GPUS Animal Rights Committee
Craig Seeman
Green Party of New York
Animal Rights Committee Co-Chair
email: cseeman@optonline.net
Approval by committee member vote on committee list serve
Sponsor Peggy Koteen GPCA
Second Mary Rooker GPMD
Unanimous vote ending 11:59 PM January 30
Lead Committee Member sponsor
Peggy Koteen – Green Party of California, gandolfsneed@aol.com
Rationale for these revisions to the Platform:
We have long known that Animal Farming contributes greatly to Greenhouse Gasses, and that the Methane from ruminant animals is hugely more disastrous than CO2 emissions. It is fortunate that by eliminating methane production, there is a rapid decrease in Greenhouse Gas. Cutting methane emissions is the fastest opportunity we have to immediately slow the rate of global warming, even as we decarbonize our energy systems. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. Even though CO2 has a longer-lasting effect, methane sets the pace for warming in the near term. Therefore, if we truly want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050 over 1990 levels, then it is necessary to end the use of animals in farming. Additionally, the land/water resources used; the pollution of our waterways; and global biodiversity loss to raise domestic animals, regardless of the methods used, for food is immense.
Chapters of the platform and letters of plank being addressed:
III. Ecological Sustainability
A. Climate Change
Proposal:
III. A. 7. c
Current Language:
Encourage the use of regenerative agricultural techniques
Revised Language:
Encourage the use of animal-free agricultural techniques
Regenerative agriculture is designed to replenish the health of the soil and environment, which is more comprehensive than say organic agriculture, which looks to only end the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. HEre is one article that explains the difference. https://www.noble.org/regenerative-agriculture/organic-vs-regenerative-agriculture/ IT seems like the animal rights committee wishes to stop the use of livestock, which is a related but separate issue.
Mark, I agree with Peggy. So-called “regenerative” systems (incl. silvopasture, etc.) that are animal based are inherently unsustainable because they violate tipping points for many other planetary boundaries: land, water, nitrogen, and most importantly, biodiversity. Animal based systems are off the table for environmental reasons.
I’ve studied long and hard to find some way to provide even 10% of calories from animals and have failed. Cultured lab meats are probably the least damaging, if we keep the total amounts consumed small so that we don’t have to produce vast amounts. But even that has eco issues. If you have a solution, please say so.
The Animal Rights Committee (ARC) wants to eliminate the vast suffering of animals occurring in the food/animal agriculture industry.
You stated that Regenerative Ag promotes replenishes the soil and environment, however regenerative ag actually in many instances harms the environment, and of course the cattle experience cruelty when they are eventually slaughtered, never mind the gruesome experience of being branded or having their babies taken from them. (I witnessed the process of branding where I live and certainly can attest to the horrific experience for the cows.)
In Regenerative Ag, the idea of munching of cattle encouraging the growth of plants whose roots sequester carbon while their manure fertilizes soil ignores the significant greenhouse gas emissions generated when cattle digest rough forage AND that grass-fed animals, because they take longer to reach market weight, emit more greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetimes than do feedlot
cattle. Regenerative Ag says nothing about livestock displacing wildlife, polluting waterways, trampling stream banks and, on public rangelands, relying on taxpayer-funded USDA programs to kill (“destroy” which is the USDA/rancher euphemism) thousands of “cow-hassling carnivores” every year.
There are plenty of science based books and articles explaining that Regenerative Ag will increase climate disaster, as well as the sixth Mass Extinction.
This is a link to a critique of grazing livestock by George Monbiot, known as a writer for the Guardian, often focusing on environmental and political issues. At the bottom is a link to a video debate.
https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/george-monbiot-regenerative-grazing-in-debate/
Peggy Koteen