Compassion For Animals Day

Compassion for Animals Day

What is responsible for more greenhouse gases?

SWINE FLU
COMES FROM PIG FARMING. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION HAS DECLARED SWINE FLU PANDEMIC AS UNSTOPPABLE. AUSTRALIA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONFIRMED CASES OF SWINE FLU IN THE WORLD, WITH THE STATE OF VICTORIA RECORDING THE HIGHEST.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR MORE INFO

IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FACING US TODAY. "IF THERE'S NO ACTION BEFORE 2012, THAT'S TOO LATE. WHAT WE DO IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS WILL DETERMINE OUR FUTURE. THIS IS THE DEFINING MOMENT" Dr Rajendra Pachuari, Head of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007)

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR MORE INFO

ANSWER: LIVESTOCK

How can I reduce my Carbon Footprint?

By adopting the Vegetarian or Vegan diet, you can reduce greenhouse gases by up to 80 to 94%

You can start by reducing your meat consumption. Try eating a veg diet once a week and then eating it more often until you are comfortable to go totally vegetarian or vegan

Spread the VEG news with your family and friends

We have recipes and information about the "Meat Free Monday" movement so please check it out (meat free monday & recipes link) and sign the petition for Australia to go meat free on Monday.

VEG diet doesn't cost the EARTH!

18th April 09: Freeze event, SOS Put the Freeze on Global Warming
10:30am at the Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney

17th June 09: Global Warming and Swine Flu Info Day.
10:30am at Townhall steps, Sydney

25th July 09: Winter Wildlife Soiree
6pm at Bluestone Restaurant and Bar, 349 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

1st November 09: Cruelty Free Festival
Belmore Park, Sydney

5th - 8th November 09: Body, Spirit and Mind Festival
10am - 7pm at Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, Sydney

15th November 09: Vegan Festival Adelaide 2009
10am - 5pm at Glenelg Primary School, Glenelg East, South Australia

March 2010 - Green Earth Festival - Brisbane. More details to come.

·World Hunger:
More than 923 Million people in the world go to bed hungry. The grains, seeds, rice and crops fed to Livestock are enough to feed 2 Billion people

·Water Usage:
1 serving of BEEF uses OVER 1,200 GALLONS (4540 Litres) of water
1 serving of CHICKEN uses 330 GALLONS (1250 Litres) of water
1 VEGAN MEAL with TOFU, RICE, and VEGETABLES uses 98 GALLONS (370 Litres) of water

·GRAIN CONSUMPTION: 5% - Biofuels, 12% - Other Uses, 36% - LIVESTOCK, 48% - HUMANS
·SOY CONSUMPTION: 26% - Humans, biofuels and other uses, 74% - LIVESTOCK

In Australia:

·The methane produced by Australia's cattle and sheep has more impact than the emissions from all coal-fired power stations in Australia. Methane is 72 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat inside Earth's atmosphere, however breaks down much more quickly (7-10 years vs. 200 years for carbon dioxide). This means, cutting CO2 emissions will have no effect on global warming for decades, but reducing methane will have an immediate effect.

·More than a third of human activity related to methane emissions results from livestock activity, such as agriculture involving cattle, chickens, pigs and sheep. Livestock produces approximately 300 million tons of methane every year.

·A new report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation states the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalents - 18 per cent - than the burning of fossil fuels by transport

·With 28 million cattle and 110 million sheep, Australia has the highest ratio of cattle and second highest of sheep to people in the world.

·Studies have shown that producing one kilo (2.2 pounds) of meat causes the emissions equivalent of 36.4 kilos of carbon dioxide;

·Raising and transporting that slab of beef, lamb or pork requires the same amount of energy as lighting a 100-watt bulb for nearly three weeks.

·In just under five years the total dietary emissions from the meat of a family of four on the CSIRO Total Wellbeing diet will exceed those from building and running a large 4WD

·The difference between 14 serves of red meat a week as recommended by the CSIRO diet, and no serves is 5.7 tonnes of methane emissions annually.
Livestock are also the source of additional greenhouse emissions apart from methane. Fuel is used to transport animals to market and to cool the refrigerated distribution chain from abattoirs to consumers.

·Australia dairy and beef production industries are the highest major water users. It takes between 50,000 - 100,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of beef where as it takes 1650 - 2200 litres of water to produce 1kg soybeans.
Livestock account for 66% of water use.

Why VEG is Beneficial

According to Better Health VIC and Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) a carefully planned vegetarian diet can provide all the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for a long and healthy life. A vegetarian diet has many health benefits and is suitable for all stages of a person's life including children.

Include the following in your meals: Proteins, Iron, Zinc, B12 and Calcium in your daily diet.

