Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Monday, February 2, 2009


	CVA BLOG

CVA Blog
Monday, February 2, 2009

Can We Restore Health to the Environment?

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

1. Planet Earth Being Depleted
2. Famous quote – Michel de Montaigne
3. In Vitro Meat
4. Bible verse – Galatians 6:1
5. EPA Sued
6. Antarctic Sea Creatures at Risk

1. Planet Earth Being Depleted

This article exposes the threat our planet is under due to the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources. Overfishing, deforestation, the increasing demand for meat products and the use of pesticides, are among the greatest threats to humanity's survival. Key aspects of all this is that meat demands great amounts of water and land; and that 34% of world grain supplies are fed to livestock reared for meat and yet, worldwide, "the richer we grow the more we turn to meat", as the writer says. To read the full article please visit Can the planet feed us?

2. Famous Quote

"... there is nevertheless a certain respect, a general duty to humanity, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants. We owe justice to men, and graciousness and benignity to other creatures ... there is a certain commerce and mutual obligation betwixt them and us." ~ Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), French writer

3. In Vitro Meat

A nonprofit research consortium called New Harvest is advocating for the use of lab-grown fish, chicken, and pork. They claim that in vitro meat would reduce the demand for farm animals, slowing the spread of diseases (avian influenza, salmonella, etc.) and minimizing the meat industry’s negative effects on the environment. This lab-grown meat may appear on the market in as few as five years, mainly in the form of hamburgers and chicken nuggets.

To read the full article please search online for: The new white meat: raising chicken nuggets in a Petri dish

4. (RSV) Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

God calls us to help our fellow human beings to confront their sins in a loving, nonjudgmental way, and without feeling arrogant in our righteousness; recognizing, too, that we are not perfect.

5. EPA Sued

Last week, six environmental groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a new rule exempting dairies and other large-scale livestock operations from having to alert officials when toxic emissions are released. These environmental groups say that the exemption threatens the health and safety of people living and working near lagoons that store farm animals' urine and feces, sources of dangerous ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

To read the full article please search online for: Groups sue over EPA change in farms emission rule

Dairy farms profit from the abuse of cows without any regard to their lives or even the lives of humans, given the tremendous pollution these farms cause. This shows that in this case, greed and profit win over our sacred duty of taking care of God's Creation.

6. Antarctic Sea Creatures at Risk

Scientists are worried that sea creatures in the Antarctic may be at great risk as the water temperature in the area slowly rises due to global warming. These creatures, such as Antarctic sea spiders, limpets, sea urchins and the Antarctic marine woodlouse only thrive in near-freezing waters and even as slight temperature rise might be intolerable for them. "Because this is one of the most rapidly warming areas on the planet and because the animals are so temperature sensitive...this marine ecosystem is at higher risk than almost anywhere else on the planet," said Simon Morley, a marine biologist at the British Antarctic Survey at Rothera.

To read the full article please search online for: Antarctic Sea Creatures Hypersensitive to Warming

We cannot ignore the fact that animal agriculture contributes to almost 1/5 of greenhouse gases emissions, which is more than all transportation combined. The fight against global warming and its many devastating effects must include a transition to a plant-based diet in order to reduce the number of animals raised for food. As stewards of God’s Creation we should realize that our everyday life affects our surroundings, including all God’s creatures and the environment.

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