There has been a lot said about going vegetarian...?!
There has been a lot said about going vegetarian...?
...because of the impact farm animals have on global warming. But this has been in the news recently. If growing rice has such an impact on the environment too then surely if everyone goes vegetarian it will be of no benefit to global warming as rice production will obviously increase too or should that be banned as well?
Your opinions please?
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/rice...
2 days ago
Michael H - I don't think there is any reason to be so rude, just because you are more intelligent in a subject than I am. Do you think if I knew and understood all the facts and figures you have stated before I would have asked this question? And I myself do eat a lot of rice - with nearly every meal so if I am contributing to global warming by doing this as well as being vegetarian am I in the wrong?
2 days ago
And btw Michael I only became vegetarian recently and I'm trying to understand how what I am doing is likely to help the environment. If doing this turns me into someone as arrogant as yourself and this Ashley I've seen maybe I shouldn't bother!
Answers:
The impact of growing rice is not perfect --- but it is not as bad as producing meat:
Methane is responsible for 17.3% of climate change. Livestock digestion (i.e. burps and farts from cows and sheep) accounts for 18% of total global methane emissions, and factory farm waste lagoons account for a further 7% of emissions. Combined, these two sources equal 4.3% of total climate change.
Other sources include dams (accounting for 20% of emissions), fossil fuel extraction (20%) and landfills (10%). Rice paddies account for around 10%, but rice is a staple food for a lot more people (half the world's population) than cow meat is, and BBC reports that there are varieties of rice being developed that emit much less methane.
Also remember that water, fertiliser and energy has been used on producing fodder (plants) for the cattle. Then these plants need to get converted into meat. The cow has to eat a whole lot of it, and keep drinking water and producing methane for a long time before anyone can eat it.
But with rice just water, fertilser and energy and thats it.
Point is - you need to eat something. Everything has an impact and plants are better than animals by a long shot.
*** Check out this article about more efficient rice growing:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/natur...