Right now, I'm reading the book "Savor" by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung. A chapter in this book pointed me to a US government report called, "Livestock'sLong Shadow " (http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM). This is a comprehensive report on the global effects domestication and consumption of animals, especially beef and pork, have on the environment, and specifically water resources. Water is consumed in massive quantities not only by the animals themselves, but by every process involved in their redistribution as products. Carcass cleaning, leather tanning, processed food production, clothing manufacture - they all require massive amounts of water. Of course, the major consumer of water in domestic animal systems is their food. Huge fields of grains and corn use and transpire large amounts of water. "At present, the US livestock population consumes more than 7 times as much grain as is consumed directly by the entire American population (11). The amount of grains fed to US livestock is sufficient to feed about 840 million people who follow a plant-based diet (7). The meat-based food system requires more energy, land, and water resources than the lactoovovegetarian diet. In this limited sense, the lactoovovegetarian diet is more sustainable than the average American meat-based diet." (Pimentel & Pimentel, 2003) The livestock industry contributes 18% of global greenhouse emissions - more than transportation. 70% of Amazon forests have been cleared for cattle grazing land, releasing huge amounts of Carbon into the atmosphere. Acid rain develops from excess ammonia produced by the meat, dairy and egg industries. "The data suggest that one of the best ways to alleviate the stress on our environment is to consume less meat and eat more plant-based foods, which result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions." Savor