Published on February 2, 2007, the UN-report on climate change gives a shocking scenario, which, nevertheless, is reality. This so-called IPCC-report is the most important scientific basis for the development of an international politics on climate. Moreover, we can assume that the statements in this IPCC-report are rather restrained, given that representatives of industry and oil exporting states are members of the commission in charge of this report.

Key elements of the report:

·        Until the end of this century, the earth is threatened with a warming of the climate of up to 6,4 degrees C.

·        The warming of the oceans has reached a depth of 3000 m.

·        During the 20th century, sea levels rose 17 cm; by the end of the 21st century,
 another 20-80 cm are expected.

·        Glacial ice and polar icecaps are melting at a dramatic rate.

·        Severest storms, such as have never been seen before, will occur.

·        On one hand, huge desert regions will develop, while on the other, floods will occur, far worse than anything experienced on the earth thus far.

·        Famines, epidemics, disasters of such proportions as never before known to mankind will take place.

Quotes from politicians and other prominent personalities on this report:

·        Those who maintain a different view can no longer use science as their argument, explains Sir Martin Rees, president of the renowned Royal Society of the British Academy of Science.

·        Those who haven't woken up to the facts by now must ask themselves what, actually, has to happen before they realize the seriousness of the situation, emphasized the former head of the UN Environmental Program and former German Federal Minister of the Environment, Klaus Töpfer.

·        It is time for a revolution: A revolution of consciousness, a revolution of economy, a revolution of political action, Jacques Chirac stated in front of 300 delegates from 50 countries in Paris on the day the UN-climate report was published. The day draws closer when climate change will slip out of control. We are on the threshold of irreversibility.

·        Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, director of research at the Potsdam Institute for Climatic Impact: With the report that we now have in our hands, all doubt should be removed concerning the fact that we human beings have applied far too much pressure on the climate. Consequently, it is up to us to correct this dangerous and abortive development with determination, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

·        Al Gore, in his widely acclaimed film on the environment, "An Inconvenient Truth": Whenever something is recognized as wrong, it must be changed immediately.

Is our human civilization in its present form viable?

What is the solution?
Among many solutions being suggested, the following is typical:
Regine Günther a climate expert from the foundation on the environment WWF, gave the following: "Away from coal and oil, and, in the long run, away from gas, as well. We must focus on renewable energies. At most, there are 15 years left to keep climate warming below two degrees Celsius."
Furthermore, a speed limit for motorways as well as other energy-saving programs are being discussed, for example, a room temperature of 18 degrees Celsius in offices and much, much more.

But are these measures a true solution?

Here are only a few facts from the November 2006 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report called "Livestock's Long Shadow:"

·         Livestock production is one of the top two or three most significant contributors to every serious environmental    problem in our world today.

·         Livestock production requires 70% of all agricultural land and 30% of the land surface of the earth.

o        As a result, many people, particularly in the so-called third world countries, no longer find land to grow their own crops. The result is hunger and for many, starvation.

·         Livestock production is one of the main causes for the extinction of species. In 15 out of 24 important ecosystems, livestock is named as the major "culprit" for their decline.

·         The expansion of livestock production is a key factor in the deforestation of rainforests, particularly in Latin America: some 70% of previously forested land in the Amazon basin is used for pasture, and feed crops cover a large part of the remainder. Forests serve as the lungs of the Earth and are a major factor in eliminating the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

·         The production of greenhouse gases of human origin, that are generated by livestock production is higher than EMISSIONS CAUSED BY ALL WORLDWIDE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

o        The livestock sector is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions

o        Livestock production generates even larger shares of gas emission with greater potential to warm the atmosphere: 37% of methane and 65% of nitrous oxide

·         Livestock production is a significant contributor to the growing lack of water, which researchers predict will be one of our main problems in the future. In many parts of the world, clean drinking water is no longer available:

o        Livestock production is the largest source of water pollutants: animal wastes, antibiotics, hormones, chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides for feed crops.

·         8% of the worldwide consumption of water is used for the irrigation of feed crops.

o        In the US alone, livestock and feed crop agriculture are responsible for the use of 37% of pesticides, 50% of antibiotics. They are also responsible for 33% of all nitrogen and phosphorus found in freshwater resources, and 66% of all ammonia, which is a significant contributor to acid rain and the acidification of ecosystems.

In view of these facts, every statement about environmental protection and every action concerning nature conservation is blatant hypocrisy as long as the speaker, the campaigner, does not refrain from meat consumption.

·        From this point of view, Al Gore's involvement with environmental issues is seen in a completely new light, having proudly reported in his film "An Inconvenient Truth" how his family acquired its wealth by breeding Black Angus cattle.

·        Every person who eats meat not only harms himself but bears responsibility for the environmental damages that have led to global warming and its consequent climatic disasters.

According to the UN climate report, we do not have much time before the consequences break in over us in never before seen disastrous proportions.

Therefore, the best solution
for the good of ourselves and of our beautiful planet is:

You can, of course, even do more:
Write to your politicians, to the Minister of Environment of your country, to the environmental organization in your region and worldwide. Write to your pastors, priests, bishops and cardinals, as the moral and ethical leaders of the community.

Ask them whether they still eat meat.

And if they do, ask them how they can advocate environmental protection or expound on moral values while, in fact, they are contributing to the greatest greenhouse emissions of all, endangering the life of our planet.
Ask those who still eat meat why, in all their statements, appeals, demands and campaigns, the significant role of livestock production in relation to global warming and climatic disasters is never mentioned.

At the end of this newsletter please find addresses you can write to.
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Help support organizations that rescue ill-treated and tortured animals and that create natural habitats for the animals. For example, visit the "Land of Peace": www.gabriele-foundation.org

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Below are some addresses you can write to:
Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator
US Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
USA
www.epa.gov/epahome/comments2.htm
Telephone: (202) 564 4700

The Office of the Honorable Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue, Suite 620
Nashville, TN 37203
USA
Telephone: (615)327-2227

Or through Al Gore, write to your representatives in Congress: http://www.algore.com/

CEPA Registry Office
351 St. Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
Canada
e-mail: CEPARegistry@ec.gc.ca

Rt Hon David Miliband
Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Defra
Noble House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom
blog: www.davidmiliband.defra.gov.uk

Australian Greenhouse Office
Dept. of the Environment and Water Resources
GPO Box 787
Canbera ACT 2601
Australia
+61 2 6274 1888
www.greenhouse.gov.au

Hon David Benson-Pope
Environment House
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143
New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 439 7400
david.benson-pope@mfe.govt.nz

Gideon Ezra
Minister of the Environment
Israel Ministry of Environment Protection
Telephone Personal: 972 2 6753800
e-mail: gezra@knesset.gov.il
Telephone Business: 972 2 6553701
e-mail: sar@environment.gov.il
 

http://www.donoteatus.org
 

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