You are cordially invited to attend the Royal American Meat Ball, on October 15. Festivities include: informing, and inspiring Americans to respect, and nurture our world and our neighbors, and to encourage Americans to become protectors of the environment.

Filling our belly with meat harms the planet more than filling our tank with gas. Livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the worlds greenhouse gases, which is more than all transportation in the world emits. Producing 2.2 pounds of beef (about what an American family of four consumes each day) is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on at home. Growing meat uses so many resources that it is impossible, in this article, to list them all. Livestock production is also thought to be the biggest source of water pollution in this country. In addition to polluting water, beef production alone uses more water than that used in growing our entire fruit and vegetable crop. About 26% of the world's land is used for grazing livestock, and another 33% is used to grow the crops and grain to feed them. In total meat production is responsible for taking up 70% of the world's agricultural land.

It takes 8 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of beef on the hoof. Since about half a beef is waste product (skin, bones, guts, etc.), it takes 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of edible beef. The average American eats about eight ounces a day, which removes at least 8 loaves of bread from the world food supply. While almost a billion people on the planet now suffer from hunger or malnutrition, the majority of corn, soy, and other grains grown in the world, feeds cattle, pigs and chickens. Every day 30,000 children die of malnutrition, or preventable diseases. Most of these deaths are attributed, not to outright starvation, but to diseases that attack vulnerable children whose bodies have been weakened by hunger. The US is no longer the breadbasket of the world. we have become a sponge, soaking up valuable resources so we may gorge on meaty delicacies while many in the world are starving.

Americans scarf down twice the global average of meat. Reducing US meat production by 50 percent would free enough grain to feed almost half the world's hungry people. Reducing meat consumption by two-thirds, in the US, would have as much environmental impact as crushing every personal vehicle in the country, and replacing it with an energy efficient electric vehicle. Reducing consumption by only one-third, would be like replacing all personal vehicles with hybrids. If only one American would go one day without meat, it would free enough grain to feed two starving people for one day.

The Royal American Meat Ball is scheduled for October 15. Begin now inviting others to join. For 6 weeks, I am asking everyone to cut meat consumption in half. I'm not asking anyone to become a vegetarian (I have no intention of becoming one). I'm just saying that, while Americans, in many ways, set a good example for other nations, I can't see why we have to eat like a herd of swine. We have an opportunity, with an insignificant change in lifestyle, to make a profound impact on the world. With very little effort, we can influence the lives of millions of people. 30,000 children will die today from mismanagement of global resources. What will you do today?