There was a time, long long ago
When they thought the world was flat.
They worried if they sailed the seas
They’d fall off the end of that.
In centuries past, in primitive times,
They demonized herbal healers.
They’d label such gifted folk a witch.
Fear and ignorance led to murders.
1908, the Siberian tundra
Was struck by a freak fireball.
Theories abound, though no cause has been found.
Was it meteorite or black-hole?
10,000 crop circles in various forms
Have appeared since ’72
Caused by UFOs, wind or rabbits or hoax?
Who knows who knows? Do you?
And now here we are, Twenty-Fourteen,
A much more enlightened era.
The experts tell us as the ice starts to melt,
That we should try to live more greener.
Thoughtful, conscientious, sensible types
Recycle their plastic and drive less.
They walk or take the bus to work;
Use low wattage bulbs; try to redress.
But in 06 The United Nations
Found that animal farming’s the trouble,
Causing land degradation and water pollution,
Gas with high global warming potential.
The experts gathered and consulted and planned
What to do to solve the problem
Of global warming, pollution, disease
Caused by human animal-consumption.
“Urgent action is required,” they said,
“To remedy the situation.”
We need cows that don’t fart, recyclable manure,
And more efficient irrigation!
“Thank goodness for experts!” the populace cries,
“What would we do without them?
When scientists develop unflatulent cows
That will solve the global warming problem.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier,” a schoolboy asked
“To solve that long list of crises
By giving up meat and dairy and leather
And planting more veggies and fruit trees?”
“The experts would tell us,” his teacher replied,
“If there was anything we could do in a hurry.
There’s no need to resort to radical extremes,
Just recycle what you can and don’t worry.”
****
Click here to look at the report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Be aware, you might do a double take when you read that their proposed solutions to the problem are as indicated in the poem. See Remedies including “Improving animals’ diets to reduce enteric fermentation and consequent methane emissions”
wonderful story
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Thank you 🙂
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Great story! And as if ‘developing’ “better” cows would be a good thing (*uhg*)….
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It beggars belief doesn’t it?
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With all of our technology and knowledge , ‘ya gotta wonder , are we really much more advanced ????
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“You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.” — John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, The Power-House
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Reblogged this on OpticalMirage and commented:
Love the message in this story.
Enjoy
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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Excellent! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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You have an interesting blog
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Thank you 🙂
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Reblogged this on Kayode Faniyi and commented:
This poem parodies “expert opinion.”
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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But problem is, it’s the experts who are telling us this stuff on global warming …. what if they’re wrong again? 😛
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I don’t think we need experts, just common sense. It’s common sense not to use up all the world’s natural resources. It’s common sense not to leave a hideous mess and chop down all the trees. It’s common sense not to pollute the water we drink or release noxious gases into the air we breathe. There is no doubt that animal farming is bad for human health and the health of the planet – and we don’t need experts to tell us that because we can see it and feel it in our own bodies – so therefore it’s common sense not to continue with it, regardless of whether the global warming experts are right. 🙂
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Ahhhhh….common sense. The basest and most “common” of all the senses. But to be honest, Violet, my assessment is that our prehistoric forbears got along pretty well without common sense. When you think about it biological life doesn’t need a pretense at transcendental rationality, culture or civilisation to survive …. just try asking bluegreen algae in a sulphur spring if brains are necessary for physical survival. You’ve been warned 😉
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Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
The Folly of Expert Opinions…check out Violet’s fun blog…and thanks to The Story Reading Ape for leading me to it…
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Thank you for reblogging this 🙂
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Thanks for the reblog
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This is excellent. Thoughtful and great.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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V. – Nicely done. Now, can you get politicians and other ‘world leaders’ to stop farting? Because, really, that could do wonders. 😀
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😀 😀 😀 😀 tears streaming down my face!
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Reblogged this on Rethinking Life and commented:
Read this to the end…it’s excellent and true.
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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ that’s what it’s always about. Excellent post. Thank you.
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Thanks Gigi x
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Really appreciate your efforts in compiling this post (y)
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Thank you. Glad you like it 🙂
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I had to reblog because of its awesomeness.
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Thanks so much again, really appreciate it 😀
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You’re quite welcome 🙂
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Reblogged this on runningonkaleandcoffee and commented:
This is a brilliant post about what we should do to save the Earth as compared to what is being done.
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Thanks so much for the reblog 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Great message, simple and fun, beautifully put across… 🙂 Thanks!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Smart and witty! Loved this!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
Something that fun AND makes you think….mmmm? 😀
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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Welcome Violet 😀
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Reblogged this on My Blog.
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Thank you for the reblog 🙂
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