Did you know the UN calculated the combined climate change emissions of animals bred for their meat were more than cars, planes and other forms of transport assembled?

In a recent article published in July 2010 by the Guardian, leading journalist John Vidal reported how vegetarianism can save the planet by the reduction of meat consumption.

Behind the majority of pieces of beef or chicken on our plates is a phenomenally wasteful, land and energy hungry process of farming that devastates nature, pollutes oceans, rivers, seas and air.

We mostly breed four species (chickens, cows, sheep and pigs) all of which need vast amounts of water and food, emit methane and other greenhouse gases and produce mountains of waste.

In 2009, the UN calculated the combined climate change emissions of animals bred for their meat were about 18% of the global total – more than cars, planes and all other kinds of transport put together.

A Bangladeshi family living off rice, beans, vegetables and fruit may live on an acre of land or less, while the average American, who consumes around 270 pounds of meat per year, needs 20 times that.

Academics have calculated that if the grain fed to animals in Western countries were consumed directly by people rather than animals, we could feed at least two times as many people--and possibly far more--than we do now.

Raising a steak or a chicken creates an abnormal water consumption. Vegetarian author John Robbins calculates one pound of beef needs around 20,000lbs of water.

Farming, which uses 70% of water accessible to humans, is already in direct competition for water with cities.

Industrial scale agriculture now dominates the western livestock and poultry industries, and a single farm can now generate as much waste as a city.

Farming animals generate manure and urine which is funnelled into massive waste lagoons sometimes holding as many as 40m gallons. These cesspools often break, leak or overflow, polluting underground water supplies and rivers with nitrogen and phosphorus.

A meat diet is generally considered twice as expensive as a vegetarian one. According to the Vegetarian Society, meat eaters get increased chances of obesity, cancers, heart diseases and other illnesses as well as a hole in the pocket.

So what now? How can we start contribute save our planet?

This healthy tofu based veggie burger receive an added nutritional boost from wheat germ. This recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.

Ingredients:

* 1/2 container firm or extra firm tofu, mashed
* 1 onion, diced
* 3 green onions, diced
* 2 tbls wheat germ
* 2 tbsp flour
* 2 tbs garlic powder
* 2 tbsp soy sauce
* dash pepper
* oil for frying

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Form into patties.

Fry patties in oil in a skillet or frying pan until brown and crisp, about 10 minutes.

Now it's all to you...