carnviore+challenges+human+health

Name: Kirsten Eiesland Bjoerge Student Number: n8943958 Unit Coordinator: Juli-Anne Carrol Tutor: Michelle Cornford



This cultural artefact depicts greenhouse gas emission caused by livestock. When cows fart, they release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that gets much less attention than carbon dioxide (CO2). Worldwide, agricultural activity, especially livestock production contributes to global warming and adverse human health consequences (J, McMichael, A., Powles, W, John,. Butler et al, 2007). The United Nations (UN) stated in 2006 that the negative effect on the climate of methane is 23 times higher than the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2). Can we blame the cows for global warming? What issues should be addressed?

A major public health issue is the huge level of meat consumption in the western world as it contributes to higher risk of diseases such as stroke, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and some types of cancer (Goodland, Robert, 1997). Livestock contributes to health problems of the affluent obesity, cancers and cardiovascular diseases (Livestock´s long shadow – environmental issues and options, 2007). According to Australian government these are also on the list of Australia’s top killers. Many of these diseases are preventable and Goodland, R (1997) along with a large body of evidence claim that adapting towards a plant-based diet may be one way to increase life expectancy and at the same time have positive impact on the environment (Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010).
 * 3. Western carnivore challenges human health **

"Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems.... Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.” (H. Steinfield, senior author, Livestock´s Long Shadow, A report from the United Nations). In 2006, the Food and agricultural organization (FAO), reported a breakthrough in the intensive livestock agriculture industry as it releases environmental issues. While transport is responsible for 13%, livestock contributes to about 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. The dairy cow that is producing 8 000-10 000 liters of milk every year will produce around 500-7oo liters of methane every day. This is equivalent to the amount of the green house gas CO2 emission produced by a vehicle travelling around 35 miles per day (Livestock´s long shadow – environmental issues and options, 2007). Environmental defense group in the US wrote on their website that if every American replaced chicken with vegetarian food just one meal per week it will be the equivalent of CO2 if taken about 500 000 cars off the US roads (Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). How can it be that farm animals place greater burden on the environment? It is rather simple. Farting (Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). From a dietary perspective, new insight in the adverse health effects of meat have made scientist more concerned about livestock impact on the environment and the potential impact of dietary changes on achieving ambitious climate stabilization.
 * 4. Literature review **

According to the FAO of the UN, meat production is expected to double by 2050, and at the same time greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by at least 40% globally to avoid dangerous climate change. Steinfield, H (2006) stated that the level of meat consumption in the western world is increasing and they’re all at the expenses of climate, human health and for the very poor people. Further on he says that the major conclusion of the report is that the huge environmental impact is not well understood by the public or farmers itself. However he doesn’t say why it is not well understood or reasons for why this issue haven’t been on the climate debate before on any level. At the same time this research is has not been highlighted on the same level as it has the last decade were currently more and more scientists see links between climate changes and livestock (Steinfield, H, Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). Steinfield continues with although there are measures and technology available to address the issue, what is lacking is the political willingness to act on these and to affect the livestock industry into a sustainable way. He states that by reducing meat consumption with only one day a week it is likely to have positive impact on the environment and human health (Steinfield, H, Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). This statement can also be supported by the fact that if all Americans did not eat meat for just one day a week, it would have saved 90 million tickets from New York to Los Angeles (Steinfield, H, Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). FAO calculated that almost 50% of global grains are not eaten by humans, but by life stock (Goodland, Robert, 1997). It takes about 7kg of grain to produce 1kg beef, which means about 100 of 100 of hectares of land (Steinfield, H, Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). Borneo and Leon (2011, p. 110-119) saythat whole-grain-based products have the ability to enhance health, and that whole grains play an essential role in disease prevention (cardiovascular diseases and strokes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, obesity, as well as different forms of cancer). These claims are supported by the American Heart Association suggesting that transferring towards a more vegetarian diet is one measure to approach both positive health outcomes and environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector (Goodland, Robert, 1997). Several studies, including American Heart Association, suggests that transferring towards a more vegetarian diet is one measure to approach both positive health outcomes and environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector. Western carnivore kills increasing numbers of people. The stroke, heart disease, cancer, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and food-borne illness links to high meat diets ( Goodland, Robert. 1997). Heart disease in the US alone cost $66 billion in 1996. Much of this can be attributed to high meat diets. A grain-based diet has now become the main therapy for the 1.25 million annual preventable US heart attacks ( Goodland, Robert. 1997).

