Go to Blockbuster and rent the 1973 sci-fi thriller, "Soylent Green."

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Fertilizer run-off is bad enough, but included in our fish diet are toxins from the tons of garbage illegally dumped into the Pacific Ocean by all the business economies of the Pacific Rim except New Zealand.

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I understand that algae can be used as a starting point for the manufacture of ethanol. If this is in fact the case, maybe the best way around the dead zones would be to harvest the algae for use in making fuel for cars etc. This would reduce the dead zones as a side benefit.

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The pacific sardine lives along the coasts of North America from Alaska to southern California. Sardines, once a major part of the California fishing industry, are now considered to be "commercially extinct." Another species classified as "commercially extinct" is the New England haddock. Ecologists have also been concerned about the significant reduction in finfish, the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Lake Erie cisco, and blackfins that inhabit Lakes Huron and Michigan
.
More than 200,000 porpoises are killed every year by fishermen seeking tuna in the Pacific. Sea turtles are similarly killed in Caribbean shrimp operations.

Some animals are killed because, as carnivores, they compete with the human predator for the right to kill other animals for food, including wild game and domesticated species raised by livestock ranchers. Alaskan hunters are eager to reduce the wolf population in their state because this animal is a predator of moose.

Keith Akers writes in A Vegetarian Sourcebook: "There are signs that the fishing industry (which is quite energy-intensive) has already overfished the oceans in several areas. And fish could never play a major role in the worlds diet anyway: the entire global fish catch of the world, if divided among all the world's inhabitants would amount to only a few ounces of fish per person per week."

The American Dietetic Association reports that throughout history, the human race has lived on "vegetarian or near vegetarian diets," and meat has traditionally been a luxury. Studies show the healthiest human populations on the globe live almost entirely on plant foods--useful data, given our skyrocketing healthcare costs. Nathan Pritikin, author of The Pritikin Plan, recommended not more than three ounces of animal protein per day; three ounces per week for his patients who had already suffered a heart attack.

Obviously, then, the idea of providing the entire world with a Western diet is quite absurd. But what about satisfying today's demand for meat--which provides only a fraction of the population with a Western-style diet? If the world population triples in the next 100 years, then meat production would have to triple as well. Instead of 3.7 billion acres of cropland and 7.5 billion acres of grazing land, we would require 11.1 billion acres of cropland and 22.5 billion acres of grazing land.

But this is slightly larger than the total land area of the six inhabited continents! We are desperately short of forests, water, topsoil and energy already. Even if we resort to extreme methods of population control: abortion, infanticide, genocide, etc...modest increases in the world population during the next generation would make it impossible to maintain current levels of meat consumption. On a vegetarian diet, however, the world could easily support a population several times its present size.

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Whilst the above article is interesting, and alarming; it's hardly 'news'. It even mentions that marine biologists have been warning us for decades. Probably the very same marine biologists that tried to tell us about PCBs in large ocean mammals. Not a lot of us listened then either.
I am constantly amazed by the lack of cooperation in our respective countries environmental policies. Time and again I encounter the US attitude of 'just 'cause it's happening everywhere else, don't mean that it's gonna happen here'. Recently there was shock, horror in the US that plastic softeners such as phelates were seriously affecting children, genetically and hormonally, in all sorts of nasty ways. The same phelates that have been banned for years in the EU - and that was after yet more years of agonizing over it.
The same can be said about fertilizer run-off. And it doesn't have to be from farming. The largest polluters via fertilizer and chemical run-off on a Worldwide basis are golf courses! But this has again been known and discussed for years. On a local basis for me here in Denmark, the Limfjord, which is famous for its mussels, has had many Summers in a row where total or partial bans on fishing have been necessary. One of those Summers the whole fjord was declared devoid of life. Everything had been killed off by either lack of oxygen, and/or violent algae growth that the article describes. Both symptoms directly attributable to excess nitrates and phosphates, present because of run-off.
Every Summer we receive warnings about dangerous algae blooms moving along the coast. The same sort of algae blooms cause a number of animal deaths every year; typically unsuspecting dogs drinking from lakes.
Yes a call to action is needed, because it's not just our lakes, rivers and oceans that are being affected. It's the water table and our drinking water, a commodity already beating the retreat, that's at risk. Yes, organic farming is a logical step, but if we just have to have chemicals, more controls and tests please. As far as I'm aware, whilst there are studies on the effects of most of the chemicals involved, as usual, there are none on what these chemicals do in combination with another. And let's have some sort of synergy in our policies. We have carbon quotas, trade agreements, conservation treaties etc. but very little is done in terms of chemicals. Look at Cheminova; Pesticides made by them and that are banned in Europe, are being widely used in Brazil. They are also, finally, under investigation there, but only after literally 1000's have died. Yes one could, quite rightly, question the ethics and morals of Cheminova, but they are after all a commercial concern. They will exploit any opportunity to sell their wares, and Brazil gave them said opportunity. Brazil doesn't have to spent a shed load of money having their very own investigation; they just need to request a look at the EU's findings. If a product is banned in one country - or collective such as the EU - because of it's environmental affects, then it stands to reason that it'll be just as dangerous in another part of the World.
For decades Prince Charles has been regarded as a 'olde worlde luddite', but there's a growing respect for what he's been saying down the years.
Although I'm as happy as the next man for all the technology and conveniences that I surround myself with, none of it matters if I can't drink the water or go outside.
I'm beginning to think that 'New-Luddism' might end up being the only way to go.

