PETA Urges Bahamas Commission to Fight Global Warming by Encouraging Residents to Go Vegetarian

For Immediate Release:
May 13, 2008

Contact:
Lindsay Rajt 757-622-7382

Bahamas - Yesterday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent an urgent letter to Philip S. Weech – director of the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission – urging him to combat global warming by encouraging the nation's residents to adopt a vegetarian diet. PETA points out that meat production is recognised as the leading cause of the greenhouse-gas emissions that are blamed for global warming.

The letter was sent after the commission acknowledged that further global warming would have dire consequences for the Bahamas – including violent storms and storm surges, rising sea levels, accelerated erosion and land degradation. PETA points out that although encouraging people to be more energy-efficient in their daily lives is certainly helpful in the battle against greenhouse-gas emissions, the best way for people to lessen their environmental "footprint" is to go vegetarian. A recent United Nations scientific report determined that raising animals for food generates about 40 per cent more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, SUVs, trucks and airplanes in the world combined.

PETA also offers Weech helpful tips for getting the ball rolling, such as serving exclusively vegetarian fare at all state functions and making vegetarian options available in all public schools.

"We're encouraging Bahamians to combat global warming by going vegetarian now, before the islands go the way of the lost island of Atlantis", says PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich. "Because meat production is the main greenhouse-gas culprit, there's no way to go green without skipping meat and dairy."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA's letter to Philip S Weech follows.

12 May 2008

Philip S. Weech, Director
The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission

Dear Mr. Weech:

On behalf of PETA and our more than 1.8 million members and supporters, I'm writing to offer an idea to help your island nation as it confronts the threat of global warming and rising sea levels. The most effective action that anyone can take to combat climate change is to adopt a vegetarian diet. By initiating a campaign to promote a vegetarian diet in the Bahamas, you would be sending a message to people everywhere that making the switch to a plant-based diet is essential in halting climate change – and help prevent the Bahamas from becoming the next Atlantis in the process.

A 2006 United Nations report determined that raising animals for food generates almost 40 per cent more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, ships and planes in the world combined. In its report, the UN found that the meat industry causes local and global environmental problems even beyond global warming. It concluded that the meat industry should be a main focus in every discussion of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortages and pollution, and loss of biodiversity. With this in mind, we recommend that the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission take the following actions to help combat global warming:

· Provide information to your citizens about the environmental benefits of vegetarianism on BEST's website
· Serve exclusively vegetarian fare at all state functions
· Make vegetarian options available in all public schools

We hope that visitors and residents will be able to enjoy the Bahamas for many years to come. By implementing these recommendations and promoting vegetarianism, your nation will help lead the fight against global climate change.

Please contact me to discuss ideas about promoting a vegetarian diet in the Bahamas. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Rajt, Assistant Manager
Vegan Campaigns

How come "Sam" didn't post this???

somebody needs to tell lindsay that most of these animals are tied up in our backyards, and not trampling some massive livestock operation :). wrong country, methinks. or a press junket for lindsay, eh :footmouth ...

Human beings didn't spend three million years of evolution to get to the top of the food chain and eat TOFU. No thanks. I have canine teeth -- I intend to use them to rip flesh off the carcass, and then make soup with the bones.

Make soup wtih the bones, na Lurker, you know we dis crunch dem up too. :D
Seriously, Bahamians tooooooooooooooo into chicken and hamburger to make this leap.
PETA only wastin' dey time.

Human beings didn't spend three million years of evolution to get to the top of the food chain and eat TOFU. No thanks. I have canine teeth -- I intend to use them to rip flesh off the carcass, and then make soup with the bones.

Boi I tell ya.....these fools keep it up and there will soon be pictures of dem on da lightpoles with dollar signs next to their faces "WANTED dead or alive for starving men women and children" I een jokin ya know these tree hugging idiots are already beginning to starve poor nations and soon food will be so expensive that we will suffer right here. Ya'll know how many times I have seen those videos of Haitian chirren eating mud in my sleep?:realmad:

Global Warming is a farce! It is about new taxbases and the revenue they will generate in the name of saving a planet that is actually cooling,not warming!Read the latest scientific evidence,we are in a dormant sunspot period. That means it could be time for an iceage not global warming!:sparky:

One Chicken and Conch combo please!




