Washington Post tackles the "Meat of the Problem"

Great editorial in the Washington Post examining the environmental consequences of the first world's addiction to meat.

The conclusion? Eating meat is a huge (huge) contributor to global warming. The story cites research from the United Nations showing that livestock accounts for 18 percent of the world's carbon emissions.

And I nearly fell off my chair upon seeing the "V" word appear. The piece cites a study from the University of Chicago estimating that switching to a vegan diet would have a bigger impact than trading in a gas guzzler for a Prius. WooHoo! (says the driver of a Prius who happens to be a vegan).

While I'm always glad to see this kind of thoughtful analysis - backed up with research and statistics from reputable, bipartisan bodies such as The UN - I'm even happier to see it appear in mainstream, widely read press. Even a year ago you wouldn't see this kind of editorial outside of the leftiest media (e.g., The Huffington Post).

Could it be we're finally drawing the line between the destruction of the environment and our diet? Here's hoping!