Page 15 - Mediterraneo e dintorni - nr 11

years ago, we could never have bought The greatest damage caused by our food produced by the high density of animals
with so easy. Added to this is also the choices on the environment, however, in the pastures makes the land sterile for
“distortions” of the market. Yesterday, I derives mainly from other factors. First many years. Other polluting activities in
wanted to buy lemons in the supermar- of all the agricultural cultivation that has the production of food of animal origin
ket. I go to the fruit and vegetable counter been transformed, preferring quantity are the production, processing and tran-
and find them. Provenance: Argentina. I over quality at all costs, in order to sell at sport of vegetables to feed the animals.
am very surprised because I live in Italy bargain prices and destroy the competi- To all this we must also add an aspect, so
and also in the South. Now I don’t even tion that does not adapt. Obviously this to speak, social. In order to produce soy
want to question the quality, taste and result is achieved only through the use and cereals to feed the animals, which in
smell of Argentine lemons, but let’s ask of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that turn will become direct and / or indirect
ourselves how much it costs us in terms poison what we eat, the soil and groun- foods of Western man, fertile soils are
of CO2 production, transporting tho- dwater. Another important element is used which until a few years ago were the
se lemons to Italy. And lemons are no intensive farming. Thousands of animals only resource for producing food for the
exception, far from it. There are many crammed into small spaces for greater poor people of various underdeveloped
foods that, despite being produced also in profits and fed with unnatural feeds. The countries. It is the new colonization that
Italy, arrive on our tables from the other land destined for cattle breeding now defends those lands also with arms and
end of the world. Furthermore we should exceeds 30% of land that is not covered mercenary armies in order to keep the
consider the amount of pesticides and by ice. This percentage is constantly desperate and hungry natives away and
chemical residues present on products growing and is the main cause of defo- is the cause of thousands of deaths, espe-
sold to consumers, often detecting enor- restation, yes because the main reason cially among children. In conclusion, let
mous irregularities and use of products for deforestation is not (like the tale they us know what is behind our food choices
that are prohibited in Europe, but espe- tell us) the production of paper and tim- and how these can affect the delicate ba-
cially in Italy. All this still to the detri- ber, but the search for new pastures and lance of the earth’s ecosystem.
ment of the Earth, as well as of our health. new fertile lands, because the trampling

il metano causa un effetto serra per così dire, sociale. Pur di pro- le terre anche con le armi e con
addirittura di 25 volte maggiore durre soia e cereali per nutrire gli eserciti di mercenari pur di
rispetto alla CO2. Oggi il metano gli animali, che a loro volta di- tenere lontani gli indigeni di-
è sempre più sotto la lente d’in- venteranno alimenti diretti e/o sperati ed affamati ed è causa
grandimento proprio perché in indiretti dell’uomo occidentale, di migliaia di morti soprattutto
enorme aumento nell’atmosfera
e la principale causa è proprio
dovuta agli allevamenti di ani-
mali. Altre attività inquinanti
della produzione di cibo di origi-
ne animale sono la produzione,
la trasformazione ed il trasporto
dei vegetali per alimentare gli
animali. La FAO, nella relazio-
ne “Livestock’s long shadow”
del 29 novembre 2006, sostiene
che l’allevamento di bestiame
produce circa il 9% di biossido
di carbonio, ma è anche respon-
sabile dell’emissione di altri gas
serra come il 35-40% di metano
ed il 65% di ossido di azoto (che
influisce sul riscaldamento glo-
bale circa 300 volte di più del
CO2). Il cibo di origine animale,
in totale, produce emissioni di
gas serra pari a circa il 18% di
tutte quelle prodotte dall’uomo.
Questa percentuale può essere si utilizzano terreni fertili che tra i bambini. In conclusione,
paragonata alle emissioni do- fino a pochi anni fa erano l’uni- proviamo ad informarci su cosa
vute all’industria ed è maggiore ca risorsa per produrre alimenti ci sia dietro le nostre scelte ali-
di quelle dell’intero settore dei per la povera gente di vari paesi mentari e come queste possano
trasporti. A tutto ciò bisogna sottosviluppati. È la nuova co- influire sull’equilibrio delicato
aggiungere anche un aspetto, lonizzazione che difende quel- dell’ecosistema terrestre.

Mediterraneo e dintorni - 13