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From

"The Comparative Anatomy of Eating", by Milton R. Mills, MD

Which category are humans most suited for?

*Facial Muscles*
CARNIVORE: Reduced to allow wide mouth gape
OMNIVORE: Reduced
HERBIVORE: Well-developed

HUMAN: Well-developed

*Jaw Type*
CARNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HERBIVORE: Expanded angle
OMNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HUMAN: Expanded angle

*Jaw Joint Location*
CARNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HERBIVORE: Above the plane of the molars
OMNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HUMAN: Above the plane of the molars

*Jaw Motion*
CARNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion
HERBIVORE: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
OMNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side
HUMAN: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back

*Major Jaw Muscles*
CARNIVORE: Temporalis
HERBIVORE: Masseter and pterygoids
OMNIVORE: Temporalis
HUMAN: Masseter and pterygoids

*Mouth Opening vs. Head Size*
CARNIVORE: Large
HERBIVORE: Small
OMNIVORE: Large
HUMAN: Small

*Teeth: Incisors*
CARNIVORE: Short and pointed
HERBIVORE: Broad, flattened and spade shaped
OMNIVORE: Short and pointed
HUMAN: Broad, flattened and spade shaped

*Teeth: Canines*
CARNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HERBIVORE: Dull and short or long (for defense), or none
OMNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HUMAN: Short and blunted

*Teeth: Molars*
CARNIVORE: Sharp, jagged and blade shaped
HERBIVORE: Flattened with cusps vs complex surface
OMNIVORE: Sharp blades and/or flattened
HUMAN: Flattened with nodular cusps

*Chewing*
CARNIVORE: None; swallows food whole
HERBIVORE: Extensive chewing necessary
OMNIVORE: Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing
HUMAN: Extensive chewing necessary

*Saliva*
CARNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HERBIVORE: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
OMNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HUMAN: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes

*Stomach Type*
CARNIVORE: Simple
HERBIVORE: Simple or multiple chambers
OMNIVORE: Simple
HUMAN: Simple

*Stomach Acidity*
CARNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HERBIVORE: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
OMNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HUMAN: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach

*Stomach Capacity*
CARNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HERBIVORE: Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract
OMNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HUMAN: 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract

*Length of Small Intestine*
CARNIVORE: 3 to 6 times body length
HERBIVORE: 10 to more than 12 times body length
OMNIVORE: 4 to 6 times body length
HUMAN: 10 to 11 times body length

*Colon*
CARNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HERBIVORE: Long, complex; may be sacculated
OMNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HUMAN: Long, sacculated

*Liver*
CARNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HERBIVORE: Cannot detoxify vitamin A
OMNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HUMAN: Cannot detoxify vitamin A

*Kidney*
CARNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HERBIVORE: Moderately concentrated urine
OMNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HUMAN: Moderately concentrated urine

*Nails*
CARNIVORE: Sharp claws
HERBIVORE: Flattened nails or blunt hooves
OMNIVORE: Sharp claws
HUMAN: Flattened nails

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before we have oxygen dead zones, in the air that we breath, caused by science, and stupid laws??? Outlawing the HEMP PLANT, was not only treason, because George Washington's, very first law, was that the HEMP PLANT, was to be legal forever, because it is the most useful plant on earth!!! Mans plants, are at war with Gods plants, the MAN-U-FACTURING PLANTS, WOULD NOT BE NESSECARY IF WE WEREN'T AT WAR WITH NATURE!!! The hole in the OZOPNE, was caused by outlawing HEMP, because we deforested the new world, to make the paper, that was made of HEMP!!! The bleaching process, to turn tree pulp white, for paper, has been sending ton after ton of DIOXIONS, into the water/ oceans, since HEMP/ NATURE was outlawed!!! Yet our "NOT-SEE" GOVERNMENT, refuses to see that they themselves, are the ROOT, of all of our problems!!!

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According to a national Vegetarian Resource Group Poll conducted by Harris Interactive, nearly 15 percent of Americans say they never eat fish or seafood.

Animal activist Philip Wollen in Australia says:

A few years ago I prepared a list and discovered there were literally thousands of animals I didn't eat. . . . . . dogs or cats, bears or bats, tigers or turtles, horses or hamsters, rosellas or rats.

Nor did I drink the milk of dogs, donkeys, giraffes, or cats.

I decided to go only five animals more. . . . I simply added cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and fish to the list.

