It always amuses me how much governments love to conduct giant experiments on the people they are supposed to serve.
I notice that no mention is made of the antibiotics and hormones, and the kinds of feed being fed to the animals they condemn as being the cause of diabetes and obesity (and I think there is a good chance those, not the 'meat' itself, are the problem there) - just the supposed effects on the environment when methane is released. Honestly, that article sounds like a load of propaganda which isn't even well written .. the dots are not connected. I am not a big meat eater but my intuition tells me that meat per se is not the cause of obesity. In fact, I would probably be slimmer (thanks, Dr. Atkins) if I did eat a lot more meat - but, I would want to make sure that meat was pasture raised and as free of hormones and antibiotics as I could get it.
And frankly I cannot see (cow made) methane blasting major holes in the atmosphere either (or if I can, it is just a funny scenario in my head when I dream in cartoons - a billion cows standing around in fields, clothespins on their noses, emitting a constant stream of bubbles of smelly gas orbs that float skyward. The earth itself has released large amounts of methane (which may indeed cause some warming I gather) several times in history apparently long before people (and cows) were even present. But, now .. along with a carbon tax I am sure there will be a methane tax. Hmmm .. what will be next that can be taxed? What else that is key to the food supply and food cultures around the world will be declared as bad for you and the environment? Not much left to criticize. Save the minnows (but don't eat those either) - get rid of the cows and pigs and chickens, and the vegetables and fruit (unless they are GMO and use loads of pesticides), and the grains (because carbs are bad for you) and the fish (unless farmed in 'sustainable' farms and fed hormones and antibiotics)? Meal worms anyone?
My note to the Chinese people - enjoy the meat if you like it and can afford it - but buy local and from farmers who raise their animals without those hormones and antibiotics.