* Protein from nuts, tofu, other soy products, peas, beans, lentils and pulses (lupins, chickpeas and field peas)

* Iron from dried beans, lentils, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, wholegrain breads and cereals. You can also increase iron absorption from enriched vitamin C such as Citrus fruits, red capsicum and kiwi fruit.

* Zinc from beans, lentils, seeds, nuts and wholegrain cereals

* B12 can be found in B12 fortified foods like breakfast cereal, soya milk, meat analog or B12 supplements.

* Calcium from figs, soy milk with added calcium, green leafy vegetables, almonds and sesame seeds.

* A vegan diet is a great way to detox the body without spending lots of money on detox programs. Below are details for a month-long detox challenge (best done in Spring).

* The challenge is a great way to avoid artificial hormones and antibiotics in meat products. Eating lower on the food chain is one way of avoiding second-hand toxins such as dioxins, PCB's, mercury, extra pesticides and herbicides and non-beneficial bacteria. The extra fibre and vitamins helps to clear out such toxins. For example, some studies show that cilantro (coriander) helps bind to heavy metals and takes them out of the body. Foods such as olives, asparagus, kale, brussel sprouts, parsley, turnips etc., are concentrated forms of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has been studied for its anti-cancer and DNA protection properties.

* Breakfast ideas for the month: Oats with fresh fruit and soy milk, cereal with oat/soy/rice milk, baked beans on toast, scrambled tofu on toast, fruit smoothies
* Lunch ideas: Fresh salads with tofu or legumes, salad sandwiches with marinated tofu, brown rice with beans and salad
* Dinner ideas: Anything non-veg can be converted into a veg dish! Examples are what we have already cooked so far! The internet also has unlimited recipes
* Snacks: Vegetables with veggie dips, dumplings, raw nuts, fruit, cold rolls, vegan biscuits, muesli bars etc.
* During the cleanse you may also drink a health drink in the morning with apple juice, 1 tbsp of psyllium husks and 1 tbsp of aloe vera juice to further detox the bowels

* Lowered likelihood of developing heart disease and some forms of cancer such as breast, and prostate (a 54% lowered risk of developing prostate cancer). For more information see: http://www.cancerproject.org

* A 24% decrease in the likelihood of dying from heart disease

* Lower blood pressure

* An 88% decrease in the risk of developing bowel cancer

* A reduction in constipation and a reduction in the risk of developing diverticular disease (a disease involving the bowels)

* Some research suggests a beneficial impact on bone strength

* Halves the likelihood of developing gallstones

* Lower incidence of obesity - see http://www.drmcdougall.com
(There is now even an eco-Atkins diet which is a high protein veggie diet for weight loss).

* Dr Neal Barnard treats diabetic patients with a vegan diet - his studies show that a low-fat vegan diet treats type 2 diabetes more effectively than a standard diabetes diet and may be more effective than single-agent therapy with oral diabetes drugs. For more information: www.pcrm.org/magazine/gm06autumn/diabetes.html <http://www.pcrm.org/magazine/gm06autumn/diabetes.html>

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) found that meat contains some amounts of chemical hazards due to contamination of water, feed and processing/handling of meat.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) & America Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has evidence that red meat is linked to cancer risk.

The Cancer Council of Australia suggests to avoid or eat less processed meat such as sausages, salami, bacon and ham, as they are linked to increased risk of bowel cancer. They suggest that a diet high in fruits, vegetables and fibre will prevent cancer risk which can be found in a vegetarian or vegan diet. Their recommendation to prevent all types of cancers is to:
* Have a balanced diet high in vegetables and fruits.
* Eat a variety of wholegrains, wholemeal and high-fibre foods such as cereals, breads, rice and pasta.
* Choose a diet low in fat and salt.

Bowel Cancer is the second highest cause of death in Australia. Meat eaters are two times more likely to get bowel cancer than vegetarians or vegans.

Cancer Council NSW suggests a link between processed meat and colorectal cancer.

* Many studies suggest that consumption of a high red meat diet and processed meat is related to obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and other related illness.

* Farmed animals contain upto 50% saturated fat in their bodies

* Saturated fat found in meat increases cancer risk.

* Obesity is rare in vegetarians or vegans.

* Vegetarians/Vegans have lower saturated fat and cholesterol levels

* Many studies have concluded that vegetables and fruits help reduce the risk of developing cancer, while meat increases the risk.

* Meat and Dairy products increase likelihood of food poison.

* Egg yolk is a dense concentration of saturated fat & the white is high in albumin protein associated with leaching calcium into your urine. Butter is 80% saturated fat, cream is 40% saturated fat & cheese is 25-40% saturated fat

* Today's farming practices use growth hormones and artificial insemination on animals to increase rapid growth in a short amount of time, which usually causes bone fractures, broken legs and serious injuries which can result in deaths, and deformaties as their they are unable to carry the excess body weight.

