Vegetarians vs. the Rainforest

Environmentally conscious vegetarians could soon be facing a dilemma. It just so happens that their curious culinary customs may be destroying the Amazon rainforest.

According to a recent report, entire sections of the rainforest are vanishing to make room for the vegetarian's best friend:

In the past year, almost half of the total deforestation was in the state of Mato Grosso on the forest's southern fringe, where huge areas have been flattened to grow soybeans. Last year Brazil earned about $10 billion from exporting soy products, exceeding its income from coffee and sugar, the country's traditional export crops. Mato Grosso's governor, Blairo Maggi, is also its soybean king-his family's farms are the world's largest single producer of the crop.

Is a meat-free diet really worth the cost to the ecosystem?

Think about that the next time you bite into a thick, juicy steak. That succulent slab of animal flesh on your plate is a sign that you're doing your part to save the rainforest.