meatless monday!

I thought I'd share some important info for meatless monday... I've been vegetarian for 15 years, but even 1 day a week can make a huge impact.  Environmental info below.  I won't even get started on the treatment of the animals in this post....

Make it a meatless monday! 

Amount of U.S. grain fed to farm animals: 70%

Pounds of corn and soy required to produce just one pound of pork: nearly 7

Water needed to produce a pound of wheat: 14 gallons

Water needed to produce a pound of meat: 441 gallons Threatened and endangered species imperiled by livestock grazing: 161

Of all water used for all purposes in the United States, more than half goes to:livestock production

According to Cornell ecologist David Pimentel, animal protein demands tremendous expenditures of fossil-fuel energy—about eight times as much for a comparable amount of plant protein.

The meat industry is a major cause of fresh water depletion. According to Ed Ayres, of the World Watch Institute, "Around the world, as more water is diverted to raising pigs and chickens instead of producing crops for direct consumption, millions of wells are going dry. India, China, North Africa and the U.S. are all running freshwater deficits, pumping more from their aquifers than rain can replenish."

According to Ayres, "Pass up one hamburger, and you'll save as much water as you save by taking 40 showers with a low-flow nozzle." 

want to learn more?

CHOOSE VEG

intro

Intro:
Hi there! this is my first blog.  Ever.  It seemed appropriate to track my personal progress as a South Florida native moving to Delaware (where??) to pursue a PhD and thus be equipped to best save the planet.... or something along those lines.   Here is what I have learned so far:
Winter is cold, but snow is pretty.  
Fall is chilly, but really pretty.
Seasons are neat!  I look forward to the one they call "spring".
Delaware is a small state with small towns, including the one I spend my time in (Newark).
Crossing the state line is a daily event.
Groceries are surprisingly expensive.
I strangely miss hearing people speaking spanish more often than English.
Living in a cold place requires a lot of supplies and new types of clothing and accessories.
I have a closet by the front door.  For jackets.  Yes, this is new.
Philly is a cool city and really close.
People here are nice, for the most part.

Of course, I really, really, really miss my friends and home and beach and warmth and scuba diving and late nights/early mornings at the club and dining al fresco 365 days a year and everyone having a pool to hang out at and.... you get the idea.
Thats all okay though.  Ya know why?  Cuz being in this small town in this small state studying big things--it will be worth it.  And besides, I'd never be able to concentrate with all those pools and clubs and spanish speaking. :)