Given the environmental destructiveness of livestock and dairy farming, it is surprising that none of the suggestions so far on this site have included eating lower on the food chain. Or perhaps this is not so surprising, given the influence the meat and dairy industry have on the New Zealand government and the poweful advertising millions it has at its disposal. Changing light bulbs to flourescents may make everyone feel good, but will have very little effect until we realise that our lust for 3 meals of flesh a day is simply unsustainable.
Submitted by kiore1 on 8 January 2008 11:06:19
Comments
I agree with you about eating lower down the food chain. While my 3rd form science teacher probably didn't realise it, his explanation of how energy moves through the food chain made me realise how inefficient eating meat is. The fact that it takes more energy to produce a can of tuna (getting in the boat to go catch it, bringing it back, process it, can it and send it to us in NZ) than you get from eating it really stuck with me and set me on a path to vegetarianism. It took 10 years to actually get there!
While I no longer struggle with the alluring smell of cooking bacon, I do struggle with being a smug vegetarian. It would be really easy to fool myself that just because I don't eat meat anymore that the sustainability of my food choices is all taken care of. Tasty vegetarian takeaways and convenience foods still come with heaps of packaging - damm them!
Submitted by Amy on 9 January 2008 12:01:32
It is a very important point that you make about the fact that it takes more energy to get the food that we eat processed (and then packaged!), than the energy we get from eating it. I don't think many people realise this eh. However, as much as i like the fact that you are making a difference by becoming a vegetarian, I think the smell of meat on the barbie will always lure me!!!
For those who stil enjoy meat, it is a matter of sourcing meat that has not used as much energy, i.e from a butcher not the supermarket. You don't HAVE to buy meat in unrecyclable packaging just to have the smell of delicious meat on the barbie.
I also agree about the amount of packaging! Its crazy, there is so much and yet no facilities to recycle so much of it. It is currently a lose lose situation.
At the end of it all smarter, more informed choices will make a huge difference in consumer preference and demand and hopefully have an positive impact on the environment.
One last thing: there ARE farmers being proactive about the way they are farming. Maybe it isn't a matter of eating lower in the food chain, but a matter of shortening the supply chain to reduce energy use...
Submitted by Comebyecloud on 9 January 2008 19:19:48
Good on you Amy and Comebyecloud. I live in a vegetarian household, but I totally acknowledge that not everybody can be/wants to be a vegetarian. Here are some of my suggestions for eating more sustainably:
Of course, starting your own organic vege garden at home would be ideal, but I will leave that to more skilled gardeners!
Submitted by Lindis on 15 January 2008 16:01:18