Steinfeld, et al. (2006) stated:

Livestock … currently amounts to about 18 percent of the global warming effect – an even larger contribution than the transportation sector worldwide (p. 272).

…it may well be argued that environmental damage by livestock may be significantly reduced by lowering excessive consumption of livestock products among wealthy people (p. 269).

Livestock Long Shadow Report

I found both the CAF tool and the concept map useful for tackling my topic. The CAF served as my starting point and made me more aware of my own knowledge. This knowledge was then organized and presented in a concept map which, through the crosslinks, led me to perceive the topic from different perspectives.

Transformation

These instigated critical thinking which ultimately shed light on a logical solution which till then I was not aware of – the fact that the Mediterranean Diet is beneficial for both our health and our planet. Thus in order to save our planet we have to cut down on meat as suggested by the Mediterranean Food Pyramid.

Transformation

A reduction in the consumption of meat, especially red meat,

could have multiple health benefits, as there is clear evidence of

a link between high meat diets and bowel cancer and heart

disease (FOE, 2010).

“Healthy” eating is not just important for the individual but for

the planet as a whole (Schwarzer, 2012).

The Way Forward

The quality of your thinking will determine the quality of your future.

Dr Edward de Bono

Conclusions

De Bono, E. (2007). CoRT 1 (Cognitive Research Trust). The Edward De Bono Foundation UK. Retrieved from http://www.debonofoundation.co.uk/cort1.html

FOE (2010). Healthy Planet Eating: How lower meat diets can save lives and the planet. Friends of the Earth.

Novak, J. D. & Cañas, A. J. (2006). The Origins of the Concept Mapping Tool and the Continuing Evolution of the Tool. Information Visualization Journal 5(3), 175-184. Retrieved from http://cmap.ihmc.us/publications/researchpapers/originsofconceptmappingtool.pdf

Schwarzer, S. (2012). Growing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to Meat Production. UNEP Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS). Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/pdf/UNEP-GEAS_OCT_2012.pdf

Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T., Castel, V., Rosales, M. & de Haan, C. (2006). Livestock’s long shadow: Environmental issues and options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy. Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/pdf/UNEP-GEAS_OCT_2012.pdf

Bibliography