Earth Day Facts 2015!

Happy Earth Day!

This Earth Day, we want to address concerns over animal agriculture vs plant-­based agriculture.
In doing so, here are some facts about how our diets and lifestyles affect our planet:

• A University of Chicago report states that changing to a vegan diet is more then changing to a hybrid car for reducing greenhouse gases (source)
• EPA statistics show that animal agriculture is the number one source of methane emissions. we might strike this one.
• A UN report states that the meat, dairy, and egg industries account for 65% of global nitrous oxide ( a global warming gas) emissions. (source)
• 7 football fields of forestland are destroyed each minute, much of it to make room for farm animals. (source)
• 16 lb of grain makes 1 lb. of meat
• 80% of the global soy crop is used to feed farm animals.
• A vegan diet requires roughly 300 gallons a day. A meat­-eating diet requires roughly 4000 gallons.
• In the U.S. 80% of agricultural and half of all water resources, and 1/3 of all fossil fuels are used to raise animals for food.
• A 2006 UN report found that meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all cars, trucks, planes and ships combined.
• The amount of grains fed to U.S. livestock is sufficient to feed about 840 million people who follow a plant-based diet. 
• 1 kg of animal protein requires 100 times more water to produce then 1 kg of grain protein. 
• According the UNPFA, demand for meat in the developing world is expected to grow by 40% by 2020. They will have profound implications for global agriculture, water supply (FAO predicts that by 2050, 2/3 of people worldwide will lack clean water), health and the environment. Between 12­ 20 million people (some estimates are much higher) die every year from hunger related causes. 

Enjoy your Earth Day!

“We do not take a trip; A trip takes us.” 

Written by: Backpack Britt 

​Hello. I’m Brittany, and I like to travel. I enjoy sharing photos and telling stories about the places I’ve been and the experiences I’ve had. After graduating college, I backpacked Europe alone. Some would say I’m a bold traveler, but I feel like I’m just getting started. I tend to attract colorful situations, so I hope you enjoy what you read! ​​​​​​​