What's one of the biggest source of carbon emissions on the planet? The cattle industry. From the feed and antibiotics to production to transportation, it takes an abundance of resources and emissions just to raise, process and transport one pound of beef. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), "Livestock production is responsible for almost 20% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, which is more than all sources of transportation combined."
The following short film, The Secret Life of Beef, was made by INFORM, a non-profit group that strives to educate people about our impact on the environment and our health through visual media. This particular film was made to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the beef industry and to highlight alternative, sustainable ways of raising cattle.
"People don't want to hurt the planet. They often just don't know better," says Virginia Ramsey, president of INFORM, "Too few beef eaters in this country know the connection between the dietary choices they make and the environmental damage caused by industrialized beef production. What we want to show the public with The Secret Life of Beef is simple, concrete steps to becoming a sustainable consumer."
This article appears in Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2010.