...WELL, NOT EXACTLY.
Summary:
This article expands on the impacts of the livestock sector
on our environment, and although livestock can positively impact the
environment, it focuses more on the negative effects. The article goes much in
depth about the specific impacts of livestock on land degradation, water
pollution, and biodiversity loss, but I am going to focus more on its
association with greenhouse gas emissions. The livestock sector’s role in
global warming is often one that goes unnoticed, but is actually responsible
for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. This is said to be even more than the
amount of emissions released by transportation. Feed crops used in the
livestock sector continue to expand and cause increases in carbon dioxide.
Emissions are even greater for other gases with potential to warm the
atmosphere, such as methane and nitrous oxide. One way these harmful emissions
can be reduced is sustainable intensification livestock and feed crops. Basically,
by reusing plots of land rather than expanding them, we can cut down on
deforestation, and in result greenhouse gas emissions.
Reaction:
One of the things that surprised me the most in this article
is that fact that livestock production emits more greenhouse gases than
transportation. It’s actually still pretty difficult to believe, because with
the extent at which cars, trucks, and other vehicles are used on a daily basis…
It’s just shocking to realize the shear amount of land and food we have to be using
to compete with transportation. This article was also the first time I had ever
heard or read about the idea of livestock being harmful to the environment. I
agree with the article in saying that it is something that goes unnoticed, and
it’s interesting to see what other major environmental factors it impacts as
well. With that being said, I suggest you guys read the whole article, it is
actually pretty informative.
Thoughtful Questions:
1.
What characteristics would a sustainable
production system exhibit?
2.
Aside from the negative impacts of livestock,
what are the positives?
3.
What can we do to the land to make it more
reusable? Because all of the nutrients in the soil would surely get used up after a while.
4.
What other agricultural processes harmfully
impact the environment on a large scale?
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI think, that while mildly amusing, with further analysis, livestock air pollution is not too ridiculous or crazy. If you consider the amount of people in America alone, and the livestock needed to feed just the meat eating ones of them (A vast majority in America) biological air pollution becomes more and more reasonable when you take into account that MOST animals produce methane (Not sure about Nitrous oxide, though), including humans.
Answer to a thoughtful question:
3. I think we may be able to intermingle the plants which replenish the soil in the farm fields. If we are successful at that, nutrients which the replenishes need will be replaced by the crops and vice verse. This will temporarily limit crop production, but it will ensure the need to expand out will be minimized because the soil wouldn't need to rest to be replenished.
Answer to daft (King's English FTW?) question:
5. Given the reproductive rate of bacteria, the alignment of the planets and constellations, what that rotted potato in my basement has been speaking to me about, and the will of the flying spaghetti monster, I'm saying the square root of the sun is the ultimate power of Nam Tran.
Reaction:
ReplyDeleteThis was a suprising article. I never thought that animals going to the bathroom could cause so much harm to the environment. The problem is that some of these animals are a large food source and producer. How could we possibly help this problem? How can we stop enough waste to lower that 18 % down?This is what I want to know.
Answer to a question:
2. There are many positives to having livestock. The most common reason is because of food. Many of the different animals we farm are sources of food for us. Some produce more than one type of food like the cow is meat and produces milk. Animals are also good for making fertilizer for our plants. These are the positives to livestock.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, this article helps show that environmentalists are a little ridiculous, and why I take this class with a large amount of salt. Even if CO2 was really the reason why the earth is warming, they failed to research what the main source of CO2 is. Because of anti-human/civilization ideals, environmentalists have decided to peg CO2 emissions on human developments. Since environmentalists need something to hate on though, they will probably say that we should end the farming of livestock. In response to deforestation, did you know that the amount of forests in the world is actually increasing? There is still deforestation, but it is concentrated in tropical zones while other areas are seeing an increase.
Response to Thoughtful Question:
2) There are many pros to having livestock. The main one is the availability of food. Without raising livestock, people would have to hunt for their meat. This would mean everyone would have to learn how to kill animals themselves or buy from a small amount available in stores. Another reason they are good is that there is a better quality of food. Because of selective breeding and domestication, livestock are more suited for our consumption.
Response to Nonsense Question:
42
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteAlthough a lot of stuff we talk about in class I have a opinion about, it can easily be swayed. So I am glad to not be an environmentalist because I feel like there is two sides to every story and no way to prove one side. CO2: Does it cause global warming or not? I lean to the no side, but there can be a strong argument for both. As for deforestation, I can say no on that. I am a strong believer in fixing the problem long term by replacing and gradual change.
Response to a Question:
2. The pros of livestock are really obvious. For one, it's great for the economy, creates jobs and supplies food. There is a huge demand for food so livestock is a swift solution. There is no way around it. I am kind of tired with people who find so many things wrong with it, but no better solution. Is it perfect? No, but it's what we got to feed most of the human population.