The Global Day of Action against global warming yesterday brought hundreds of environmentalists to the streets of Taipei, chanting slogans such as “Taiwan, be cool” and calling on people to protect biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, opt for green transportation instead of building the controversial Suhua Freeway and eat less meat.
“This year is a key year, as the UN will review the Kyoto Protocol to see whether, in addition to developed countries, it should also regulate emissions in developing and undeveloped countries,” said Providence University ecology professor Chung Ding-mao (鐘丁茂), who led a group of students from Taipei County to participate in the protest.
Flanked by students dressed as polar bears to highlight how global warming would hurt the Earth, Chung said Taiwan should implement carbon reduction policies before being asked to do so because “two out of the 10 highest-emitting coal-burning power plants in the world are located in Taiwan, according to a Nature Magazine survey last year.”
“If the world has noticed that we are emitting an exorbitant amount of carbon, there is no reason for us to dodge the responsibility of cutting it,” he said.
One of the ways to reduce emissions is to eat more vegetables and less meat, said No Meat, No Heat’s Lin Hong-rui (林紘睿).
Citing Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chief Rajendra Pachauri, Lin said that going vegetarian was an effective way to cool the planet down, as “the fossil fuel energy needed to produce 6 ounces [170g] of steak is 16 times more than the amount needed to produce a comparable meal made of rice and vegetables.”
“While the greenhouse gas emitted by livestock contributes 18 percent of the world’s total, all means of transportation combined contribute 13 percent,” he said.
Other everyday ways to reduce emissions include exchanging used clothes with friends, repeatedly educating others on the benefits of bringing one’s own chopsticks and buying organic products as much as possible, said Taiwan Environmental Information Association (TEIA) vice secretary-general Sharlin Hsia (夏道緣).
By reducing emissions, the world’s biodiversity could be preserved, which in turn would protect humanity, she said.
“Though the survival of some animal species may seem unrelated to the welfare of human beings, keeping the ecosystem intact is actually closely related to ensuring an adequate supply of food and energy, especially in third-world countries,” she said.
As an example highlighting the importance of the interconnectedness of ecological systems, Hsia described the recent phenomena of honey bee colony collapse disorder.
All around the globe, many worker bees have suddenly and inexplicably disappeared, resulting in the loss of entire colonies. Scientists hypothesize that mites, malnutrition and global warming may be the main causes.
Hsia said that about 1,400 types of plants are commonly used by humans for either food or energy and more than 1,300 of those are pollinated by bees
“However, more and more bees are not returning to their beehives anymore, which means that some of these plants in turn cannot survive,” she said.
“[As a result of the loss of bees and plants], ice cream maker Haagen-Dazs has ceased the production of four of its flavors, including strawberry cheesecake,” she added.
As the mother of a one-year-old child, Hsia said she is concerned for the well-being of future generations, adding that “the public is too commercially driven” and modern conveniences are making it hard for young people to realize that the Earth is in trouble.
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