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| In “The Ethics of What We Eat”, Peter Singer and Jim Mason write: |
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| It has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future, deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilisation of communities and the spread of disease. |
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| The authors claim that since European settlement in Australia, 13 per cent of the land has been cleared of native vegetation, mostly for grazing animals. When it comes to feeding the world, an acre of land used for crops could feed about 10 times as many people as an acre for grass-fed beef. The emissions from cows belching accounts for about 11 per cent of Australia's total national emissions, or 61 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year. Hence, by switching to vegetarian diet we can help save the environment. |
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| Click here to read the publication Common Belief - Australia's Faith Communities on Climate Change, published by the Climate Institute (Australia) Ltd. |
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| MEAT-FREE DAY CONFERENCE on 2 October 2008 |
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It is healthy for you and healthy for the environment |
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| The Hindu Council of Australia, with the support of ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) and the Australian Vegetarian Society organised an evening conference in Sydney on October 2, 2008, to highlight the environmental, health, and ethical advantages of eating less meat. Reducing meat consumption is the most direct, healthy and economical way to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. |
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| Click here to view: |
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| The Conference Program |
| The Facts-sheet |
| Report on the conference by Dheepthi Namasivayam |
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*National vegetarian week(29 September – 5 October 2008) was also observed by the Australian Vegetarian Society. It featured a comparison of high meat, plant-based and vegetarian seven-day meal plans and tasty, contemporary recipes the whole family will love.
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