12 - Friday, Mareh 9, 1990 - North Shore News North American diet affects the environment IF THERE is one lesson the environmental movement is teaching us, it’s that each individual's attitude, behaviors and lifestyle can make an immense amount of difference to the world around us. This is why it is critical to exam- ine our daily habits and avoid those we find to be planet- threatening. Sometimes, however, a close, informed scrutiny of our lifestyle can be decidedly uncom- fortable and difficult to face. Such is the case when one reads John Robbins’s Pulitzer Prize- nominated book, Diet for a New America. If we truly want to live in a world that is happier and healthier for all, we are forced to take Rob- bins’s wisdom to heart. For people who dine on a typical Western diet, though, it will not be reassur- ing to read some of the hard facts behind North America’s meat and dairy industries. Although most of us iry to forget the fact, we know that animals reared for their meat are often kept in appalling conditions. In this book we come face-to-face with just how appalling those con- ditions are, and what chemicals the animals must be inundated with just to keep them alive in their nightmare environment. What may be more surprising to us, however, is the price the rest of the world is paying for our high meat consumption. While we know that the North American importation of meat from such places as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama is a driving force in the destruction of the tropical rainforest (figures indicate that one quarter-pound hamburger costs 55 sq. ft of rainforest}, Rob- bins brings to light many other sobering facts linked to the pro- duction of meat. In a world in which 40,000 children are said to starve to death each day, it is criminal to ignore the fact that 1,300,000,000 human beings could be fed by the grain and soybeans eaten by U.S. live- stock. Or that 20,000 Ibs. of potatoes can be harvested from one acre of land, but only 165 lbs. of beef. And did you know that more than half of all the water used for all purposes in the U.S. is for live- stock production? Or that the world’s petroleum reserves would last 13 years if all humans ate a meat-centred diet, but 260 years if we were all vegetarians? Until now, we’ve been able to close our eyes to the cost of meat consumption, assuming that meat and dairy products are a nutri- tional necessity in our diet. Robbins explodes that myth, too. He quotes from an incredible range of studies and experiments that prove that not only are YOUR TAX UNTIL THE END OF MASCH WE PAY YOUR SALES TAX ON OUR LARGE SELECTION OF FINE ANTIQUE FURNISHINGS FROM EUROPE & AMERICA. ALL AT OUR LOW WAREHOUSE DIRECT PRICES. Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6 Sun. 12-5 IT’S AMATYER OF LIFE AND BREATH Hh DON’T SMOKE F aritish Columbia Lune Association vegetarians healthy, but that they are in fact a lot more healthy than Eco Info Pegey Trendell-Whittaker be their meat-eating neighbors. He explains how and why vegetarians are protected from a whole host of diseases that cur- rently plague our society, such as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and cancer. I heartily recommend the book, which is sure to make you a great deal more aware of the ramifica- tions your personal food choices have at both the personal and the global level. And I’m very happy to tell you that the author, John Robbins, wil! be speaking in Van- couver along with Dr. Michae! Klaper. Both men are founders of Ear- thSave, the organization sponsor- ing the event or March 26 at the Hyatt Regency at 7 p.m. Also participating will be West Van environmentalist Andrea Miller (who has now spoken at over 200 gatherings} and local entertainer Ann Mortifee. Tickets (SIS adult, $10 student) are avail- able on the North Shore at Capers in) Dundarave. Phe EarthSave organization can be reached by writing P.O. Box 34277, Postal Station D, Vancouver, V6J 4N8 or calling 731-5885. SHOPPING TEPS You can now buy recycled paper products such as greeting cards, gift wrap, notepaper and envelopes at the newly opened Paper-Go- Round at Lonsdale Quay. North Vancouver's Jenny Sandford is operating the shop out of a cart on the second floor of the Quay, and says most of the products are made from 100 per cent recycled paper. wt te And while you’re down at the Quay, you may wish to check in with Eugene Berti of La Coupe de Ville Hair Company. He says he will refill your hair styling pro- ducts for half price if you reuse your own empty container. He can refill Joico, Lanza, Schwarz Kopf and other major brands’ shampoo, conditioner and hairspray. For more information, call 984-9099, COMING EVENTS Tune in to Shaw Cable 4 Thurs- day, March I5 from 7 to 8 p.m. to hear Rozlynne Mitchell host B.C.’s Minister of the Environment John Reynolds, Bill Andrews of the West Coast Environmental Law Association and Bill Killeen of Greenpeace in a discussion of various environmental issues, in- cluding pulp mill pollution. The whole hour will be *‘open line,’’ so here’s your chance to get your questions answered... SUCCESS STORIES Coming up over the next few weeks will be a celebration of North Shore schools’ success stories. Students and their teachers are putting a lot of good ideas and energy to work in various en- vironmental projects, so if you have a story to tell, let me know. Write to the address at the end of this column with school stories or other environmental tips, and they'll be published in Ecoinfo as space allows. Send your tips, success stories and coming events to Ecolnfo, 1139 Lofisdale Ave., North Van- couver, B.C. V7M 2H4. F-A-S-T COLLISION REPAIRS CALL THE PROFESSIONALS AT Ay JAYLORMOTr VE 1959 LTD. FREE RENTAL COURTESY CARS B.C.A.A. APPROVED — 1.C.B.C. VENDOR FOR A JaAvLORMG T Ve A.R.A. CERTIFIED LL MAKES QUALITY WORKMANSHIP TRUSTWORTHY SERVICE 174 PEMBERTON AVE. consui tation NORTH VAN OR APPOINTMENTS 985-7455 MEXICAN SPANISH RESTAURANTS Join us for our fiesta atrnosphere ond the best authentic Mexican and Spanish food in town NOW FEATURING SUNDAY BRUNCH All you can eat MEXICAN BUFFET FOR (Children under 10 — $995 Ye price) Every Sunday ll a.m. 180 WEsplanade, N.Van. {at the old Harvest House) Y& ROBERT SATEMAN 1990 Tiko Kerr © Jack Wise « Ed Spears « Toni Onley « Alon Wylie « Seka Owen © Rick Beaver © Moxine Noel « Sue Coleman © Carl Chaplin ¢ Daniel Irzard « Mork Hobson © Jack Shadbolt ¢ Wayne Eastcott © Dorothy Renals « Robert Bateman Roy Henry Vickers AND MARY OTHERS ¢ -2:30 p.m. Reservation recommended 980-2405 acest OF ART FOR SALE BY SILENT AUCTION Presenting over One Hundred of Uanada’s Finest Established Artists VICTORIA CONFERENCE CENTRE 720 Douglas Street Victoria, British Columbia March 3rd & 4th, 1990 Saturday -- Noon to 10:00 pm Sunday — 10:00 arn to 9:00 pr BUSCHLEN + MOWATT GALLERY 111-1445 West Georgia Strret Vancouver, British Colur'ua March 10th & 11th, 1990 Saturday — Noon to 10:00 pm Sunday — 10:00 am to 6:00 pm