It has long been the belief of environmentalists that livestock, cattle especially, are the scourge of the earth, polluting air and water, eroding soil, and destroying wildlife populations. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization even said in a 2007 report that livestock were the single largest contributor to human-generated climate-change emissions.
In her book, ‘Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production,’ environmental lawyer and vegetarian turned cattle rancher Nicolette Hahn Niman makes the case that cattle are not as bad for the Earth as they are made out to be. Ms. Niman joins AirTalk to discuss her book and what led her from practicing environmental law to raising cattle in California.
Guest:
Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of “Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production”