Global warming mandates plant-based eating

Right on the heels of utter devastation wrought by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, comes an alarming report in the prestigious journal Nature that mitigation of global climate change will require a massive switch to plant-based eating.

The report concludes that global warming threatens the world’s very food supply, in addition to generating scorching heat, raging wildfires, devastating hurricanes, massive flooding, and rising sea levels. It was compiled by an international panel of 23 climate experts and follows the latest warning about rising temperatures by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

A 2010 United Nations report blamed animal agriculture for 19% of greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of freshwater use, and 38% of land use. Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by operating factory farms. The more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

In an environmentally sustainable world, just as we replace fossil fuels by wind, solar, and other pollution-free energy sources, we must also replace meat and dairy products in our diet by vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Our next supermarket visit offers a superb opportunity to get started.

Malcolm Williams

Meridian 

Questions Hyde-Smith’s leanings

Cindy Hyde-Smith’s media advertisements say she supports Trump’s agenda but I see incongruities between her words and actions.

The political system encourages mediocrity yet we repeatedly elect candidates who cast votes to increase the national debt. Still our governor appointed the status quo to the Senate.

Hyde-Smith claims to support stopping illegal immigration, yet voted for the spending bill that contains no funding for the border wall. She claims to support the right to life, but voted to fund Planned Parenthood. She claims to be against Obamacare, yet voted to stabilize Obamacare. Hyde-Smith claims to be against sanctuary cities, yet voted for their funding.

Ads proclaim Hyde-Smith votes 100 percent of the time in support of Trump’s agenda, yet her vote in favor of this omnibus bill tells a more accurate story.

On top of these disingenuous claims she refuses to give reporters an interview. According to Ricky Cole, the former state chair of the Democratic Party, she voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Presidential Primary! In March of 2018 the White House cautioned Gov. Bryant against appointing Hyde-Smith because she was likely to lose the election. That warning was ignored. Just because Gov. Bryant appointed her doesn’t mean she is qualified to be a senator. We need to hear her justify her votes and decide for ourselves if she is capable or not. If you are tired of being told who you should elect then please consider Chris McDaniel.

Ed Pierce

Russell, MS