vegetarianism and the indian as the 'other'

sep 8th, 2006

we have often talked about how, for the white world, india is the 'other'.

here's an unusual take on the same topic.

http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall06/005220.htm

vegetarianism, says the article below, would reduce two of the major factors of global warming: the methane produced by flatulent cattle bred for meat, and the destruction of the rain forest for range land for cattle. the effects would be considerable.

http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/40639/
EnviroHealth: Meat Is a Global Warming Issue
By Dan Brook, E Magazine

Put that hamburger down! Our carnivorous habits are partially responsible
for the dire threat of global warming.

There are many human activities that contribute to global warming. Among the
biggest contributors are electrical generation, the use of passenger and
other vehicles, over-consumption, international shipping, deforestation, smoking
and militarism. (The U.S. military, for example, is the world's biggest
consumer of oil and the world's biggest polluter.)

What many people do not know, however, is that the production of meat also
significantly increases global warming. Cow farms produce millions of tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane per year, the two major greenhouse gases that
together account for more than 90 percent of U.S. greenhouse emissions,
substantially contributing to "global scorching."

According to the United Nations Environment Program's Unit on Climate Change,
"There is a strong link between human diet and methane emissions from
livestock." The 2004 State of the World is more specific regarding the link
between animals raised for meat and global warming: "Belching, flatulent livestock
emit 16 percent of the world's annual production of methane, a powerful
greenhouse gas."

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