Comfortably Unaware audiobook cover - What We Choose to Eat is Killing Us and Our Planet

Comfortably Unaware

What We Choose to Eat is Killing Us and Our Planet

Richard A. Oppenlander

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Categories:
Society & CultureNature & the EnvironmentHealth & Nutrition

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Comfortably Unaware
Climate Change+
Deforestation & Biodiversity+
Land Use & World Hunger+
Water Scarcity+
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Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, which greenhouse gas generated by human activity is primarily tied to livestock and has 310 times more impact on global warming than carbon dioxide?
  • A. Methane
  • B. Nitrous oxide
  • C. Ammonia
  • D. Ozone
Question 2 of 7
Beyond the loss of oxygen production, what is a major consequence of clearing rainforests for cattle ranching highlighted in the book?
  • A. The destruction of indigenous agricultural lands used for sustainable farming.
  • B. The immediate increase of carbon dioxide emissions from burning ancient trees.
  • C. The depletion of deep freshwater reservoirs located beneath the forest floor.
  • D. The loss of plant species that are essential for developing cancer-fighting medications.
Question 3 of 7
How does the author illustrate the inefficiency of our current food system regarding world hunger?
  • A. By pointing out that developed nations refuse to export grains to developing nations in need.
  • B. By showing that during the 1986 famine, Ethiopia was exporting large amounts of grain to Europe to feed livestock.
  • C. By demonstrating that 70 percent of all global crops are lost to desertification caused by overgrazing.
  • D. By explaining that livestock consume less grain than humans, but the grain is of lower nutritional value.
Question 4 of 7
What striking comparison does the book make to emphasize the massive amount of water required to produce meat?
  • A. Producing one pound of beef uses more water than an average human drinks in an entire lifetime.
  • B. The water used by a single slaughterhouse could provide drinking water for the entire continent of Africa.
  • C. Skipping one pound of beef saves more water than not showering for an entire year.
  • D. Raising one pig requires the same amount of water as growing an entire acre of soybeans.
Question 5 of 7
Why is the commercial fishing practice of heavy bottom trawling considered highly destructive to marine environments?
  • A. It drags large nets along the seabed, destroying ancient ecosystems like seamounts and sponge beds.
  • B. It relies on chemical explosives to stun fish, which poisons coral reefs and surrounding marine life.
  • C. It targets surface-level fish, severely disrupting the food chain for birds and dolphins.
  • D. It leaves behind massive amounts of plastic waste that traps and kills endangered marine life.
Question 6 of 7
How does fish farming (aquafarming) directly contribute to environmental pollution and health risks?
  • A. It requires the draining of freshwater rivers to create artificial ocean enclosures.
  • B. It depletes the ocean's oxygen supply by artificially breeding oxygen-heavy plant life.
  • C. It accounts for 20 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions through the transportation of fish.
  • D. It introduces high levels of untreated waste, antibiotics, and cancer-causing substances like dioxins into the water.
Question 7 of 7
When measuring overall greenhouse gas emissions, how does the livestock industry compare to global transportation?
  • A. Livestock produces slightly fewer emissions than transportation but causes significantly more water pollution.
  • B. Livestock accounts for 20 percent of emissions, which is significantly more than the 13 percent from global transportation.
  • C. Global transportation is the leading cause of emissions, with livestock contributing only a small fraction.
  • D. Both industries contribute an equal 15 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Comfortably Unaware — Full Chapter Overview

Comfortably Unaware Summary & Overview

Comfortably Unaware (2012) is about the impact our food choices are having on the planet. It explains how the animals that are raised for us to eat end up polluting our waters, soil and air, and why our natural resources are poorly managed.

Who Should Listen to Comfortably Unaware?

  • Meat and fish eaters
  • People who want to become environmentally conscious
  • Anyone who wants to understand the impact of our daily choices

About the Author: Richard A. Oppenlander

Dr. Richard A. Oppenlander is a writer, consultant and keynote speaker specializing in food choice responsibility and on projects related to world hunger. He is also the founder of the non-profit organization, Inspire Awareness Now.

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