ESSENTIAL QUESTION: HOW HAS THE CONSUMPTION OF MEAT CONTRIBUTED TO GLOBAL WARMING?

Social Studies: Mr. Wesolowski

J. Burkett - A Reflection on Global Warming

Since the scope of our project is quite large, this project required time and patience. While I oftentimes lack patience, I was nonetheless chosen for this project. Though I was hesitant, at first. since I prefer working alone, this project has shown me the values of teamwork, time management, and research.

From this project I have learned how meat contributes to global warming. I learned that the energy expended to make one hamburger could fuel a car up to 20 miles. Before, I thought global warming was caused only by factories, cars, and pollution, but after working on this project, I realized what I do, and most Americans do, to contribute to global warming on a daily basis. Moreover, I learned what I can do to stop hurting the environment. We, as citizens of Earth, are responsible for stopping the progress global warming.

I have gained a lot of experience from the teamwork effort, and while my part of the project was history, each academic subject area had students working on assignments diligently. From this experience, I was able to meet new people who I never thought could be my friends, which was a rewarding experience.

Overall, working on this project has shown the error of my ways, and now I know what causes global warming and I can help stop it, even if it is only a small bit of help at a time.

Shannique Asmart - Global Reflection

As I researched, I spent a lot of time looking up various issues and topics concerning global warming. More specifically, I researched its impact and effects centered on the issue of meat consumption. My team created a timeline as a reference source, and through this process, I became more knowledgeable about historical connections to this issue and even confident through sharing this research with my classmates. In addition, I was able to discuss various issues and contribute my awareness to the global warming discourse with teachers and administrators.

This project has helped me strengthen my ability to stand and deliver a speech, and this has increased my public speaking skills; just talking about what I feel is important, about various aspects of global warming, is enlightening. As a reflection, by the end of this project, I have learn how to communicate better, share data with my peers, and asks more questions. Accordingly, this has been a powerful learning experience overall.

1904

The Hamburger

1904 Hamburger

A reporter for the New York Tribune writes from the St. Louis World’s Fair of a new sandwich called a hamburger. Fletcher Davis is credited with inventing the hamburger, which consists of fried ground beef patties served with hot mustard and sliced onions made on homemade bread. The meat industry is officially born in America.

1942

Franklin D. Roosevelt: ‘A Call for Sacrifice.’

1942 Franklin D. Roosevelt

In the midst of World War Two and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt, in his speech about the theme of sacrifice asserts, “This will require, of course, the abandonment not only of luxuries but of many other creature comforts.” This was an example of everyone sacrificing for the betterment of the world. This puts in perspective what sacrifice means for humans in terms of global responsibility.

1944

Formation of the Vegan Society in the United Kingdom

1944 Vegan Society

The Vegan Society is based on not eating any animals or any products that come from animals. Although this movement starts in Great Britain in 1944, it has a long history in various cultures throughout the world. Although in present times, the majority of people do not practice veganism or vegetarianism, there has been an increase in this eating trend over the last century. People have started to take on this alternate lifestyle; they are sacrificing what they might want to eat for the betterment of the environment.

1949

Amateur Scientist, G.S. Callendar Claims: The Greenhouse Effect is on the Way

1949 Amateur Scientist

He maintains that this greenhouse problem and temperature trend are directly linked to human actions such as the use of fossil fuels, which cause the rise of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere. The danger levels of the Earth’s atmosphere are increasing because of the concentrations of carbon dioxide.

1970

First Earth Day

1970 Earth Day

The environmental movement holds strong influence and spreads concern about global degradation. April 22, 1970 begins the first official Earth Day. On this day, Americans make clear that they understand and are concerned about the deterioration of the environment and the dissipation of our resources. This day leaves an impact on the politics of America. It forces the issue of environmental quality and resource conservation into the political talk of the nation. So the objective of Earth Day is to show the nation that there is a broad and deep support for the environmental movement.

1977

U.S. Makes Sacrifices to Deal with Oil Shortage

1977 U.S. Oil Shortage

In 1977, a bitter winter and a heating-oil shortage move President Jimmy Carter to proclaim the energy crisis as “the moral equivalent to war.” U.S. citizens have to conserve gasoline, which means less driving, more carpooling, and many other sacrifices. It seems that sometimes sacrifice from a few can make the world a better place for all.

1985

Mad Cow Disease Discovered in Britain

1985 Mad Cow Disease in Britain

In February 1985, the first signs of a mad cow disease are recorded in Britain. Scientists said that cattle contracted the disease by eating animal feed made up of meat remnants from sheep. Even though farmers stop feeding cows the remains of sheep, Mad Cow Disease still grows. By the 1940s, there are 14,324 cases of Mad Cow Disease out of an estimated ten million cattle in Great Britain. Since the outbreak in Britain, Mad Cow Disease has come up in many other European countries. This health risk is yet another reason why not to support the meat industry.

1994

Beef Industry Blue Ribbon Task Force on E. coli

1994 Beef Industry Blue Ribbon Task Force

The task force reports on ways to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 in beef. Producers of raw ground, including ground beef products, recognize that these products have an inherent safety risk due to the nature of the process and the lack of a sufficient “kill” step for biological hazards in the process. Therefore, it is extremely important that grinders implement best practices in order to produce the safest products possible by increasing total process control throughout the grinding operation. In 1994, the Blue Ribbon Task Force brings the importance of better safety practices into the minds of consumers.

2006

United Nations Reports on Meat Industry

2006 United Nations Reports

A major report by the United Nations summarizes the devastation caused by the meat industry. Raising animals for food, the report says, is “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change, air pollution, water shortage, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The contributionof livestock to environmental problems is on a massive scale.

2008

Current Trends

2008 Current Trends

"Farmed animals give off more greenhouse gases (18%) that the entire world’s transport (13.5%)!" Scientists say that just to stabilize greenhouse gas production, global meat consumption should be no more than 90 grams a day. Aside from helping the planet, this would also reduce heart disease, obesity, and bowel cancer. Converting from ruminant meat animals to animals with a single stomach would also help.

What we can do today is, through the power of individuals, inspire progress by the actions we take as consumers, the choices we make as active citizens, and the policies we push for as campaigners during election times.