OOOPS wrong thread! BOR

Boi I tell ya.....these fools keep it up and there will soon be pictures of dem on da lightpoles with dollar signs next to their faces "WANTED dead or alive for starving men women and children" I een jokin ya know these tree hugging idiots are already beginning to starve poor nations and soon food will be so expensive that we will suffer right here. Ya'll know how many times I have seen those videos of Haitian chirren eating mud in my sleep?:

It is this kind of total misinformation that allows people to remain in their cocoons and not accept that the "western" way of lif is what is starving people. Here are a few excerpts from a book called Earth save - - written by one of the heirs of Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream - who gave it all up... It is a bit dated - however...

Realities 1989
Facts excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize nominated
"Diet for a New America" by John Robbins.
Full documentation of every fact is in the book available from EarthSave.

World Hunger
Human population of United States: 243,000,000
Number of human beings who could be fed by the grain and soybeans eaten by U.S. livestock: 1,300,000,000
Sacred food of Native Americans: Corn
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by human beings: 20
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by livestock: 80
Percentage of oats grown in United States eaten by livestock: 95
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90
Percentage of carbohydrate wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 99
Percentage of dietary fibre wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 100
How frequently a child dies of starvation: Every 2 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on 1 acre of land: 20,000
Pounds of beef that can be produced on 1 acre of land: 165
Percentage of U.S. agricultural land used to produce beef: 56
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef: 16
Pounds of protein fed to chickens to produce 1 pound of protein as chicken flesh: 5 pounds
Pounds of protein fed to hogs to produce 1 pound of protein as hog flesh: 7.5 pounds
Number of children who starve to death every day: 40,000
Number of pure vegetarians who can be fed on the amount of land needed to feed 1 person consuming meat-based diet: 20
Number of people who will starve to death this year: 60,000,000
Number of people who could be adequately fed by the grain saved if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 60,000,000

there's lots more if you'd like...

It is this kind of total misinformation that allows people to remain in their cocoons and not accept that the "western" way of lif is what is starving people. Here are a few excerpts from a book called Earth save - - written by one of the heirs of Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream - who gave it all up... It is a bit dated - however...
Realities 1989
Facts excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize nominated
"Diet for a New America" by John Robbins.
Full documentation of every fact is in the book available from EarthSave.
World Hunger
Human population of United States: 243,000,000
Number of human beings who could be fed by the grain and soybeans eaten by U.S. livestock: 1,300,000,000
Sacred food of Native Americans: Corn
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by human beings: 20
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by livestock: 80
Percentage of oats grown in United States eaten by livestock: 95
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90
Percentage of carbohydrate wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 99
Percentage of dietary fibre wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 100
How frequently a child dies of starvation: Every 2 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on 1 acre of land: 20,000
Pounds of beef that can be produced on 1 acre of land: 165
Percentage of U.S. agricultural land used to produce beef: 56
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef: 16
Pounds of protein fed to chickens to produce 1 pound of protein as chicken flesh: 5 pounds
Pounds of protein fed to hogs to produce 1 pound of protein as hog flesh: 7.5 pounds
Number of children who starve to death every day: 40,000
Number of pure vegetarians who can be fed on the amount of land needed to feed 1 person consuming meat-based diet: 20
Number of people who will starve to death this year: 60,000,000
Number of people who could be adequately fed by the grain saved if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 60,000,000
there's lots more if you'd like...
I am puzzled by this. Are you suggesting that the Western way of life should be abandoned? If that happens who is going to send food to the starving nations of the world? The US, Canada and the UK (among others) give aid all the time.

Do you believe that if the US used less there will be more for others? It sounds logical but I doubt it would happen. The “others” would just sit on it and do little or nothing with it. It is not just having resources it is knowing what to do with them.

To say that if America grew less meat it would mean the people of Indian would have more rice is not true. In fact Indian is one of the up and coming nations in the world simply because they are adopting, and adapting, Western ways of doing business.

I am puzzled by this. Are you suggesting that the Western way of life should be abandoned? If that happens who is going to send food to the starving nations of the world? The US, Canada and the UK (among others) give aid all the time.
Do you believe that if the US used less there will be more for others? It sounds logical but I doubt it would happen. The “others” would just sit on it and do little or nothing with it. It is not just having resources it is knowing what to do with them.
To say that if America grew less meat it would mean the people of Indian would have more rice is not true. In fact Indian is one of the up and coming nations in the world simply because they are adopting, and adapting, Western ways of doing business.

