This editorial addresses what he believed as a main source of the environmental issues such as greenhouse gasses and pollution, and it was not the common power plant or large car emissions that one would expect, he focused on the methane emissions from the every day cow, and other roaming animals such as the goat or sheep. The author mentioned the truly destructive power of “methane, with 21 times the warming potential of CO2, comes from both ends of a cow, but mostly the front. Frat boys have nothing on bovines, as it's estimated that a single cow can belch out anywhere from 25 to 130 gallons of methane a day”. It is actually no joke, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found that livestock is the top two or three contributors to the world’s most serious environmental problems, and responsible for 18 percent of green house gas emissions. All of this harmful gas can be seen mainly due to a cow’s four stomachs which releases nitrious oxide and methane, which has 296 the heating power of carbon dioxide. It will become even more of a problem in future years as developing countries will start to have more of a demand for meat and dairy, meaning that more forests will be cleared for grazing and more cows meaning more emissions. Even worse, the manure left by the cow even gives off methane emissions. The author suggests using the gas given off by the manure to power for electricity or other systems, or simple burn it to form co2, which is less harmful. Finally, he suggests coming up with better storage sytems in order to stop its release or have people on a whole decrease their consumtion of meat. The author also shows an anger that the government has put restrictions and started to clean up power plants and other coal burning factories, when they are leaving out a major contributor to greenhouse gases.
I personally like the idea of using the methane emissions to power; it could solve two big issues with one thing. It would reduce emissions as well as generate needed electricity. However, I do not like the idea of turning into co2, because the pollution is still there, it would be better to either store it to get away from it or convert it into something useful. The decrease in meat consumption as the author hopes will probably most likely not happen, no matter how bad the matter gets, without government interference, it wont happen. It may actually not even be a good idea, because of the loss of jobs and other economic problems that could result from the cut back.
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5 comments:
RE: Cow Gas.
The LA Times wants to cut back on cattle (red meat) because they add too much gas to the atmosphere thus causing “Global Warming”.
Let this blogger tell you something: without cows, no beef, no beef = no red meat, no red meat = no chicken fried steaks, no chicken fried steaks = no truck drivers, no truck drivers = no economy, no economy = no goods and services, no goods and services = 3rd world country!
RE: LA Times on Cow Gas, I would like to quote from a wise old school teacher in Oklahoma & the wife of a Doctor.
"The problem with the world today is too many people are suffering with a mental disease that is caused by the lack of oxygen to the brain. The best way to get more O to the brain is by a balanced diet with the right amount of absorb-able iron. Iron is very hard for the body to absorb unless it is in a natural organic form. Red Meat is the best source for absorb-able Iron. The deficiency of this important mineral prevents the brain from thinking clearly because of oxygen starvation and causes people to have mental derangement and engage in foolish activity like buying carbon credits, uttering the global warming mantra, becoming vegans, joining PETA and other insane activity."
I love CO2 it makes grass grow, cows eat grass, cows grow fat and give milk, I eat cows and drink milk.
Check out the Centerline Blog at http://power-hood.blogspot and read the article about the British truck driver VS Al Gore, he sued to keep Al's tripe out of England's Schools.
talltreetrader
now your anti-cow... Whats next? Democracy gives to many freedoms?
What are you talking about, I said that it would be a bad idea to kill all the cows to reduce emissions, I said that there vital toward business and employment, we should take them out, we should find an alternative way to deal with the problem. Without them there would be no red meat, and the economy especially in the mid west would fail.
sure all you want is the Cowocaust.
i think its funny to see everyone worrying about power plants and car emissions contributing to global warming, when in reality the biggest contributor is the cow. who knew something that helps us grow by providing milk, would lead to global warming. ideally the goal would be to have people stop eating so much red meat, but everyone knows that impossible. (i definately dont think we should kill the cows). i like the suggestion the author of your article made, about how we should find a way to to store the hamrful emissions, or find alternate uses for them. how effective that's really going to be, i dont know, but it would be a step in the right direction. Also, from all the hype about buying a hybrid car, so you can "save the enviornment" you would never guess what the true contributor really is.
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