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It's hell on Earth for the City of Angels. Human lives have been lost, along with those of countless other animals. Thousands of homes have been reduced to ash. And hundreds of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate.
Firefighters are still battling to contain the inferno, but fire hydrants are running dry. Yet, even in the face of this devastation, we're not powerless. We can fight back against wildfires and other disasters -- by going vegan.
According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the warming planet has caused an increase in the occurrence, season length and burned area of wildfires. The meat, egg and dairy industries are feeding the inferno by emitting staggering amounts of greenhouse gases, including methane, which experts say is over 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere. Data from the EPA confirms that animal agriculture is the nation's largest contributor to methane emissions.
Animal agriculture adds fuel to the fire -- while depleting the resources needed to put it out. California residents are urged to limit water use to a mere 500 gallons per week, yet animal agriculture guzzles trillions of gallons annually.
Producing just one pound of beef requires as much water as about six months' worth of showers. And a gallon of cow's milk requires 1,000 gallons of water. Compare this with tofu, which needs just 244 gallons per pound.
Mega-dairies alone consume 152 million gallons of water daily in California -- enough to meet the indoor water needs of San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose combined. Add to this the water used to grow crops for animal feed and to clean massive farms and slaughterhouses, and the picture becomes clear: Eating animals is bleeding California dry.
To make matters even more puzzling, California has handed billions to Big Meat and Dirty Dairy in subsidies. Meanwhile, residents face the devastating consequences of these industries' environmental destruction.
It doesn't have to be this way. By going vegan, each person can save over 1,100 gallons of water, nearly 40 pounds of grain, and 30 square feet of forest every single day. And vegan eating generates 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than meat-rich diets. Going vegan is a sustainable way to eat -- and no one must die to become dinner.
Animals used for food endure horrific suffering. Cows, for example, are forcibly impregnated over and over again, only to have their beloved calves kidnapped shortly after birth so humans can steal their milk. Many never see sunlight or get to do anything natural and important to them. Instead, their lives are riddled with fear, filth, pain and death.
Let's not forget the animals who call California home. Endangered species like California condors, mountain lions and black bears have perished in the flames and been forced from their homes -- leaving their survival uncertain. One California-based shelter reported taking in over 300 animal companions, many suffering from burns and other injuries.
The flames will eventually be extinguished, but more devastating fires are inevitable unless we make decisive changes. As we pick up the pieces after this wildfire, we must address the root causes of the climate catastrophe. To save California, the planet and all its inhabitants, please, let's go vegan.
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Rebecca Libauskas is a climate research specialist for the PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.PETA.org.