Brenda AlvaradoSusan JensenEnglish Tue/Thu 16:00 04/03/2014Vegetarianism about the EnvironmentNot many people know that switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet from a diet meat-based is more beneficial to the environment than driving a hybrid car. With the Earth's limited resources constantly decreasing, one of the most crucial issues in the modern world is finding ways to sustain the environment. Many ways people are choosing to take initiative are recycling, composting, and reducing water use. Music legend Paul McCartney said: “If we really want to save the world, let's become vegetarians” (Huffington Post). Adopting a vegetarian diet can protect the planet from pollution, sustain our resources and save countless species from extinction. These pressing issues call for the need for sustainable diets, and becoming vegetarian or vegan is one of the most valuable ways we can help. One of the reasons why pollution is such a vital problem today is because of the greenhouse gas emissions released by human activities. . According to the Vegetarian Society, 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from raising livestock. The process of raising livestock is extensive and is responsible for the deforestation used to grow the grain that feeds the animals, which releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To make matters worse, 65% of the climate's nitrous oxide, a chemical 300 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, also comes from raising livestock. Fossil fuels are also widely used to transport animals and produce their feed. The Environmental Protection Agency says agriculture, particularly livestock farming, is a major contributor to climate pollution. The manure created by the killing of a......medium of paper......g extinct at unsustainable rates such as the manatee and salmon. Cattle farming is obviously harmful to the climate but also to the waterways where manure and other chemicals resulting from livestock end up. These harmful chemicals are responsible for the death of many ecosystems where marine life is highly vulnerable. Becoming a vegetarian is not an easy task for many, but it is highly recommended and achievable. Human dependence on meat is depleting our water, farmland and clean air at alarming rates. By eliminating meat, poultry and fish from your diet you can save many lives while promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle. Deforestation can be prevented if everyone switched to a vegetarian diet. While it may not be reasonable for every person in the world to become a vegetarian, the impact that even a hundred people can have on the environment can still make a big difference..