Sikh-ing Knowledge
Regarding the Aug. 11 Sanity Fair column “Getting Along,” thanks to
Ed Griffin-Nolan for shedding some light on the insanity surrounding the
Muslim connections for building a proposed “monument” in Manhattan. The
media has presented many negative ideas on this proposed “monument.” I
like to view all sides of an issue.
I read Ed Griffin-Nolan articles every time I see his name; he
usually presents good reading that makes good, common sense. Thank you.
This is a fan letter.
—Elizabeth Harris
Syracuse
Bypassing Gas
The Aug. 11 “Local Flavor” cover story in the Syracuse New Times
rightly sings the praises of buying local food. This is indeed an
important way to help local farmers and have fresher food. The article
also mentions that the “locavore” movement “is a way to reduce the
carbon footprint.”
What the article leaves out is that people can do even more to reduce
greenhouse gases by eliminating or reducing their consumption of meat
and dairy products. According to Chris Weber, professor of Civil and
Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania,
buying locally produced food doesn’t have as much impact as reducing
beef and dairy. He says that only 5-percent of the emissions related to
food comes from transporting food to markets. He adds, “You can have a
much bigger impact by shifting just one day a week from meat and dairy
to anything else than going local every day of the year.” (See
“Hamburgers Are the Hummer of Food in Global Warming: Scientists” by
Agence France Presse, Feb. 16, 2009, posted on the CommonDreams website.
The November-December 2009 Worldwatch Institute magazine
(publication of the prestigious Worldwatch Institute) reports a study
that estimates animal agriculture accounts for a whopping 51 percent of
greenhouse gas emissions. The authors urge people to switch to a vegan
diet. So eating local and eating vegan is a great combination to help
the environment, show compassion for animals and stay healthy.
—Linda DeStefano
Chair, Biodiversity/Vegetarian Outreach Committee’s
Atlantic Chapter
of the Sierra Club
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