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posted by janrinok on Monday December 11 2017, @10:06PM   Printer-friendly
from the my-cold,-dead-animal dept.

Like tobacco, carbon emissions and sugar, we can expect the harm to human health and the environment caused by the production and consumption of meat to be mitigated by 'sin taxes'in the next five to ten years.

"Sin taxes" on meat to reduce its huge impact on climate change and human health look inevitable, according to analysts for investors managing more than $4tn of assets.

The global livestock industry causes 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions and meat consumption is rising around the world, but dangerous climate change cannot be avoided unless this is radically curbed. Furthermore, many people already eat far too much meat, seriously damaging their health and incurring huge costs. Livestock also drive other problems, such as water pollution and antibiotic resistance.

A new analysis from the investor network Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return (Fairr) Initiative argues that meat is therefore now following the same path as tobacco, carbon emissions and sugar towards a sin tax, a levy on harmful products to cut consumption. Meat taxes have already been discussed in parliaments in Germany, Denmark and Sweden, the analysis points out, and China's government has cut its recommended maximum meat consumption by 45% in 2016.

Would you pay a "meat tax" or would you change your eating habits?


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday December 11 2017, @10:21PM (28 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday December 11 2017, @10:21PM (#608479) Journal

    I'd go with another option: grow my own.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Monday December 11 2017, @10:46PM (3 children)

    by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Monday December 11 2017, @10:46PM (#608503)

    Hunt and fish, too.

    towards a sin tax, a levy on harmful products to cut consumption

    The real definition is its a tax on something politically incorrect meant to make it difficult to be holier than thou AND oppose it. A way to generate tax revenue by hacking screwed up culture.

    Germany, Denmark and Sweden

    Not countries recently known for good judgment. In fact, the opposite. That doesn't prove its a bad idea, but if the idea comes from people with a history of bad ideas, its probably not good.

    • (Score: 4, Informative) by frojack on Monday December 11 2017, @11:32PM (2 children)

      by frojack (1554) on Monday December 11 2017, @11:32PM (#608536) Journal

      Its really the vegans at work, they've slowly working toward this for some time.
      Cattle are no worse than the large herds that used to roam the planes of many continents. But they do offend the vegans.

      Besides, with the recent discovery of massive natural gas leaks that have been going on for centuries, I doubt the 15% figure is accurate any more.
      http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/11/flammable-water-not-gas-leaks-colorado/ [denverpost.com]
      http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/06/25/analysis-confirms-gas-leak-at-lambton-shores-golf-course-is-naturally-occurring [theobserver.ca]

      The rule is you have to blame this on mankind, and if you can make someone pay, then its OK.

      --
      No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:54AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:54AM (#608604)

        s/planes/plains
        (For those trying to improve their vocabularies.)

        Cattle are no worse than the large herds that used to roam the planes of many continents

        Got a citation WRT those earlier critters being fattened at a feedlot on taxpayer-subsidized corn which had been fertilized with taxpayer-subsidized petroleum-based fertilizers?

        -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

        • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:17AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:17AM (#608619)

          s#s/.*/.*#&/#
          (For those trying to improve their sed skills ;)

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Monday December 11 2017, @11:16PM (17 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Monday December 11 2017, @11:16PM (#608526)

    grow my own.

    Totally my first reaction as well.

    If the people of the world want to pack themselves into high-rise cities, fine, let they eat paste.

    One of the benefits of owning and caring for your own land is the harvesting the "fruits of the land." Now, if I want to commercially exploit my land and sell beef into the cities, then, sure, tax the hell out of that.

    If, however, I just want to live on my land and take my own animals for food... I don't think that's leading to any environmental crises, in-fact quite the opposite. If the people in the cities each owned enough productive land to support their own personal beef habits, the effect would be the same - at some point, the city either stops eating meat, or stops growing.

    Of course, if they do pass this meat-tax we are going to have all kinds of interesting poaching going on... Squirrel: it's what's for dinner.

    --
    🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 12 2017, @12:28AM (13 children)

      by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @12:28AM (#608556) Homepage Journal

      Hippie isn't bad stew meat if you boil all the dirt and grease off it first. Kind of like possum.

      --
      My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:41AM (1 child)

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:41AM (#608574) Journal

        if you boil all the dirt and grease off it first

        Idiotic - that's what gives the stew the flavor.
        Do it and the stew will not be in any way different from one made of Maccas-fattened stock.

        (grin)

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
        • (Score: 3, Informative) by MostCynical on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:51AM

          by MostCynical (2589) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:51AM (#608635) Journal

          Cockatoo and rock stew. Serves 2.

          Boil cockatoo and rock until rock is soft.
          Throw away cockatoo.
          Eat rock.

          --
          "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:45AM (8 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:45AM (#608576)

        A pressure cooker is the only thing that works on Red Neck.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:53AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:53AM (#608585)

          Use the grill. Maybe chewy, but good for you to try different textures once in a while.

        • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 12 2017, @02:04AM (6 children)

          by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @02:04AM (#608591) Homepage Journal

          Nah, the trick to redneck meat is you gotta marinate it heavily in beer before slaughtering. Shouldn't be especially difficult.

          --
          My rights don't end where your fear begins.
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:57AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:57AM (#608607)

            If that was effective, wouldn't all the pre-processing suffice?
            25 Best "Hold my beer and watch this" Memes [me.me] 8-) More [google.com] 8-D

            before slaughtering

            That too is often self-inflicted. (See above.)

