JEWISH GROUP CHALLENGES AL GORE FOR
FAILING TO ADDRESS “AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”
For Immediate Release:
July 18, 2008
Contact:
Richard H. Schwartz, President of
the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) and author of “Judaism and
Vegetarianism”
President@JewishVeg.com Phone:
(718) 761-5876
JVNA announced today a campaign to get Al Gore and
others to acknowledge “an inconvenient truth” – that animal-based agriculture
is a major contributor to global warming and many other environmental threats
that imperil all of humanity.
Richard
Schwartz, president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) and author of
“Judaism and Vegetarianism” and “Judaism and Global Survival” stated: “Al Gore
is to be commended for pointing out that the United States must free itself from
fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy sources by 2018. He is correct to
stress the urgency of the change by stating: ‘the survival of the United States of America
as we know it is at risk,’ and that ‘The future of human civilization is at
stake.’ However, he dooms his plans by failing to inform people that, according
to a UN Food and Agricultural Organization 2006 report, animal-based
agriculture emits more greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents) than all the cars,
planes, ships and other means of transportation worldwide combined. He also
fails to mention that the number of farmed animals worldwide, currently about
60 billion, is projected to double in 50 years. If that happened, the increased
greenhouse gas emissions would negate the effects of many positive changes that
Gore supports.”
JVNA
secretary/treasurer John Diamond stated, “When we read daily reports of the
effects of global climate change, such as record heat waves, severe flooding,
widespread droughts, unprecedented numbers of wild fires, and the melting of
glaciers and polar icecaps; when some climate scientists are warning that
global climate change may spin out of control with disastrous consequences
unless major changes are soon made; when a recent report indicated that our
oceans may be virtually free of fish by 2050; when species of plants and
animals are disappearing at the fastest rate in history; when it is projected
that half of the world’s people will live in areas chronically short of water
by 2050; it is essential that the Jewish community fulfill our mandate to be a
“light unto the nations” and lead efforts to address these critical issues.”
JVNA is urging
that tikkun olam—the
healing and repair of the world -- be a central issue in synagogues, Jewish
schools and other Jewish institutions. “Judaism has splendid teachings on
environmental conservation and sustainability, and it is essential that they be
applied to respond to the many current environmental threats,” stated Schwartz.
JVNA
urges rabbis and other Jewish leaders to make Jews aware of how animal-based
diets and agriculture violate basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health,
treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural
resources and help
hungry people.
Further
information about these issues can be found at the JVNA web site JewishVeg.com.
JVNA will provide complimentary copies of its new documentary A SACRED DUTY:
APPLYING JEWISH VALUES TO HELP HEAL THE WORLD and related materials to rabbis
and other Jewish leaders who will contact them (mal@JewishVeg.com) and indicate that they will use them to involve
their congregations on the issues.
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Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, College
of Staten Island
Author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism," "Judaism and Global
Survival," and "Mathematics and Global Survival," and over 130
articles at www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz
President of Jewish Vegetarians
of North America (JVNA) www.JewishVeg.com
and
Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV) www.serv-online.org
Associate Producer of A SACRED
DUTY (asacredduty.com)
Director of Veg Climate Alliance (www.vegclimatealliance.org)
president@JewishVeg.com