FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Embargoed 5am 26/10/2009
Cmon its not just CO2, its the methane too!
A major shift to plant diets is essential to avoid an unprecedented global climate catastrophe, says a
coalition of organisations led by Supreme Master TV (Australia).
A new assessment by two environmental specialists published in the November/December 2009
issue of World Watch Magazine concludes that the livestock sector contributes over half of global
anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions - much worse than the 18% cited by the United Nations
2006 report Livestocks Long Shadow.
The evidence is now clear that our focus primarily on CO2 emissions is misinformed, Supreme
Master TV spokesperson Jenny McCracken says.
Its just so commonly overlooked that global livestock production emits 40% more greenhouse
gases than all the worlds transportation.
Its time our leaders acknowledged the major role of animal-based agriculture in increasing global
warming and its other environmentally devastating consequences, says Ms McCracken.
US climate scientist Dr James Hansen says, "If you eat further down on the food chain rather than
animals, which have produced many greenhouse gases and used much energy in the process of
growing that meat, you can actually make a bigger contribution in that way than just about
anything."[1]
The coalition strongly recommends that the government stops subsidising the production of animal
products and begins subsidising farmers to transition to healthier, more sustainable practices of
organic plant food production and alternative sustainable rural industries.
Cutting methane emissions, primarily from the livestock industry, will see the world begin cooling
rapidly in just over a decade because methanes lifespan in the atmosphere is only 8 to 12 years, as
opposed to over 100 years for CO2
, Ms McCracken says.
There are many added benefits of a dietary shift away from animal products such as the enormous
health benefits, prevention of future animal-derived viruses, elimination of animal suffering,
safeguarding precious water resources, preserving forests and bushland from further clearing,
reducing loss of biodiversity, slowing down soil and water degradation, and providing relief to
world hunger.
This message is also endorsed by:
Australian Vegetarian Society www.veg-soc.org
Animal Liberation ACT www.al-act.org
Caroline Springs Animal Welfare Network csawnetwork@gmail.com
For more information, contact Ms. Jenny McCracken: enquiry@suprememastertv.com.au or 0431
587 830.
Supreme Master TV (Australia)
[1] Dr. James Hansen in an interview with Supreme Master TV . 'We have only four years left to act
on climate change - America has to lead'- 22 Jan 2009
ENDS