If you really care about the climate crisis, you should go…

Question Answered step-by-step If you really care about the climate crisis, you should go… Image transcription textTask: Pre-Course Writing Sample For this Pre-Course Writing Sample, you will read the article below,summarize it, and respond to it.https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-earth-day-climate-crisis-don-t-eat-meat-1.6424924 Yo… Show more… Show more If you really care about the climate crisis, youshould go vegetarianWhy do we hear so little about meat’s impact on our carbon footprint?I stopped eating meat 35 Earth Days ago because someone called me a hypocrite.I was at a dinner party selling raffle tickets for an organization that protected fur-bearinganimals, but a fellow guest refused to buy one.He asked me why I was raising money to protect animals with fur on their backs just as I wassitting down to a meal of turkey, ham or whatever dead animal was on offer that night. Wasn’tthat hypocritical? Needless to say, I was furious. Privately furious, but furious. And I remainedfurious for three more days until even I had to admit that he was right and I was wrong. So good-bye meat. Farewell fish. And eventually so long dairy, too.Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This story is part of a CBC Newsinitiative entitled “Our Changing Planet” to show and explain the effects of climatechange. Keep up with the latest news on our Climate and Environment page.My decision to change my diet was based entirely on my fondness for animals. When peoplespoke about climate change 35 years ago, I wasn’t listening. No one was. Now we all know whata carbon footprint is, and some of us are determined to minimize ours. What hasn’t changed,however, is how little we’re told about meat’s impact on that footprint.Why beef is off the menu for some climate-conscious foodiesThat could be because measuring how much damage it does depends on your source. The UN’sFood and Agriculture Organization says meat and dairy production is directly responsible for14.5 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gases. The David Suzuki Foundation puts it at 18 percent. While a recent University of Illinois study blames agriculture for 35 per cent, with meataccounting for the lion’s share.Regardless, it’s bad. Yet the mention of meat in most climate change debates is still as rare aswhat else? – hen’s teeth.Watered down reportTo be fair, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has signalled diet once or twice in itsdirectives. The problem is that these signals are always framed as suggestions. As somethingyou may -• or may not — wish to consider.According to the news agency Reuters, this year’s IPCC report was primed to finally recommendthat people reduce their intake of meat and switch to plant-based alternatives instead. But whenthe final draft was released, it had been watered down to the advisory equivalent of non-alcoholbeer. It spoke of “balanced diets that include sustainably produced animal products alongsideplants like grains and legumes.” Another powderpuff punch.Asked to explain the dilution, report contributor Joanna House would only say that dietarychange is complex. “If meat is produced sustainably, it can be low carbon and support soilcarbon and nutrients,” she said, inadvertently giving voice to the term, mealy-mouthed.However, and again to be fair, what she said wasn’t unusual. Get out of your car and onto publictransit. Trade in your gas guzzler for an EV. Heat your house with electricity instead of gas. Wehear these injunctions all the time. The government will even contribute to that EV purchase. Butwhen was the last time you heard federal Environment and Climate Change Minister StevenGuilbeault urge you to serve veggie burgers at your next barbecue? And despite his ownfoundation’s figures, even David Suzuki eats meat. And if that makes him a hypocrite, so be it, hesaid when I askedWhy not mention meat?I think it’s time someone found out why this is so. To determine why everyone in any kind ofauthority – scientific or governmental- either refuses to mention meat’s role in climatechange or tiptoes around it so gingerly. Why won’t these people• the UN and the IPCC, forexamplestate plainly and straightforwardly that if you really care about the climate crisis andwant to do something about it, you should go veg?Yes, agriculture lobbyists are tremendously powerful, but we are talking about the fate of theplanet. So surely a soupçon of perspective is due.Vegetarians aren’t generally known for their fierceness, although I know of at least four U.K.boxersone personally – who haven’t slugged down a piece of meat in years. Former worldheavyweight champion David Haye has his own vegan brand. But when it comes to climatechange, it turns out you have to have Haye’s cojones just to mention the word “tofu.Plant-based athletes should inspire the rest of usA friend suggests it’s because of food’s intimate connection with so many expressions ofcloseness and community. No matter one’s culture, faith or tradition, celebrations, occasions andespecially simple family get-togethers usually involve food served, prepared and consumed in away that binds people together like nothing else. And who among us is brave enough tochallenge that?1 am, I hope. For the sake of future generations, the health of the planet and the animals I holdso dear. No, it won’t be easy or popular, but when the going gets tough, there’s always darkchocolate and red wine for comfort and a naive but sincere belief that I just might make aminuscule difference.I am, I hope. For the sake of future generations, the health of the planet and the animals I holdso dear. No, it won’t be easy or popular, but when the going gets tough, there’s always darkchocolate and red wine for comfort and a naive but sincere belief that I just might make aminuscule difference.Do you have a strong opinion that could add insight, illuminate an issue in the news, orchange how people think about an issue? We want to hear from you. Here’s how to pitchto us. Arts & Humanities Writing COMM 171 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)