It was a breeze.

I didn't crave lamb any more than I craved lion; I didn't miss beef any more than I missed bandicoots. I didn't miss chicken any more than I missed cheetah. I didn't miss pork any more than I missed porcupine.

I replaced dead animals with an astounding variety of colourful, delicious and healthy plant foods.

And I feel better for it. I sleep peacefully and deeply. I now have boundless energy, more than people half my age.

My memory has improved rapidly. I remember what an unexamined life I had lived.

And I care for all living things more deeply. Frankly, I didn't know what I had been missing.

My greatest regret in life was that I did not do this from the start.

It occurred to me that when I die I would like the chapel to be filled with people I have loved. Not the tortured souls of animals I have killed.

Adding only five animals to an already huge list was the easiest (and wisest) thing I ever did.

Try it. You won't regret it. The planet will thank you for it.

And the farmers, the taxpayers and your family will thank you too.

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are just another case of science, trying to conquer nature, and religion/ the BIBLE!!! Pesticides were created, and adopted, for the simple act of avoiding the 7 year sabbath, on crops/ fields!!! In the BIBLE, there was severe penalties, for not honoring this sabbath, on the land, it may have even created the 7 plagues, of MOSES!!! The land, like people need a break, at the end of each cycle, but society/ capitalism, never takes a break from money, and power!!! They're just reaping, what they sowed, and their time is up, because, now it's time to HONOR, the MILLENIAL SABBATH!!!

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The algae bloom from the Nitrogen,Potassium and phosphorus, as some one mentioned above could be harvested for ethanol, if a way could be devised to harvest it.
Then we need to seed the waters with Marine Phytoplankton as that is where we get our oxygen from. Marine phytoplankton is the base of the food chain and creates 90% of the oxygen on this planet. As it dies, so does our oxygen supply.

We have recently been able to harvest Marine phytoplankton and process it for human use, by keeping it alive and reap the benefits of all 72 essential ionic trace minerals they contain.

The use of fertilizers are destroying our soil for food production and we will eventually have to look to the Sea to get the nourishment our cellular system requires to have optimal health.
Unless the use of those chemicals are not stopped, we will continue to be the most sick society in the world.

We can, right now, have the nourishment from marine phytoplankton by going to this website and discovering where it is available, or go to my blog here It's called FrequenSea.

These dead zones all over the world will cause the greatest harm to our health and the food supply we need. Because phytoplankton is the basic food supply of most of the Sea creatures and when it is in short supply, so goes our food and oxygen supply. We have to stop the runoff of chemicals into the ocean, or we will become extinct with all other life on this planet.

Governments must start the cleanup of the oceans and protect it from all the garbage and chemicals that are dumped into it constantly.

We must stop screwing with mother nature as that is what our future will depend on for proper food, again. Back to Nature, the only way to survive.
my blog here

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I'd just like to add my own little two cents here if I may. I've found in the past few years, that I've fallen into a love affair with simple products. I've discovered soaps made of all-vegetable, river-friendly materials that smell absolutely gorgeous, don't leave a sticky residue on my skin (like Ivory, Lever 2000, or Irish Spring). I've found a ginger shampoo that banishes dandruff like nobody's business and doesn't monkey with my hair colour like Head and Shoulders.

I've started cooking my own food. Not just the usual way. No, I make my own pie-crusts instead of buying them. I mix my own sauces from their base ingredients. And you know what? Deciding exactly what goes into my food is pretty empowering and delicious besides.

I like it when I pick up a product, read the ingredient list and find it short with fewer of those twelve-syllable words that I don't understand. It's just easier to employ tried and true methods of cleaning, growing food, making clothing, etc than trying to figure out what this chemical and that chemical are doing to my hair and how to balance the chemicals I'm taking into my body.

So, what I'd really like to say about this article is this: I wonder if it's really easier to grow crops with all these weird fertilizers and pesticides? I mean, in the long run, look at all the extra work we have to do to contain them and make sure they're not getting into our bodies. Yes I know bugs and weeds are a pain in the butt, but maybe we can live with them and make our lives simpler? Just a thought.

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and decidious forest.

Go back to hunting the buffalo. Go back to living simply and thankfully.

I think that's what the fish would really like.

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This is being read by the majority of Americans as no big deal. Long as they have their beef, who cares about fish. The fossil record shows clearly what becomes of all life on the planet if these "dead zones" link up and the whole ocean goes hypoxic. All that dead matter in the seas decomposes and toxic gas bubles up and carried by the wind kills everything but a few creatures living in protected locals like under logs, in caves or something. People in this country have become so stupid and blind to what they even are... A life form, as capable of extinction as any other form. They'd rather believe in what their religious leaders tell them about being specially created and continue to demand beef and spot free apples. The saddest thing for me is that we are taking every other life form in existence on the planet with us, every bird, fish, mammal, marsupial, insect, arachnid, reptile, amphibian, plant and fungus. We are colossal idiots.

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