Half of the grain produced in the world is later consumed by animals that are slaughtered for their meat.

The grain & soy fed to U.S. livestock alone could feed over one billion people.

Twenty vegetarians could be fed on the land it takes to feed one meat eater.

When G8 leaders met in July in Japan, in part to decry the rising price of grain and rice — convening one day after U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a G8 member, advised British citizens to buy less at the grocery store in order to economize — they had a six-course “working lunch” with two wines, followed by an 18-course dinner with six wines. Even considering a ceremonial Japanese meal consists of many courses, this seemed to be Marie Antoinette territory. Menu items included caviar, “almond oil foam,” winter lily bulb, “kelp flavored beef” and “hairy crab bisque soup,” which must be really rich since “bisque” means “shellfish soup.” The wines, paid for by taxpayers, were usually expensive; for example, a Ridge Monte Bello 1997, which sells for about $125 per bottle. News reports said California wines such as the Ridge were specially flown to Japan, again at taxpayer expense, for the heads of state and their assistants.

After the bisque and champagne, the G8 leaders announced to much theatricality that greenhouse gases would be reduced 50 percent — but not until 2050. That is, current leaders will do nothing, leaving all real work to their successors. But while demanding that somebody else cut greenhouse gases, the G8 leaders were perfectly happy to burn fossil fuel to improve their dining experience. And the bold G8 declaration that somebody else will act against greenhouse gases 42 years from now? It’s nonbinding.

- By Gregg Easterbrook, Page 2

I came across a very interesting link today. It’s about the other side in the argument for compact fluorescent light bulbs.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/27/eco.flourescent/index.html

I think the professor makes a very good point in the article. And I think it highlights one of the main problems with the modern environmental movement: everyone is looking for quick fixes to the problem. Which is why I think you see governments so ready to proclaim that CFL’s will fix all of our woes. It’s why you have Al Gore pretending that you can stop global warming by switching from an SUV to a hybrid & changing the brand of lightbulbs you use. People really need to start looking at all sides before jumping on a bandwagon.