            -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

          • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:08AM (4 children)

            by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:08AM (#608639) Journal

            Nah, the trick to redneck meat is you gotta marinate it heavily in beer before slaughtering.

            So THAT is what makes the redneck meat so expensive.
            How many kegs of beer do you need per head?

            --
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
            • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:18AM (2 children)

              by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:18AM (#608643) Homepage Journal

              It varies by weight but at least five kegs and as many days.

              --
              My rights don't end where your fear begins.
              • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:26AM (1 child)

                by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:26AM (#608649) Journal

                I think I'll stay with with Wagyu steaks, thank you.
                At about $400-$600/kg [beefcentral.com] price in the top range, is still more affordable than redneck.

                --
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
                • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 12 2017, @11:33AM

                  by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @11:33AM (#608694) Homepage Journal

                  Well now, that depends. It's not that uncommon to find a redneck weighing in at over 200lbs that's not overly fatty. If you're hunting them instead of buying them that drops the overall cost to around $3-4/lb if you only use the proper meat. Mind you, this does not account for the cost of five days or so of chewing tobacco or snuff. Make sure you grab their stash when you bag them or that'll add a bit to the cost as well.

                  --
                  My rights don't end where your fear begins.
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:40PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:40PM (#608713)

              That depends on whether you use beer or Budweiser.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:11PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:11PM (#608742)

        Remove the hair. I know there is a lot, but trust me you have to.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:38PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:38PM (#608913)

        Lur: Whoa. Must be something in that hippie I ate.

    • (Score: 2) by number11 on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:38AM (2 children)

      by number11 (1170) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:38AM (#608571)

      If the people of the world want to pack themselves into high-rise cities, fine, let they eat paste.

      One of the benefits of owning and caring for your own land is the harvesting the "fruits of the land." Now, if I want to commercially exploit my land and sell beef into the cities, then, sure, tax the hell out of that.

      If, however, I just want to live on my land and take my own animals for food... I don't think that's leading to any environmental crises, in-fact quite the opposite. If the people in the cities each owned enough productive land to support their own personal beef habits, the effect would be the same - at some point, the city either stops eating meat, or stops growing.

      Reasonable. Of course, there are also costs associated with living in the boondocks with a ton of space. So perhaps we should let those people pay the full cost of the roads, power grid, internet, transportation for food and goods they don't grow, etc., instead of subsidizing them up the wazoo. At some point, an equilibrium will be achieved between the rural people who can have cheap meat and lodging, and the city people who can have cheap everything else.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:41AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:41AM (#608573)

        Yup. A good start would be getting rid of all the rules and regulations telling them they can't do that.

        Lord knows we wouldn't want them durn rednecks gettin' all uppity and independent...

      • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:10PM

        by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:10PM (#608794)

        Agreed that rural (especially US) area are subsidized on the infrastructure front - roads being the big one, but everything else is also more expensive when you're spread apart, too. However, the stress reduction that comes from not dealing with idiot neighbors close on all sides would be well worth the cost, IMO.

        The point about the rural lifestyle is that they aren't grinding the ecosystem into grist for the mill, at least not as thoroughly as capitalist cities. Any city radically deforms the ecosystem of its urban area, even if they do provide green spaces and bird feeders. The reason I call out capitalist cities is that they drive the production of goods for the cities to the lowest possible cost, which results in maximal hiding of costs in ecological exploitation of the areas that supply the cities with food, concrete, steel, asphalt, energy, etc. These costs are hidden in pollution, destruction of habitat, depletion of resources like fresh water, etc.

        --
        🌻🌻 [google.com]
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by qzm on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:58AM (2 children)

    by qzm (3260) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @03:58AM (#608609)

    Their estimates for AGW have long long ago been debunked, why is this crap still being published?
    They make NO allowance for the short half-life of methane in the atmosphere.
    They nicely forget that Dairy contributes significantly more than meat production.
    There is no allowance for the carbon SINK that is grasslands (yes, shocking, that carbon they eat wasnt sitting there for millions of years)

    Basically they are making up completely false numbers, then trying to use it to push their personal dietary views.

    They are probably mostly pissed that their big push from back in the day that red meat was the cause of all heart problems was also been debunked.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:35AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:35AM (#608625)

      Their estimates for AGW have long long ago been debunked, why is this crap still being published?

      Except they were not, it is only that you believe so. Granted, the estimates weren't confirmed either.

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:42PM

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:42PM (#608916)

      All science related to AGW is so politically charged that it is more akin to religious faiths.

      Both sides of the debate conveniently leave out data which doesn't support their thesis, and when one side doesn't they end up looking like John Scopes defending evolution against William Jennings Bryan. Fair, balanced, ethical debate supported by facts is a well proven way to lose in the court of public opinion.

      --
      🌻🌻 [google.com]
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:53AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:53AM (#608636)

    Tax inspectors and collectors make a great BBQ. Just sayin.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:25PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:25PM (#608808) Journal

    I'd go with another option: grow my own.

    I'll switch to delicious nutritious Soylent Green, thank you.

    (how did this site get the wrong color?)

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 12 2017, @11:20PM

      by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @11:20PM (#609009) Homepage Journal

      Go here [soylentnews.org], switch the option under "Select Theme" to "NV" or "VT100", scroll down, hit Save. Our data indicate that offering green alternatives isn't enough to get people to actually use them. They must be forced. Preferably under threat of death or imprisonment.

      --
      My rights don't end where your fear begins.