Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 30 - Go Vegetarian at least one meal a week

For those raised on a meat and potatoes diet, skipping meat for even one meal may be difficult, but the benefits for the Earth are great.

Raising animals for food takes not only large amounts of food and water, but a 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than ALL the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.*

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, "if every American had one meat-free meal per week, it would be the same as taking more than 5 million cars off our roads." Now that's an impact!

I encourage you, try one meat free meal next week, and then try to do it again the week after, and the week after. It's good for the Earth and it may be good for you too!

*H. Steinfeld et al., Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options, Livestock, Environment and Development (2006).
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As I look back over the 30 Earth Day, Every Day tips I posted, I'm sure I've missed many of your favorites, but I've tried to share the ones that I thought were easiest to do, while still having a great impact. And I hope I've shared at least a few that you've not yet done.

So, Happy Earth Day 2011, and please do a little each day to leave the Earth a bit better than we found it.

Susan