have a less occurrence rate for obesity. – This may be due to eating less total calories,
lower intake of animal fat, and more fiber.
Obesity Rate in the United States
18%
25%
6% 8%
2%0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%
Obesity Rate in the US US Children Overweight/Obese
Meat-EatersVegetariansVegans
Why is obesity a public health issue? ? causes many diseases and illnesses? 31% U.S adult are obese in 2002 (by 30 pounds
overweight). ? 36. 5 billion dollars spent on treating weight linked
diseases equal to 11.6% in 2002 ? $1,244 spent more for obese patients than the healthy-
weight people? 25% U.S adults are extremely obese (80 pound
overweight) in 2002 ? $75 billion spent in weight- related medical bills in 2003? Tax payers contributed half of the cost
Meat Eating as a Negative Externality
? Creates high demand for the meat market? Needs extra attention from publics health
(Medicare-medical) as well as public good (clothing, space..)
? The meat industry – releases chemicals and emissions into the environment
(Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide… )– Contributes to deforestation process, water purifying,
degenerated soil…etc. therefore eating meat is a negative externality to the environment.
?DES is a man-made estrogen that was first synthesized in 1938.
?A professor at University of California discovered that if you inject DES into male chickens, it chemically castrates them.
?The males develop female characteristics: plump breasts and tender meats- desirable assets for one’s dinner.
?Latter, they used DES to inject to pregnant women for preventing miscarriage and premature birth.
?DES was banned in 1959 because of their side effects.
?Jane- little- Tagaki the researcher and writer of the book, suffers deformity of her sexual organs because her mom was injected DES while being pregnant. She lost her ability of having children since she was born.
?Gale Dunn, a beef farmer, who has some thyroid problems, pale looking, enlarged breast and eveluatedvocal.
?Bunny Dunn, Gale’s stepmother has abnormal growth of her hip and breasts.
?Especially, the little Rose Dunn, a sweet five year old with a full-grown body of a woman.
Vegetarianism reduces obesity, enhances public health, positive externality
? Reasons for eating meat?“It tastes good.”?Part of culture
? Government intervention?To educate people of the negative health and
environmental impacts of eating meat?Education is not enough, rewards are needed
Examples
? Using energy-saving appliances?Expensive but reduce utility costs in the long run?Help protect the environment?Receive tax exemptions or credits, rebates
? Providing healthy school lunch ?Vegetable entrée should be served daily?Aim to combat obesity?School receives cash subsidies and commodities
In Summary
? Eating meat contributes to global warming? Eating meat contributes to obesity? Government should promote and reward
vegetarianism to combat these 2 major problems in the U.S.
References
? http://www.peta.org? http://www.goveg.com? http://www.cspinet.org? http://www.earthsave.org? http://www.vegetarianteen.com? http://www.healthyschoollunches.org? http://www.energystar.gov? http://www.beeslender.com? http://www.medicinenet.com? Diet for a New America by John Robbins? The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and the World
by John Robbins? Vegetarian Beginner’s Guide editors of Vegetarian Timnes? Healthcare Spending Soars for Obesity by Nancy Hellmich, USA Today? My Year of Meat by Ruth L. Ozeki
And this concludes our And this concludes our presentation!presentation!
Thank you for listeningThank you for listening
Vegetarianism and Health
? Vegetarianism is healthier for the body. – It can help prevent high blood pressure, heart
attacks, diabetes, and many more.– You reduce your cholesterol, salt intakes, and
having a better diet that is higher in fiber.
Vegetarian vs. Non-Vegetarian Health Ratios
131Very High Blood Pressure
31High Blood Pressure
21Risk of Death from Heart Disease
141Blood Cholesterol Levels
Non-VegetariansVegetarians
Blood Pressure
? High Blood Pressure = 140/90? Average Blood Pressure
– Vegetarians Non-Vegetarians– 112/69 121/77
? Patients with high blood pressure who achieve substantial improvement by switching to a vegetarian diet: 30-75 percent.
Cholesterol Level
?Average cholesterol level in the United States: 210.
?Average cholesterol level of U.S. vegetarians: 161.
?Average cholesterol level of U.S. vegans: 133.
