This is a bit of a heavy hearted blog post. But if I don’t post it, I don’t feel that I would be doing my bit as a human being who loves and cares for her planet and it’s future, but mostly the future of all my fellow humans and our future generations.

So last night I finally watched Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. What we are doing to our planet, without even being aware of it, makes me so sad. A little bit of information can change everything. We need to come out from under the duvet and stop pretending that our planet isn’t dying before our eyes. Flash floods, icebergs melting, countries under water are just a couple of regular events that we don’t blink an eye at.

Our planet is over populated, there is no denying that. Studies have shown we are in big trouble, but we can’t stop re-producing babies or wipe out populations (although that is what mother nature does when she plagues us with catastrophes) so in order to be able to feed ourselves of air and food for the future, we have to start taking action.

Here are some of the many shocking truths that some of you may already know which came as a big surprise to me. The agriculture industry is at an unsustainable high which if continued in such mass amounts, will eventually lead to extinction (of all of us) and the destruction of our planet. A couple of small but impactive facts:

1. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation!!
2. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef???!!!!
3. 477 gallons of water are required to produce 1lb. of eggs; almost 900 gallons of water are needed for 1lb. of cheese.
And most shocking of all –
4. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution, and habitat destruction.

Holy SH*T. Who knew? (probably most of you, but not me!)

Eventually in order to sustain the need for meat, rainforests will be wiped out to accommodate livestock farming. Between that and over fishing, we will be depleted of the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. That scares the SHIT out of me…YOU?? Not to mention the cruel way livestock and fish are bred and killed for our consumption and demand.

Don’t get me wrong. I used to LIVE on animal protein, I lived in Argentina for god sake, and I still eat the odd bit of chicken but I also eat a LOT of fish. So, this is NOT a lecture to tell you all to start eating a plant based diet – even though the truth is that this is the most sustainable and healthiest diet you can eat and the only diet that will keep you safe from chronic diseases in the end anyway..

No, this post is more me thinking out loud to all my friends who I care about, to say let’s wake up, and try to do our bit for the planet. Changing lightbulbs, showering less, separating plastic, glass and paper in the recycling bin, isn’t going to make enough of an impact I’m afraid (even though I thought it would) Turns out the biggest impact we can have is to give up/cut back on meat/fish…!! I know. It sucks. But we live in a very blessed age where alternatives are available and delicious.

There are a gazillion studies to say we overeat protein anyway and having tried a plant based for the last week, I feel lighter, happier and more full of energy than in my life. FYI there is an amount of protein in EVERY food we eat. Some grains contain enough per cup to reach our daily allowance. So the notion that we must eat meat to survive is ludicrous!

I am sure I will be joining you all gorging on turkey this Christmas! But I sure as hell will think twice the next time I eat a burger or some salmon fillets if I have the option to eat vegetable stir fry with quinoa/brown rice (which is always an option to most of us who live in the first world)

What’s the answer? I truly don’t know. Wait until we are gasping for air and dehydrated of water? Most likely. Sometimes it takes drastic measures for people to listen. Ignorance is absolute bliss and don’t we know it! “Not in my lifetime” being the biggest relief and cop out ever. (Me included) it’s far easier to turn a blind eye, sure we are only here for a good time not a long time eh? Enjoy it while we can?

Thinking about the copious amounts of meat supplied to supermarkets around the world is enough proof to know that this problem is not going away any time soon.

Green peace et al actually refuse to comment. Don’t you think that’s odd?

But then again – Given that people get killed for speaking out against cattle farming. Case in point: US born nun Dorothy Stang who was murdered for speaking out about cattle ranching in South America. Stang had been outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment, and had previously received death threats from loggers and land owners. So its no wonder governments are petrified to destroy one of the biggest money making business in the world.

So no. I don’t know what to say or think, only perhaps spread this blog post and hope that one day enough of us will make an effort to make a difference

So, If you care about the future of this glorious planet we live on, your future, the future of your children and most importantly THEIR children making it to old age, please watch Cowspiracy and movies like Food Choices  

A xx