According to this Earth Day article, we are losing 10 million hectares of forest each year. The culprits are mainly found in animal agriculture, mining, oil drilling.
Agricultural expansion – the clearing of forests to plant crops or raise animals for food - drives almost 90 percent of global deforestation.
According to a study discussed here, "phasing out animal agriculture over the next 15 years would have the same effect as a 68 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the year 2100."
You might think this seems a bit extreme, how would we even do that? What about the farmers? There are already programs such as this one with Mercy for Animals where they help farmers transition from raising animals for food to growing plants for food.
We can do it and we need to start now. Everything I've blogged about this week is important, there is a lot we can do as individuals and communities to make a change but one we can do 3 times a day is change how we eat. I don't know about you, but I'm not buying new clothes or discarding plastic every day, but I am eating every day.
For some quick tips on how to start bringing veganism into your life today, check out this blog from last November. Come back tomorrow where I'll share more practical tips and guidance to going vegan.
For me, veganism is the most powerful (and beautiful) way to live life. Every single day, how we eat and how we live has the ability to heal or harm ourselves, the planet, and other sentient beings. If we have the power to save the planet and provide a healthier, safer place for future generations, why wouldn't we do it?