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 consumption 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-based lunch “meats,” hotdogs, veggie burgers, soy and nut-based dairy products (including cheese and ice cream), and an ample selection of traditional vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts. Product lists, easy recipes, and transition tips are available at www.livevegan.org.
Calvin Cowan
Cumberland
Opinion
Changing what we eat could ease world’s climate change
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Logjam
A common complaint among our veterans involves what they often must go through to get the benefits they’re entitled by law to receive because of their service.
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It was the happiest of times
On Saturday, May 4, I had the pleasure of attending the Allegany County Special Olympics. I was there in the capacity as the grand commander of Wamba Caravan 89 of the International Order of Alhambra.
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Education key to addressing substance abuse
I am writing in response to Allegany County’s response to the growing overdose problem in the area (“County health board preparing opioid overdose prevention plan,” May 15 Times-News, Page 1A).
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Maryland has ‘secret’ trout opening days
Shhhhhhh!
Don’t tell anybody about this, but there are some secret opening days of trout fishing in Almost Maryland. -
Something like this would irritate you, too
Why it is, I’m not sure, but it takes a lot more to irritate me than it once did.
Maybe it’s because I’m just getting older and being irritated takes more mental energy than I’m willing to expend, or maybe it’s because I haven’t played golf for several years. -
Life rules reveal just ‘Why Size Matters’
This column will comment on some unusual trends of living organisms revealed in “Why Size Matters,” by biologist John T. Bonner.
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Help keep teen drivers safe during the summer months
Memorial Day marks the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year on our nation’s roads for teen drivers.
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Walk Smart
Many local residents will be visiting Ocean City this summer, so it is worth noting that the resort has launched a campaign that it hopes will keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.
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Trailer case bound to increase scrutiny on town of Piedmont
This letter is in response to the recent story concerning the guilty plea entered in federal court by Piedmont’s town foreman (“Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea,” May 21 Times-News, Page 1A).
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Fixing community’s problems starts with your young people
I am writing this letter to the editor because I think our community really needs to work on plenty of issues. Some of them are:
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