*Disease related to meat:
Swine flu (from Pigs)
* Bird flu (from Chickens)
* Campylobacter
* Salmonella
* E coli

PIGS are loyal, friendly and intelligent. They have the intelligence of a 3 year old child and are smarter than dogs. If given the choice, they're one of the cleanest animals. They also have excellent memories.

COWS are curious and clever animals. They are emotional, gentle and naturally form strong relationship bonds with their children. Cows are sensitive to pain which makes them easily stressed and agitated.

CHICKENS are inquisitive, interesting animals and as intelligent as cats, dogs, and even primates. They're social animals, good at problem solving, can recognise other chickens by their facial features.

Eating meat causes suffering to the animals you eat. THIS IS A FACT.

Animals have emotions, feelings and suffer pain exactly the same as humans do.

"Make Compassion For Animals Day a part of your everyday lifestyle. BE VEG!"

SHEEPS are intelligent, have unique personality and a good memory. They tend to be in flocks rather than be dependant. They're able to remember each other's faces as well as human faces.

Source: Australian Food Statistics 2007

Source :goveg.com and Animals Australia

Source: Supreme Master TV

EAT LESS MEAT: " Australia is one of the largest meat consumers in the world. The beef component of this alone (36.2 kg) consumes approximately 1.5 million litres of water per annum. Meat products contribute almost half of our entire ecological footprint, including the use of ten times more land than vegetable growing to produce the same amount of calories. In Australia, the sharp hooves of cattle and sheep contribute to the loss or degradation of our soil, water and native habitats."
Wyndham City Council, Victoria, Australia

What is responsible for more Greenhouse Gases?

Number of Livestock slaughtered in Australia 2007

Cattle: 9 Million
Pigs: 6 Million
Sheep: 13 Million
Lamb: 20 Million
Chicken, Turkey and Duck: 460 Million

In 2003, Australia exported 793,000 Cattle and 4.3 million Sheep overseas, of which 45,000 died. Forcing them to adapt to new environment, conditions, temperature, improper handling causes stress, illness and often death.

All animals on factory farms are subject to cruel acts of violence. Because animals are seen as meat machines, ZERO attention is given to their welfare. They are constantly being handled without any pain relief and are forced to live together by the hundreds and thousands, often living in their own faeces.

10 Reasons To go VEG:
1. Want to be healthier and live longer? Vegetarians and Vegans have a 20% lower mortality rate than meat eaters. They are usually healthier, slimmer, younger looking and less likely
to get sick or get food poisoning or develop cancer.
2. Want to bring down Greenhouse Gases? Animal agriculture is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas, more than the transportation industry or the coal industry.
3. Want to save the planet for your children and the future generations? Eating meat costs the earth, it contributes to water and air pollution, inefficient use of grains, deforestation of land, depletion of water supply, erosion of top soil, loss of bio-diversity, spread of disease such as malaria, increase in temperature, rising sea levels causing displacement of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, melting of the Antarctica and glaciers, more frequent natural disasters such as floods, droughts, tsunami, hurricane, typhoon, wildfires etc
4. Want to be a hero? Each VEGETARIAN saves more than 100 animals annually. Each VEGAN saves more than 180 animals annually.
5. Want to save water? Animal agriculture is the largest user of water, accounting for 66%.
6. Believe it or not, PIGS, CHICKENS, CATTLE & SHEEP are just as intelligent as your household pets, such as cats and dogs. Studies suggest that these animals have individual personalities with feelings and emotions. Like humans, they desire to live and have a family. Animals cry, scream and try to escape when they feel threatened. They suffer tremendous pain and death in factory farms and slaughter houses.
7. Want to eliminate world hunger? Every 5 second a child dies of starvation. We have enough grains to feed the hungry but instead we use it to feed animals raised for food which then causes the indirect death of humans through diseases and is an inefficient use of food.
8. Want to be a compassionate person? Any type of animal exploitation is cruel whether it be for food, clothing, hunting, experiments or entertainment. By eating animals for breakfast, lunch and dinner you are committing animal cruelty. Although you are not directly responsible for killing them, if there was no demand for meat, there would be no supply of meat.
9. Vegetarian and Vegan meals taste just as good and don’t stink. Meat contains harmful antibiotics, bacteria, drugs, hormones and toxins which are produced during animal feeding, handling and meat production.
10. Vegetarians and Vegans are smarter. Studies suggest that people who consider a vegetarian or vegan diet are usually more intelligent as they tend to score higher in IQ tests than meat-eaters. The findings suggest that vegetarians or vegans are more likely to consider animal welfare and health issues related to the diet.

Source: FSANZ, Cancer Council of NSW, WCRF, AICR, Cancer council of Australia

Source: Better Health, DAA