Affluence and Waste: The Piper’s Come to Collect
I’m not a vegetarian, and neither are my family members or friends. But I can see where this is heading. Back in 1997 Cornell University did a study on future water and energy shortages predicted to change face of American agriculture. 
Animal agriculture is a leading consumer of water resources in the United States, Pimentel noted. Grain-fed beef production takes 100,000 liters of water for every kilogram of food. Raising broiler chickens takes 3,500 liters of water to make a kilogram of meat. In comparison, soybean production uses 2,000 liters for kilogram of food produced; rice, 1,912; wheat, 900; and potatoes, 500 liters. “Water shortages already are severe in the Western and Southern United States and the situation is quickly becoming worse because of a rapidly growing U.S. population that requires more water for all of its needs, especially agriculture,” Pimentel observed.
Livestock are directly or indirectly responsible for much of the soil erosion in the United States, the ecologist determined. On lands where feed grain is produced, soil loss averages 13 tons per hectare per year. Pasture lands are eroding at a slower pace, at an average of 6 tons per hectare per year. But erosion may exceed 100 tons on severely overgrazed pastures, and 54 percent of U.S. pasture land is being overgrazed.
“More than half the U.S. grain and nearly 40 percent of world grain is being fed to livestock rather than being consumed directly by humans,” Pimentel said. “Although grain production is increasing in total, the per capita supply has been decreasing for more than a decade. Clearly, there is reason for concern in the future.” Read it all>>
We all cringe at the increase of wildfires, especially after witnessing Southern California’s inferno last year. Since the days of the oil boom, post-World War II, the 1950s, suburbia and the care-free life have destroyed not only sustainable conditions but our ability to take responsibility for our own survival. As oil and agro-business (incestuous relationship from the get-go) production increased, we distanced ourselves from the land and took up convenience all because cheap fossil fuel gave us the green light. The Green Revolution tells the tale.
On the right you can see a graphic of regions hit by drought in 2007. The darker the color, the deeper the drought. Last year 30 out of the 48 contiguous states had below-normal precipitation (click on the graphic at right for an interactive map that will show how much rainfall your state got.)
In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended annually to feed each American (as of data provided in 1994). Agricultural energy consumption is broken down as follows:
31% for the manufacture of inorganic fertilizer
19% for the operation of field machinery
16% for transportation
13% for irrigation
08% for raising livestock (not including livestock feed)
05% for crop drying
05% for pesticide production
08% miscellaneous
(from: Eating Fossil Fuels by Dale Allen Pfeiffer)
But after fifty years of prosperity, drought saps the Southeast and other regions. Desertification has already begun in many areas as humans continue to exploit resources and destroy habitats in a seemingly endless rapatious drive for growth, profit, and soft living. Perhaps the majority of the earth’s surface will one day resemble a Martian or lunar landscape.
Everyone thought the party would last forever. Now that the Piper’s come to collect payment for America’s affluence and waste, we face serious restrictions and hardships. Too little to late? No shit, dude. Call me a gloom and doomer, I don’t care. What’s obvious to me is that while the crap executives and legislators focus on invading other countries (for yet more oill) and corporate welfare, and everyone else is glued to the tube trying not to think too hard about reality, the survival rug is sliding out from beneath our feet.
