The United Nations has warned that extreme winter weather might have killed more than a million livestock in Mongolia.

Mongolia is currently threatened by a “Dzud”, which isa multiple natural disaster consisting of a summer drought producing small stockpiling of fodder, followed by very heavy winter snow and lower than normal temperatures. Heavy and continuous snowfall and blizzards have resulted in a sharp fall in daily temperatures - dropping to below -40°Celsius in 19 out of a total of 21 ‘aimags’ (provinces) in Mongolia.

Horrible for its people, more than a third of whom herd livestock for a living. On the other hand, Alternet today examines the dairy industry in America:

While a small number of dairies are bucking the industrial trend, the vast majority of dairy products we eat come from factories that are nothing short of horrific in many cases.

Dairy farming is closely linked to the meat industry. And that industry is an ecological and ethical desaster in itself. That goes for meat production all rich industrial nations - and a growing number of developing nations as well.

2 Comments »

1. 

   Ich lese den Blog zwar durchaus mit Interesse, da ich mich selbst viel mit diesen Themen beschäftige. Aber es wäre eine sehr große Erleichterung, wenn er auf Deutsch geschrieben wäre. Lesen ihn wirklich so viele Menschen aus dem Ausland? Mich schreckt das Englisch eher ab. Also, vielleicht als Anregung: bitte eine deutsche Variante oder ganz auf Deutsch! A. Meißner

   Comment by Meißner — February 2, 2010 @ 10:22 am

2. 

   Bitte lassen Sie sich nicht von dem Englischen abschrecken. Uebrigens, ich bin Chinese.

   Mongolia faces a challenge and it is not only ecological, its economy depends on China doing the right thing.

   Comment by rubonkers — March 9, 2010 @ 4:06 am

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