To Transform the World, Transform Yourself

Have you heard of Meatless Monday? I first heard the idea from Michael Pollan at PopTech. Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people to cut meat out of their diet on Monday.

By removing meat once a week, the average American reduces their saturated fat intake by 15%, diminishing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and various cancers.

According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization... the meat industry generates nearly one fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change. Curbing meat consumption in the U.S. one day a week would have the equivalent effect of taking 20 million mid-size cars off the road.

Current meat production methods cause nearly half of all stream and river pollution. Meat also requires a great deal of fresh water to produce. The production of a pound of beef takes approximately 2,500 gallons of water. By not eating meat on Monday, each individual could save about 1,100 gallons of water a week.