BVFF, Upcoming Conferences, Meat Production and Global Warming
July 9, 2007
Dear Boston Vegetarian Society Listmembers,
I hope you will find something useful in the info here!
1) Picnic Appreciation
2) 12th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival!
3) Summer Conferences
4) Live Earth - References on Meat Production and Global Warming
1) THANK YOU TO ALEXANDRA AND ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PICNIC
A big thank you to Alexandra for all her work in hosting our 4th of July picnic-by-the-sea! Offering BVS her place made it possible for 100+ people to spend a wonderful day together -- making connections, building our veg community, and enjoying a humane and healthy meal. Thank you all for the splendid array of dishes that made this a fabulous potluck -- and just wait till this Sunday at the Peace Abbey!
2) BOSTON VEGETARIAN FOOD FESTIVAL
The 12th Annual (!!!) Boston Vegetarian Food Festival will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2007. Our work is well underway on this year's event -- the longest-running veg festival in the country. You'll be hearing more about it as time goes on, but for now, save the date!
http://www.bostonveg.org/foodfest/ (2006 info)
3) SUMMER CONFERENCES
There are some great learning and networking opportunities coming up!
July 25-29, 2007 * University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, PA North American Veg Society's Vegetarian Summerfest A fabulous learning vacation, atop a picturesque mountaintop wildlife preserve with 40 acres of hiking trails.
Children's programs available, too!
http://vegetariansummerfest.org/
July 28-30 * Washington DC
Taking Action for Animals
Sponsored by leading animal protection organizations Designed to motivate, skill, and inspire activists nationwide National conference plus Lobby Day on Capitol Hill Registration discount through July 12 ($125 includes banquet + 2
lunches!)
http://www.takingactionforanimals.com/
August 4-5, 2007 * Watkins Glen, upstate NY
Farm Sanctuary's Hoe Down
Learn about current farm animal issues, campaigns, and advocacy efforts
while having fun and meeting the sanctuary's 100s of residents.
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/visit/Newyork_hoedown07.htm
August 5-11, 2007 * Wellesley, MA
International Macrobiotic Summer Conference
Sponsored by the Kushi Institute / $975
Health, natural foods, alternative medicine
http://www.kushiinstitute.org/html/summer_conference.html
4) LIVE EARTH - REFERENCES ON MEAT PRODUCTION AND GLOBAL WARMING
The Live Earth concerts are done, and was meat production's role in the
climate crisis made clear? Our June BVS seminar speaker emphasized the
need to raise awareness of animal agriculture's major contribution to
global warming and environmental destruction. Eliminating or reducing
consumption of animal foods is a way that caring people can make a
difference in our global climate crisis.
Here are authoritative resources that you can share. All of these, plus
more, are on our website at
http://www.bostonveg.org/go_veggie.html#motivations
(Scroll to Effects on the Environment)
United Nations Report - Nov. 29, 2006
Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN
report warns
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environm
Worldwatch Institute - Feb. 19, 2007
New Meat Byproducts: Avian Flu and Global Climate Change
"The growth of factory farms, their proximity to congested cities in the
developing world, and the globalized poultry trade are all culprits
behind the spread of avian flu, while livestock wastes damage the climate
at a rate that surpasses emissions from cars and SUVs. These preliminary
findings on avian flu and meat production, from the upcoming Worldwatch
Institute report Vital Signs 20072008,..."
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4925
Christian Science Monitor - Feb. 20, 2007
Humans' beef with livestock: a warmer planet
American meat eaters are responsible for 1.5 more tons of carbon dioxide
per person than vegetarians every year.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0220/p03s01-ussc.html
ABC News - April 19, 2006
Meat-Eaters Aiding Global Warming?
New Research Suggests What You Eat as Important as What You Drive
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/print?id=1856817
E/The Environmental Magazine
Another Inconvenient Truth: Meat is a Global Warming Issue
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3312
University of Chicago News Office - Apr. 13, 2006
Study: vegan diets healthier for planet, people than meat diets
"The food that people eat is just as important as what kind of cars they
drive when it comes to creating the greenhouse-gas emissions that many
scientists have linked to global warming,..."
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060413.diet.shtml
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Livestock a major threat to environment - Nov. 29, 2006
"Which causes more greenhouse gas emissions, rearing cattle or driving
cars?
Surprise!
According to a new report published by the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse
gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent - 18 percent - than
transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html
Worldwatch Institute - June 21, 2004
Global Meat Consumption Has Far-Ranging Environmental Impacts
"Growing demand for meat has become a driving force behind virtually
every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human
future, write the editors of World Watch magazine in the July/August
issue. Total meat consumption has increased five-fold in the past half
century, putting extreme pressure on Earths limited resources, including
water, land, feed, and fuel."
http://worldwatch.org/node/1670