Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Monday, October 30, 2006


	CVA BLOG

CVA Blog
Monday, October 30, 2006
Our Choice of Diet and the Environment

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

1. Renewal of pig manure – turning waste into energy

2. Famous quote – John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution

3. On stewardship – October 9th was “World Overshoot Day”

4. Bible verse – Romans 12:2

5. US involvement in protecting ocean life

6. More “dead” zones in the oceans

1. Renewal of pig manure: Pig waste storage is a big environmental problem in today’s hog factory farms since a single pig can produce 7 gallons of waste a day. Jody Snodgrass of Rose Energy Discovery Inc. believes that if these waste lagoons were turned into power, “these farmers won't need so much storage space." In fact, Rose Energy Inc. is investing US$7 million on technology to turn pig manure into power. Of course, the state of Indiana, where this research will take place, is in full support and officials say they want funding for the power project to come from the private sector to make it financially viable.

To read the full article please visit http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/
38505/story.htm

From a compassionate perspective, it is appalling that the suffering of God’s animals, in this case pigs, is not taken into account. While it’s indeed very important to reduce environmental pollution, the solution is not finding profit and a use for the waste of factory farms. The solution is to reduce the waste by stopping the exploitation of farmed animals. A plant-based diet helps reduce the number of animals slaughtered for food, their suffering and the environmental impact of factory farms.

2. Famous quote: "It is increasingly obvious that environmentally sustainable solutions to world hunger can only emerge as people eat more plant foods and fewer animal products. To me it is deeply moving that the same food choices that give us the best chance to eliminate world hunger are also those that take the least toll on the environment, contribute the most to our long-term health, are the safest, and are also, far and away, the most compassionate towards our fellow creatures."
~ John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution

3. On stewardship: According to www.footprintnetwork.org, October 9th was "World Overshoot Day." This means that beginning that day we started living beyond the Earth’s ecological means, since we have already consumed the total amount of new resources nature has and will produce this year. In summary, we entered ecological deficit.

To read the full article please visit http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=overshoot

While it might be hard to pinpoint exactly how much of the planet’s resources are being wasted, the fact that we are polluting the environment, depleting resources and exploiting animals is a clear indicator of our poor stewardship of God’s creation. Even though we can not be perfect in a fallen world, we should nevertheless strive for perfection, since we are made in God’s image of love. Our daily choices have an impact of ourselves, animals and the environment; and a plant-based diet can help restore our health, the environment, and alleviate animal suffering.

4. (RSV) Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

While it’s certainly hard to avoid acting and living as if we belonged to the world, God calls us to live a life of obedience focused on glorifying God. Jesus, our teacher, leads us into a life of fulfillment where the love, peace and mercy of God abound.

5. US involvement in protecting ocean life: Last week, US officials announced their plan to get involved in protecting fish stocks and their habitats; especially, helping to eliminate destructive ocean fishing practices such as bottom trawling. According to Lisa Speer, Director of the Water and Oceans Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, "Unregulated bottom trawling is the single most destructive fishing practice on the high seas, and it needs to be stopped." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was put in charge of the US effort.

To read the full article please visit http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/
38360/story.htm

Hopefully, US officials will take seriously the threat that commercial fishing represents. People in leadership roles should lead by example: honoring God’s creation.

6. More “dead zones” in the oceans: According to the UN, the number of “dead zones” in the world’s oceans might have tripled in the last 2 years. Experts estimate there are 200 ocean dead zones, compared with 150 two years ago. These dead zones refer to areas which has been degraded or contaminated enough that have affected negatively their ecosystem putting in danger the fauna and flora of the place. The culprits are mostly related to human activity. Industrial agriculture waste run-off, illegal fishing, overfishing, pollution, etc. are causing great damage to the oceans. Global warming, which is tied to modern agriculture, is also playing an important role in the increase of dead zones.

To read the full article please visit http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/
38577/story.htm

Humanity was left to oversee God’s creation and to take care of it as if it was our Creator doing it. We have a responsibility and a privilege to be good stewards of all of God’s creation. Already human activity has caused tremendous misery to God’s animals and to the environment. However, theirs is hope that in extending our compassion and care beyond humanity, restoration and healing can take place.

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