It seems like a new group of opportunistic propagandists finds a way to hitch its wagon to Earth Day each year, and this time around it was the animal-rights nuts pushing the envelope.
Not only were the claims in Ari Holten's recent anti-meat letter wrong-headed, but it wasn't even his own letter to begin with. (“Saving Earth takes more than changing lightbulbs,” April 18.)
While the United Nations claims that global livestock production may account for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that here at home, domestic meat production only contributes 2.4 percent.
Since American farmers are far more eco-friendly than their counterparts overseas, eating home-grown meat is a great way to be “green.”
More disturbing, however, is that Mr. Holten's letter - the same exact word-for-word message - also ran/appeared in more than 50 other newspapers this month.
In each case, a different “author” signed it. This isn't a coincidence.
It's a program of the deceptive Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), a Maryland-based radical group which misleads countless Americans by hijacking hundreds of newspaper opinion pages every year.
There's absolutely nothing environmentally unfriendly about eating a balanced diet, including meat and dairy foods.
And anyone who wants to claim otherwise should articulate his own opinion instead of letting an agenda-driven form letter do the talking.
David Martosko
Washington, D.C.
Martosko is research director,
Center for
Consumer Freedom
While the United Nations claims that global livestock production may account for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that here at home, domestic meat production only contributes 2.4 percent.
Since American farmers are far more eco-friendly than their counterparts overseas, eating home-grown meat is a great way to be “green.”
More disturbing, however, is that Mr. Holten's letter - the same exact word-for-word message - also ran/appeared in more than 50 other newspapers this month.
In each case, a different “author” signed it. This isn't a coincidence.
It's a program of the deceptive Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), a Maryland-based radical group which misleads countless Americans by hijacking hundreds of newspaper opinion pages every year.
There's absolutely nothing environmentally unfriendly about eating a balanced diet, including meat and dairy foods.
And anyone who wants to claim otherwise should articulate his own opinion instead of letting an agenda-driven form letter do the talking.
David Martosko
Washington, D.C.
Martosko is research director,
Center for
Consumer Freedom
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brew1234 wrote on May 4, 2008 7:33 PM:
karl wrote on May 4, 2008 1:30 PM:
Such was the letter from a certain David Martosko, of the “Center for Consumer Freedom” (CCF)
I’m not even going to try to rebut Mr Martosko’s ineffectual and unconvincing argument the UN’s report on the significant impact of the drastic effects of increasing livestock proliferation—you can view the report for yourself at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html.
What needs to be revealed however, is the complete lack of credibility of the CCF, and the extreme prejudice with which Mr. Martosko delivers his deceitful message.
The CCF was preceded by the “Guest Choice Network” which was entirely funded by the Phillip Morris Tobacco Company, but in such a way that it obfuscated its connection to that deadly company so that it could function as a propaganda and advocacy outlet to promote cigarette smoking.
Suffice to say that the CCF now acts in the exact same manner for the Meat, Restaurant, and Alcohol Industries as well.
It not only actively opposes Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s efforts to lower legal blood-alcohol levels in combating drunk driving, but also targets any studies released on the very real and present dangers or red meat consumption, overfishing, and pesticide effects and fatty food consumption and obesity.
The bottom line is, if it can give you cancer, a heart attack, or outright kill you, the CCF will try to sell it you like it’s candy.
Says founding member, lobbyist Rick Berman: “[Since activists] drive consumer behavior on meat, alcohol, fat, sugar, tobacco and caffeine, [we have] to shoot the messenger. ... We've got to attack their credibility as spokespersons.”.
I think the reader will get the picture?
YOu're completely full of CRAAAAP, Mr Martosko! "
cm wrote on May 4, 2008 10:22 AM:
when I returned home in August, Hi mom and I passed out,ambulance called: of course mom blamed gram for the HORRIBLE summer diet!
Gram said you can't force-feed something someone doesn't like and eating something is better than eating nothing!
I think I will have a cheeseburger in honor of gram today!!
"
brew1234 wrote on May 4, 2008 1:55 AM:
anonymous wrote on May 3, 2008 11:59 PM: