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is girlawhirl a meat reducer? eating less meat can make a huge impact on her carbon footprint in the long run
Jun 12, 2008
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About 18% of all carbon emissions come from the meat industry, which turns out to be quite a number compared to other greenhouse gas producers. Planes, trains and autos – actually all fossil fuel modes of transportation – contribute 13%, and households, offices and all types of dwellings account for just 8%. In addition, it takes 22 kilos of grain or feed to produce one kilo of meat. Some argue that world hunger could be eliminated if the grain going to feed animals that will eventually be slaughtered was diverted to people.
Girlawhirl was stunned by the numbers. So she's made an effort to incorporate more vegetarian meals into her diet because she can help without going totally vegetarian. How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, by Joanna Yarrow, says Girlawhirl can trim up to 13lbs of CO2 emissions from her personal carbon footprint for every pound of meat she cuts out of her diet. While it's not an immediate solution, over time, if more and more people ate a reduced meat diet, the demand for meat would decrease and those industries would shrink, lessening the stress and strain on Mother Nature.
Girlawhirl's ready to do what it takes to cut the fat from her carbon footprint, even if it means skipping the petite filet mignon at her favorite steakhouse every now and then.
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There's a new term in town: meat reducers. Sitting somewhere between vegetarians and all-out carnivores, meat reducers are looking for ways to consume less in the way of food that comes from animals. But unlike vegetarians, who are often motivated by a strong desire not to harm animals, meat reducers are motivated by the impact the meat industry has on the environment… 
According to stopglobalwarming.org, over the course of a lifetime, the average meat-eating American contributes 1.5 tons more of greenhouse gasses than the average vegetarian.
