What did you learn about dietary choices from using the footprint calculator? Now imagine that you could translate what you learned into an effective societal policy on food- what would it be? And how would this policy effect the need to alleviate world hunger?
925 million people on earth do not have enough to eat according to the FAO [Food and Agricultural Organization]. That's almost 1 in 7 inhabitants of our planet!
Food & Hunger >
Environmentally Conscious Diets
Food production is one of the main producers of pollution that contributes to climate change. Some ways to have a more environmentally conscious diet are to eat less red meat, eat organic foods, eat less processed foods, and eat locally sourced food. Factory farmed red meat and processed food create a lot of CO2. Organic farming reduces pollution, conserves water, uses less energy, and reduces soil erosion. By eating locally sourced odd you can reduce the amount of gas a truck uses to transport food items.
While these kinds of diets are ideal, many cannot afford to eat expensive organic vegan food. Others live in food deserts where locally sourced produce is not an option. Some don't even have access to a constant source of food. Instead of shaming those who cannot afford an environmentally conscious diet, environmental activists should advocate for better food in all communities not just ones of privilege. The solution needs to be accessible to truly benefit everyone. Activists should check their privilege before bombarding people with a good-hearted message of environmentally-conscious eating habits.
This is very important. Not only is it imperative that we make a change in the environment through our diets, but also that we maintain compassion for those who are unable to. It is easy to judge and point figures at our peers, yet in this situation it is essential that we remain supportive and conducive to the situation. Moreover, I cut out red meat two years ago from my diet due to its damaging effect on the environment. According to Peta, consumption of beef is harmful in many ways. First, cows eat tremendous amounts of vegetation, consume a lot of grain, demand a lot of water, and use a lot of fossil fuels as their meat is processed. However, for some, beef is an intrinsic part of culture and lifestyle. Therefore, people should not judge those who eat beef, instead they should help them find other ways to contribute to the improvement of our environment.