Frankenstorm Sandy is one more dramatic demonstration that
climate change and its extreme weather patterns are now part of
our future. Although we're unlikely to reverse climate change,
we can still mitigate its effects by reducing our driving, our
energy use, and our meat consumption. Yes, meat consumption. A
2006 U.N. report estimated that meat cosumption accounts for 18
percent of man-made greenhouse gases. A 2009 article in the
respected World Watch magazine suggested that it may be closer
to 50 percent. Carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, is
emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by
combustion of fossil fuels to confine, feed, transport, and
slaughter animals and to refrigerate their carcasses. The much
more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged from
digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools,
respectively. We have the power of reducing the devastating
effects of climate change every time we eat. Our local
supermarket offers a rich variety of soy-ba