X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham  	version=3.2.0-r431796
Sender: -2.6 (spamval) -- NONE
Return-Path: <improvetheworld-errors &AElig umich.edu>
Received: from newman.eecs.umich.edu (newman.eecs.umich.edu [141.213.4.11]) 	by boston.eecs.umich.edu (8.12.10/8.13.0) with ESMTP id l0QKx0TK012872 	(version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=FAIL) 	for <dreeves &AElig boston.eecs.umich.edu>; Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:59:01 -0500
Received: from anniehall.mr.itd.umich.edu (mx.umich.edu [141.211.176.130]) 	by newman.eecs.umich.edu (8.13.8/8.13.6) with ESMTP id l0QKwsnm029354; 	Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:55 -0500
Received: FROM out4.smtp.messagingengine.com (out4.smtp.messagingengine.com [66.111.4.28]) 	BY anniehall.mr.itd.umich.edu ID 45BA6B8B.8B520.17584 ;  	26 Jan 2007 15:58:51 -0500
Received: from out1.internal (unknown [10.202.2.149]) 	by out1.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id B1D82991DD; 	Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:51 -0500 (EST)
Received: from heartbeat2.messagingengine.com ([10.202.2.161])   by out1.internal (MEProxy); Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:51 -0500
X-Sasl-enc: Q1OXcDkZ+ZHPO3rXsXXl4l0H8r661CGuUH2UGZE2L983 1169845131
Received: from [172.22.104.208] (216-239-45-4.google.com [216.239.45.4]) 	by mail.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 374831667B; 	Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:51 -0500 (EST)
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0701241524480.9931 &AElig columbus.eecs.umich.edu>
References: <5FBB2176-92EF-4F1E-8ACE-38A7A187D671 &AElig umich.edu> <Pine.LNX.4.64.0701241524480.9931 &AElig columbus.eecs.umich.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v752.3)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Message-Id: <F46790C7-0ABD-40A9-83CA-55019BBCC7BF &AElig eecs.umich.edu>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.752.3)
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.2.0-r431796 (2006-08-16) on  	newman.eecs.umich.edu
X-Virus-Scan: : UVSCAN at UoM/EECS
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:34:37 -0800
To: Nate Clark <ntclark &AElig eecs.umich.edu>
Cc: Robert Felty <robfelty &AElig umich.edu>, improvetheworld &AElig umich.edu
From: Joshua J Estelle <jestelle &AElig eecs.umich.edu>
Subject: Re: more reasons to be vegetarian
Status: O
X-Status: 
X-Keywords:                  
X-UID: 923

> The text of this article is about how mass farming of meat is bad  
> for the environment, not that eating meat is bad for the  
> environment. If eating meat alone was bad for the environment, then  
> eradicating all carnivores would solve our global warming problem, no?

It is true that locally raised meet likely has negligible negative  
impact and that the real problem is mass farming of meat, but I think  
even very environmentally conscious meat eaters are unlikely to  
always eat "good" meat.

> To change the topic slightly, your article reminded me of a very  
> interesting essay by Jared Diamond (the "Guns, Germs, and Steel"  
> guy) claiming that farming was the worst mistake humanity ever made:

While farming may not also be perfect, it is by far the lesser evil  
to eating meat.  Consider we have to feed 10 people for 1 year.  Then  
think about how much land and resources you would need to feed them a  
meat eating diet.  Each animal they eat will need a tremendous amount  
of resources to raise that animal to be eaten.  Then consider if  
those 10 people were vegetarians.  The amount of land and resources  
needed to feed them would be drastically smaller.

It's just more efficient to be vegetarian.

I think I just discovered my short answer to when people ask me why  
I'm vegetarian, "It's just more efficient."

Best,
Josh





> On Wed, 24 Jan 2007, Robert Felty wrote:
>
>> Really great article about how eating meat is bad for the  
>> environment. Thanks to Clare for pointing it out to me.
>> You can read it at:
>> http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0120-20.htm
>>