Why does it have to be all or nothing - I think that is what peole freak out about that they have to stop everything right now period - One small step what if everyone cut out eating one meal of meat a day - ho many LBs of methane would not spew in the air , how many animals would not have to be slaughtered or be raised, how much of the grain could be used to feed their own citizens??? much less send it off to other countries.

I think those stats make you think -


Maybe they wouldn't bother sending the grain elsewhere but you have to admit that if we collectively started thinking about looking after one another and started doing for one another things could actually get better.

If we don't dream of a better world how is it ever supposed to happen?

Why does it have to be all or nothing - I think that is what peole freak out about that they have to stop everything right now period -
But is not that PETA’s way?
One small step what if everyone cut out eating one meal of meat a day - ho many LBs of methane would not spew in the air , how many animals would not have to be slaughtered or be raised, how much of the grain could be used to feed their own citizens??? much less send it off to other countries.
But that is like saying “What if no one bought gas for one day?” It would make no difference because the next day they would still fill up their tanks.

I think those stats make you think -
Yes, they do.

Maybe they wouldn't bother sending the grain elsewhere
What then would be the point?
but you have to admit that if we collectively started thinking about looking after one another and started doing for one another things could actually get better.
They could, and should be done on a personal level, but you can’t force others.

If we don't dream of a better world how is it ever supposed to happen?
It is an old dream and the world is better in some ways and worse in others because of dreams realized.

.
It is an old dream and the world is better in some ways and worse in others because of dreams realized.

so should we just throe our hands in the air and not bother?

It is this kind of total misinformation that allows people to remain in their cocoons and not accept that the "western" way of lif is what is starving people. Here are a few excerpts from a book called Earth save - - written by one of the heirs of Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream - who gave it all up... It is a bit dated - however...
Realities 1989
Facts excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize nominated
"Diet for a New America" by John Robbins.
Full documentation of every fact is in the book available from EarthSave.
World Hunger
Human population of United States: 243,000,000
Number of human beings who could be fed by the grain and soybeans eaten by U.S. livestock: 1,300,000,000
Sacred food of Native Americans: Corn
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by human beings: 20
Percentage of corn grown in United States eaten by livestock: 80
Percentage of oats grown in United States eaten by livestock: 95
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90
Percentage of carbohydrate wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 99
Percentage of dietary fibre wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 100
How frequently a child dies of starvation: Every 2 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on 1 acre of land: 20,000
Pounds of beef that can be produced on 1 acre of land: 165
Percentage of U.S. agricultural land used to produce beef: 56
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef: 16
Pounds of protein fed to chickens to produce 1 pound of protein as chicken flesh: 5 pounds
Pounds of protein fed to hogs to produce 1 pound of protein as hog flesh: 7.5 pounds
Number of children who starve to death every day: 40,000
Number of pure vegetarians who can be fed on the amount of land needed to feed 1 person consuming meat-based diet: 20
Number of people who will starve to death this year: 60,000,000
Number of people who could be adequately fed by the grain saved if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 60,000,000
there's lots more if you'd like...

The sacred food of American Indians varied with locale. In the North East it was Venison,in the Western Plains it was Bison,with the Aluets it is seal and in some areas it was corn or rice.

If you are a vegetarian,fine,don't expect or demand others to follow your suit.

If my or my woman's suit is one of leather or fur and our meal is of pork or beef it should be no concern of your's unless you consider yourself a Marxist.In that case ....good luck,it has failed in every expirement thus far.

Why does it have to be all or nothing - I think that is what peole freak out about that they have to stop everything right now period - One small step what if everyone cut out eating one meal of meat a day - ho many LBs of methane would not spew in the air , how many animals would not have to be slaughtered or be raised, how much of the grain could be used to feed their own citizens??? much less send it off to other countries.QUOTE]

your vote for moderation on the matter is much appreciated, mrs. duncombe, but the drama queens at PETA apparently misplaced the memo on subtlety a looooooooonnnng time ago.

i haven't eaten red meat since 1980, but hardly find it useful to take such a condescending "sky is falling" tone with meat-eaters. it's their choice.

off with their leather belts already :cutie: ... [QUOTE]oops. that didn't come out right.

If you pay attention to Sam Duncombe and company, we would still be going for wood to cook outside on rocks, and light torches and oil lamps to see at night!