"What would you do to save the world?"

This is the question that the book, We Are the Weather by Safran Foer was based on. According to the author, we are not willing to do a lot. He mentions that no matter the negative effects that climate change has on our planet, we pretend they do not cause problems and ignore the issue. This is further highlighted by the fact that the problem is getting worse as time goes on.

In We Are the Weather, rather than beating around the bush and creating complicated solutions that sometimes cannot even be considered solutions at all, he provides a simple answer. He explains that one simple change in what we humans do can fight back against the climate crisis. This 'simple' change is eating lesser animal products. He believes that we must choose one or the other; our eating habits or the planet.

Furthermore, the author and readers have both mentioned that this book is powerful enough to change ones perception on food. Some have even gone to the extent of saying that eating a burger after reading the book is impossible. While many people blindly argue that global warming is not related to rearing animals for food, experts have concluded that it is on the same level as the global transportation industry. A report from 2009 claimed that 51% of GHGs come from rearing livestock. This is why Safran Foer's ideology, "a collective act to eat differently", will definitely have a positive impact on the environment.

The book states heart breaking facts about how animals are sometimes raised just to be slaughtered and the author highlights his message with statistics and percentages. He believes that while we already know these facts, we either do not believe them or simply do not act on them. That's why he spends a big part of the book to try to convince the readers to follow or at least consider his ideology.

He also explains that the book is not looking to convert people into vegetarianism. He explains that eating meat is not the problem in itself. However, over indulging in not only meat but also animal products causes strain to the environment and sacrificing eating meat for 2 out of the 3 meals a day is an easy way to relieve the environment of this strain.

I found the book to be a thought provoking text, a real eye-opener with a valid solution towards saving the planet simply by reducing our intake of animal products. 

Sources and references

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/06/jonathan-safran-foer-we-are-the-weather-saving-planet-begins-breakfast-review