In their book Time to Eat the Dog:The Real Guide to Sustainable Living,Robert and Brenda
 Vale say keeping a mediumsized dog has the same ecological impact as driving 10,000 km a year
in a 4.6 liter Land Cruiser.
     "We"re not actually saying it is time to eat the dog.We"re just saying that we need to think about
and know the ecological impact of some of the things we do and that we take for granted."
     Constructing and driving the jeep for a year requires 0.41 hectares of land,while growing and
manufacturing a dog"s food takes about 0.84 hectares-or 1.1 hectares in the case of a large dog
such as a German shepherd.
     Convincing flesheating cats and dogs to go vegetarian for the sake of the planet is a nonstarter,
the Vales say.Instead they recommend keeping "greener",smaller,and more sustainable pets,such as
goldfish,chickens or rabbits.
     The book"s playful title,and serious suggestion that pet animals may be usefully"recycled",by
being eaten by their owners or turned into pet food when they die,may not appeal to animal fans.
     Annoying as the idea may be,the question is valid given the planet"s growing population and limited
resources,Robert Vale said.
     "Issues about sustainability are increasingly becoming things that are going to require us to make
choices which are as difficult as eating your dog.It"s not just about changing your light bulbs or taking
a cloth bag to the supermarket,"he said.
     "It"s about much more challenging and difficult issues," he added.

     China has recently been faced with serious issues of product safety.In Panama,it is said that medicine
made with a poisonous chemical sickened some people.A Chinese company had identified it as
diethylamide glycol(乙二醇),a lowcost substitute commonly used in automobile antifreeze(防冻剂)．
     Some countries have banned Chinesemade toothpaste containing diethylamide glycol.China has now
told companies to discontinue its use,even though it says the toothpaste is safe. Another industrial chemical,
melamine,was found in wheat flour used to make pet food in North America.Thousands of dogs and cats
became sick.
     The United States has restricted some imports of Chinese seafood because they contained banned
substance.And questions have been raised about other products,including children"s toys covered with lead
paint.
     Chinese officials promised to provide the European Union,the biggest trading partner,with detailed
reports on enforcement efforts against unsafe goods.
     Meglena Kuneva,commissioner(理事) for consumer protection of the European Union said China
should have kept its promise.
     China recently closed three companies linked to the Panama and the pet food scare.And it dismissed
the former head of its food and drug administration.He was found guilty of corruption(腐败)for approving
unsafe drugs.This week,a conference of the State Council approved a proposed special measure on the
supervision of food safety. The Xinhua News Agency said it calls for stronger controls over producers,
greater responsibilities for government and more serious punishment for illegal activities.
     But Chinese officials have accused some foreign media of overstating problems with goods made in
China.They say food imports from the United States also fail inspection sometimes.Next week,American 
and Chinese food safety officials are planning to hold 5 days of meetings in Beijing to discuss cooperation.