Eat, Drink, and Be Wary

Promoting the sustainability of food and water sources is one of the most important ways we seven billion people can collectively influence the health of the planet. The reverse is also true: When the environment suffers, so does our ability to meet our most basic needs. The newest episode of the TV documentary VICE, airing tonight, explores these vital connections in two segments.

“Meathooked” investigates the impacts of the global meat industry. The consumption of meat is already sky-high in industrialized nations, and demand for animal protein is beginning to soar in developing countries, too. Our ever-growing appetite for beef and pork sucks up water, degrades land, and produces huge amounts of waste. The segment follows correspondent Isobel Yeung as she travels to farms and slaughterhouses to see what’s at stake from steak. “End of Water” takes a worrying look at the growing threat of water scarcity and the geopolitical battles starting to stir up over it. Reporter Vikram Gandhi travels to California’s farmland and São Paulo’s reservoir system to show the different ways our most fundamental resource is running dry.

The two short documentaries premiere on HBO at 11 p.m. Past your bedtime? Then be sure to catch them afterwards on HBO Now or HBO Go.

Tulare County farmer Mark Watte shows VICE correspondent Vikram Gandhi the effects the California drought has had on his crops. Courtesy of HBO.

VICE correspondent Isobel Yeung at a feedlot in Goiás, Brazil. Courtesy of HBO.

onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.