Dear Editor: It's not about changing light bulbs anymore! When Al Gore's and Leonardo DiCaprio's dramatic documentaries alerted us to the devas-tating impacts of global warming, many people went through the ritual of switching from incandescent light bulbs to the compact fluorescent variety. Unfortunately, in the case of global warming, good intentions and switching light bulbs are not good enough. The most powerful individual lifestyle solution was suggested in a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report found that meat production accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That's more than automobiles! Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools. Moreover, animal agriculture contributes more pollutants to our waterways than all other human activities combined. Principal sources are animal wastes, soil particles, minerals, crop debris, fertilizers, and pesticides from feed croplands. It is also the driving force in world-wide deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction. The annual observance of Earth Day next Tuesday provides an excellent opportunity for every one of us to help save our planet by dropping animal products from our diet. More details are available at www.CoolYourDiet.org. Sincerely, Marcus Armand

Good god, you tree-huggers. Is it politically correct now to refer to farming as "animal agriculture"? Why is it, that now, what my Grandfather and his Father did for a living, which was supplying the nation with milk, grain, soy, corn, and the essential sustinances of life, is now the culprit for global warming? Hell, yes, cows are flatulent! Having spent many years on my Uncle's dairy farm, I can attest to that. I also saw a community being fed and an industry producing jobs. Go bark up another tree with the blame game. Hey, here's an idea....how about the government bring all those wonderful men and women home from Iraq, take the billions saved there and spend more money on alternative energies?

You stated that carbon dioxide is emitted by "burning forests to create animal pastures." I believe that is one of the most ridiculous and over-the-top statements that I have ever read. Why would someone burn down a forest to create grazing pasture when they could cut it down and sell the wood? Why do supporters of wing nut ideas like this always have to exaggerate or completely fabricate details that back up their point? Oh right, because its nonsense.