________________
15 - JAIN WAY OF LIFE AND ETHICAL LIVING AND ENVIRONMENT
D. Ecological Impact of Dairy Industry The following data summarizes the magnitude of cruelty and the impact on the environment. These data are taken either from USDA or other similar sources. 1. Waste Released in Environment In the USA alone, more than 500,000 cows and hogs, and 24 million chickens are killed every day. Waste released into the environment by the US meat and dairy industry is 230,000 pounds per second, polluting our land, air, and water systems. 2. Greenhouse effect The world's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million tons of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas and traps 25 times as much solar heat as carbon dioxide.
3. Water Consumption Livestock (cattle, calves, hogs or pigs) production accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in the USA. To produce one
JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
95