Yes you are right WigWamBam - I found this:
www.ciwf.org.uk/home/news2.shtml
CIWF calls for 15% reduction in meat consumption
Why eat less meat?
The simple answer to the question ?why eat less meat?? is that we?re eating too much already ? too much for our own good, for the long-term sustainability of the planet ? and for animal welfare.
Background
Globally, meat consumption is increasing at a phenomenal rate. In the last 40 years, consumption has grown from 56 to 89 kilos of meat per person, per year in Europe and from 89 to 124 kilos in the US. Forty years ago, the Chinese were eating only 4 kilos of meat pp/pa ? that figure has now reached 54 kilos and is still rising.
This global increase is a huge threat to us all.
Human health
Meat, meat products and dairy foods make up the greatest percentage of saturated fat in the average ?western? diet, contributing significantly to the huge increases in obesity, adult onset diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. One of the world?s leading nutritionists, Professor Walter Willett, of Harvard School of Public Health, lists the adverse health effects of high meat consumption (particularly red meat): ?higher rates of several important cancers ?heart disease and type 2 diabetes.?
Feeding the world
The majority of farm animals globally are fed on imported soya and cereals ? globally between a third and a half of the world?s harvest is fed to animals. Yet much of the nutritional value of the feed is lost in its ?conversion? to meat. It takes 10 kilos of feed to produce 1 kilo of beef, 5 kilos for a kilo of pork.
In a world of increasing water scarcity, we know that it takes 100,000 litres of water to produce a kilo of beef, yet only 900 litres to produce a kilo of wheat.
Environmental damage
Farm animals produce 13 billion tonnes of waste every year. Liquid effluent from factory farms often pollutes soils and rivers, gaseous wastes like methane and carbon dioxide contribute to global warming.
Animal welfare
Whilst in the UK and EU we have made great strides in phasing out some of the worst factory farming systems, globally, factory farming is increasing rapidly to meet the growing demand for meat. In the US, most meat is from highly intensive systems. Agribusiness companies from the US, Canada and Europe are investing in pig and chicken factory farms in countries like China. So the global burden of farm animal suffering is on the increase.
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And lots more similar...
Actually I don't know if its just the case that we eat too much meat. I mean the American habit of having 1 pound steaks is pretty gross. dh and I do eat meat but a very small quantity and not every day.