Research shows that meat consumption can have a negative impact on our health status, and it is causing human diseases. It is also shown that meat production will continue to rice the next years, as well as our meat consumption. Steinfield, H (2006) is not very optimistic in his claims, considering lack of political upstream (Turrell G, Mathers CD (2007) willingness and measuring to affect livestock industry into a sustainable way. However the documentary, Meat the truth, YouTube video (2010) also states that changes might be done if people knew. With the absent of facts mixed with scientific words and definitions the documentary speaks in an easy language that reach out to the public. It seems one of their visions with the movie is to convey that issues that should be addressed are easy, that one little step for a man is gigantic for humanity and all living creatures. The authors claim that if we eat less meat it will lead to fewer animals raised for food, fewer animals will reduce green house gas emissions, which will also lead to reduced water use (livestock sector is the largest user of fresh water, (Livestock´s long shadow – environmental issues and options, 2007)), and less deforestation” (Steinfield, H, Meat the truth, YouTube video, 2010). In the video the author’s claim that the majority of people simply don’t know what impact their meat consumption has on their health, on animal welfare and the environment. Who can we blame for not knowing? Politicians? Health professionals? Scientists? Social Media? There are many different people and groups involved that has an impact in the issue of meat consumption and health outcomes among the public and forces dragging in different directions. On one side there are farmers, politicians, international exportation companies and so on. On the other side there are groups and organizations that works for animal welfare and rights, such as Animals Australia – the voice for animals and AAWS – Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, environmentalists. “The vegetarian resource group” is another non-profit organization that educates people about vegetarianism and how our food choices affect environment. Above all there are consumers, and it is up to each individual to decide to which continuum they are comfortable to involve in fight for sustainability, animal welfare and in this scenario, human health. Marxism is a theory, which argues that we are all controlled by society. The way society produce the goods they need affects how a society treats its people When we go to the grocery we have individual choice of what to buy in the myriad of selection and variations of prepared meat. However we may not be aware about what makes us do the choices we do when we go there. Goodland, R (1997) writes that richer people tend to eat higher on the food chain than poor people do, and that reasons to eat high up the food chain are week. He claims that major reasons why people eat meat are caused by fashion, taught taste and status.This might be explained by Berger and Luckman (1996) social construction theory of reality. They suggest that people interact together in a social system, which over time forms concepts that become habitudes. That rich people tend to eat higher on the food chain might also be viewed from a symbolic interactionism were individuals and human behavior is not shaped or determined by society, but where individuals have agency and the ability to act how they want to. Herbert Blumer (1969) stated “humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things”.
 * 5. Cultural and social analysis **


 * 6. Analyse of artefact and reflections. **

The reason this picture makes sense is simply because it does not make any sense at first glance. A reader might wonder why I have chosen to present a picture of a cow pooping. I chose this image hoping to capture the interest of the reader. If I succeeded the reader might obtain new perspectives or insight in that eating meat is an act with multiple effects. However meats have many health benefits as well and I have no intentions about transforming anyone to become 100% vegetarian. But adapting more towards a well-planned vegetarian diet may be considered. I 'm not a vegetarian and also not a big meat eater, but something in between. After working with this task throughout the semester, I have learned much more about factory farming, global warming, and how individual choices affect rest of the world. I have seen films about animal living conditions, which had a great affection on me. Animals cannot speak for themselves but I can speak for them by eating less meat. I believe that my health is affected by everything I do and its up to me to decide how I want to feel and behave. After I have done this assignment I feel much more critique and determinant about what I eat and I believe this will follow me in future. I have all my life been eating more plant based food but never because of what I know know relative to animal welfare, global warming and last but not least human health. If people knew more about where the meat comes from and how their own eating behavor affect their own health, and all other aspects of meat, I believe we could all increase life expectancy and better health outcomes.

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet” (Albert Einstein)

** References **

Global warming. (2010, Mars, 31). Global warming - //meat the truth// (Video file). Retrieved from []

Goodland, Robert. (1997) Environmental sustainability in agriculture: diet matters 23(3), 189-200. Doi: [|10.1016/S0921-8009(97)00579-X]

Turrell G, Mathers CD (2007). Socioeconomic status and health in Australia. //Medical Journal of Australia// ;172: 434-4

The Department of Health and Ageing (2013). Breastfeeding. Retrieved August 20, 2013, Retrieved from[]

Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T., Castel, V,. Mauricio, R,. Haan, de, C. (2007) Livestock´s long shadow - environmental issues and options. Retrieved from []

Steinfeld, H., et al. (2006). Livestock’s long shadow. Environmental issues and options. Borneo, R., & Leon, Edel. Alberto. (2011). Whole grain cereals: functional components and health benefits. //Journal of food and function, 2, 110-119, doi://10.1039/C1FO10165J

Animals Australia – the voice for animals

[|http://][|www.animalsaustralia.org] AAWS – Australian Animal Welfare Strategy

[|http://][|www.australiananimalwelfare.com.au]

Rip & Rolled' Practicing Safe Sex
 * Reflections: **

Angel's Among Us. Geography's affect on morbidity and mortality