MARCH 11, 2006
How
much did you pay for your last hamburger? Are you paying over 2 dollars a gallon for gasoline? I have often wondered what the real cost of a hamburger and a fill up at the pump would be if we factored in the environmental consequences of an oil industry driven economy that is in love with cattle.
What are the consequences of our dependence on both industries; oh sure, the unintended consequences, but nevertheless the downside of these pervasive businesses.
Cows: the total weight mass of the planets cattle exceeds the total weight of the human family - the waste of that billion plus population of four legged creatures has overwhelmed the world's ability to absorb it - methane is produced from both ends of the cow - the energy required to produce the meat is more than the meat provides the consumer - majority of our corn goes to feed the cattle - to produce a pound of beef is expensive in terms of natural resources - water at 2500 - 5000 gallons per pound of beef - actual cost of a burger should be triple what it is
Gas: global warming - enough said, besides the actual cost should be around 10 bucks a gallon
There are alternatives to both:
- good veggie burgers, soy burgers etc. are available and taste great especially loaded with the usual stuff we put on them
- great alternative vehicles - Alexandra has her EV - electric vehicle car; I have my EV vehicle bike - hybrids are attractive, functional, economical and the right thing to buy - fuel cells are coming
If we mean what we say then we change behavior so that our beliefs and behavior line up. It is a process and being faithful to the process is the best first step.
--Peter