Animals Are Dying in Droves. What Are They Telling Us?
One of the leading reasons why we&#x27;re in such deep mess are our systems of food production, esp. animal agriculture (75% of agriculture lands, uses more land than forests) &amp; fishing.<p>- The majority of deforestation (particularly in the Amazon), is driven by livestock farming. By reducing demand for animal products, we could slow or even reverse the trend of habitat destruction, thus preserving biodiversity.<p>- Growing plants to feed animals and then consuming those animals is an inefficient way of obtaining calories and nutrients. Shifting to a plant-based diet would allow us to feed more people with less land, reducing the pressure on wild habitats.<p>- Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.<p>- Overfishing is a major threat to marine biodiversity. By reducing our consumption of fish, we can help protect marine ecosystems.<p>- Animal agriculture is also a significant source of pollution, including runoff from farms that can create dead zones in oceans and rivers, harming aquatic species.<p>- Intensive animal farming can create conditions ripe for the emergence of new diseases (zoonotic diseases), some of which could potentially leap to humans and cause pandemics, as well as decimate animal populations.