Sir Paul McCartney Calls for MEAT FREE MONDAY to Help Slow Climate Change
Posted on: Monday, 15 June 2009, 02:15 CDT
The campaign has already gathered an impressive list of supporters from
the worlds of entertainment, politics and the environmental sciences
including
In addition, several of the UK's most renowned chefs are supporting the
campaign.
Most people understand that our food choices can influence our own health, for good or for bad, but increasing amounts of scientific information published over the last few years have shown that our food choices are also linked to the health of the wider environment.
For instance, the UK's Food Climate Research Network estimate that food production is responsible for between 20-30 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and that livestock are responsible for around half of these. Livestock production releases gases such as methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and have a much more powerful climate changing effect than CO2.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock production is responsible for more climate-changing GHG emissions globally than transportation - up to 18 per cent of emissions as opposed to 13 percent for transport.
Environmental group Greenpeace estimates that every kg of beef we eat
represents roughly the same GHG emissions as flying 100km and the group,
Compassion in World Farming, estimate that if the average UK household halved
its consumption of meat, this would cut more emissions than if they cut their
car use in half. Last year Dr
Having a MEAT FREE MONDAY every week is a simple way to start making a real difference in the world. The more people who join in, the more difference we can make.
"I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable, healthier world. Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism."
Sir
Notes to Editors
The MEAT FREE MONDAY campaign will be officially launched on Monday
The campaign is supported by Linda McCartney Foods and has a dedicated website www.supportMFM.org. The Meat Free Monday website will feature useful tips and recipes from Linda McCartney's cookbooks as well as the UK's leading chefs. It will also provide a community of support and information for those who want to know more about the way diet choices can influence a healthier environment.
Useful Information
Over the last few years scientific data on livestock's contribution to climate change has been increasing. The following reports can provide useful information:
Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options Food And Agriculture Organization of The United Nations Rome, 2006 http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM Amazon Cattle Footprint Greenpeace International 2009 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/amazon-cattle- footprint-mato Global warning: climate change and farm animal welfare Compassion in World Farming 2008 http://www.ciwf.org.uk/resources/publications/environment_sustainability/ default.aspx The World on a Plate: Food and its Contribution to Climate Changing Emissions Tara Garnett Food Climate Research Network September 2008 http://www.climateactionprogramme.org/features/article/the_world_on_a_ plate_food_and_its_contribution_to_climate_changing_emission Changing Food Consumption in the UK to Benefit People and Planet Oxfam, 2009 http://publications.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam/display.asp?K=e20090407122948 64&TAG=&CID=oxfam The vital statistics of meat Simon Fairlie Ecologist magazine, October 2008 http://www.theecologist.org Not all meat is created equal Richard Young Ecologist magazine, October 2008 http://www.theecologist.org(Due to the length of the above URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste them into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)
The complete Linda McCartney range can be found on the brand new Linda McCartney Foods website. http://www.lindamccartneyfoods.co.uk
The Hain Celestial Group, owners of the Linda McCartney range, is the
largest natural and organic food company in the world, and was named the
Greenest Company in the UK food and drink industry (according to The Sunday
Times Green List published on
http://www.hain-celestial.co.uk
SOURCE MEAT FREE MONDAY
Source: PR Newswire
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