Name: _________________________________________________________ Period: _______
Now it’s your turn!
Due date: January 11th
Of all the things you saw in both documentaries, what would you like to find out more about?
What intrigued you? You will make a plan to promote change in behaviors or attitudes. Show us
using facts/evidence that what we are doing now is NOT helping our future. Let everyone know how they
can make a difference and how that change will impact the future.
You will have the opportunity to explain your plan by doing a research paper, a science
experiment using the scientific method, writing a short book, doing a movie or presentation, writing a
book/paper from the plant, animal, or bacteria’s perspective, etc.
A few housekeeping things:
1. This is an independent project
2. Don’t procrastinate until winter break! Make a timeline and do a little each week.
3. This is worth 10 standards
4. Plagiarism will get you multiple detentions, phone calls home, and a complete redo of the
assignment.
Before you are done, make sure you can check off all of these requirements! YOU WILL TURN THIS
SHEET IN WITH YOUR PROJECT!!
8.WS.1
_____Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate
an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.
_____Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s),
counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
8.WS.2
_____Write informative/explanatory texts, including scientific procedures/experiments.
_____Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts and information into
broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g.,
charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
____Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas
and concepts.
_____Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
_____Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
_____Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or
explanation presented.
_____8.WS.22 Conduct a short research project, drawing on several sources
_____8.WS.21 Utilize technology to produce and publish writing
Greenhouse Gases- Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined
exhaust from all transportation.
Transportation exhaust is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector primarily involve fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air, and marine
transportation.
Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all
worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
(Source: Goodland, R Anhang, J. “Livestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change were pigs,
chickens and cows?”)
Methane is 25-100 times more destructive than CO2 on a 20 year time frame.
Methane has a global warming potential 86 times that of CO2 on a 20 year time frame.
Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296 times the
global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and which stays in the atmosphere for 150 years.
Emissions for agriculture projected to increase 80% by 2050.
Energy related emissions expected to increase 20% by 2040.
US Methane emissions from livestock and natural gas are nearly equal.
Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day.
250-500 liters per cow per day, x 1.5 billion cows globally = 99 - 198.1 billion gallons.
Rough average of 150 billion gallons CH4 (methane) globally per day.
Converting to wind and solar power will take 20+ years and roughly 43 trillion dollars.
Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed our 565 gigatonnes CO2e limit by 2030, all from raising animals.
Reducing methane emissions would create tangible benefits almost immediately.
WATER- Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) water use ranges from 70-140 billion gallons annually.
Animal agriculture water consumption ranges from 34-76 trillion gallons annually.
Agriculture is responsible for 80-90% of US water consumption.
Growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of water in the US.
Californians use 1500 gallons of water per person per day. Close to half is associated with meat and dairy products.
2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef.