| Europe’s Positive Trend Towards a Vegetarian Society
By Formosa News Group (Originally in English) European Parliament Officially Calls for Reduced Intake of Meat In February 2009, the 27-nation European Parliament officially declared that the meat industry contributes to global warming and climate change. At the resolution held in Strasbourg, France, the 80-page document entitled, “2050 – The Future Begins Today” was unveiled bringing to light the meat industry’s contribution to GHG emissions. This landmark declaration was made based on the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations made in December 2008. These recommendations introduced a number of very significant amendments based on the Florenz report regarding the issue of livestock’s contribution to global warming: • The UNFAO Livestock’s Long Shadow report that 18% of all GHG emissions are from the livestock industry is correct • Total meat consumption needs to be reduced, especially in industrialized countries • Reducing the production of meat and dairy products would decrease GHG emissions • Growing cereal and soya to feed livestock contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emissions • Methane and nitrous oxide gases from agriculture need to be reduced • Switching from intensive livestock production to more sustainable solutions • A reduction of subsidies to the livestock industry to curb methane gas release The report also concluded the significance of the treatment of our animals: • Assessments should be made when changes to the feeding and breeding of livestock for reasons of climate change reduction are introduced and shall not be allowed if there are any adverse effects where the animal’s health and welfare is concerned Jens Holm’s blog detailing Europe’s Climate Change Committee report: http://www.jensholm.se/2009/02/06/climate-resolution-targets-livestock-production/ Summary of Florenz Report from ‘Compassion in World Farming’ website: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/factory_farming/eu_florenz_report_on_climate_change.aspx Feeding the World under the Climate Threat
Jens Holm |
In November 2008, the European Parliament discussed the impact meat has on climate change, world hunger and animal rights. The conference was hosted by Swedish Member of the European Parliament, Jens Holm who stated, “The greatest impact you actually could do, would be to reduce your meat consumption or stop eating meat totally. You would create a surplus of crops that could be used to feed the people who are starving today … European subsidies are going directly to advertisement campaigns for meat consumption. It should be the other way around. We should have awareness campaigns for vegetarian consumption, because that is the solution.” Jens Holm’s interview with Supreme Master Television http://www.suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=featured&wr_id=222 European United Left/Nordic Green Left website: http://www.guengl.eu/showPage.jsp?ID=6787&LANG=1 UK Climate Advisory: Eat Less Meat In December of 2008, the UK government’s Climate Committee on Climate Change also suggested UK citizens to help curb global warming by eating less meat, which is very carbon intensive. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/01/carbon-emissions-climate-change-report England’s National Health Service Supports Vegetarianism
David Nicholson |
In January, the National Health Service of England unveiled its “Saving Carbon, Improving Health” plan to become one of the country’s leaders in climate change mitigation. One of the ways it will reduce its carbon footprint is by offering a meat-free menu to its patients and also by adding more locally grown fruits and vegetables. NHS chief executive David Nicholson said: “As the biggest public sector employer in the country, the NHS needs to lead by example. I want to encourage NHS staff to really get involved and do their bit to create a greener NHS.” Article from UK Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jan/26/hospitals-nhs-meat-carbon The plan: http://www.sdu.nhs.uk/page.php?area_id=2 Germany’s Government Urges Public to Change Diet
Andreas Troge |
Also in January, Andreas Troge President of the UBA, Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency said, “We must rethink our high meat consumption.” According to the Federal Environmental Agency, agriculture is responsible for about 15 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, including dangerous methane and nitrous oxide and therefore encouraged the German people to eat meat only on special occasions. A spokesperson for one of Germany’s vegetarian associations, Hilmar Steppat was very happy about the news: “It's good to see politicians are finally waking up to the fact that the amount of meat we eat is unsustainable.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/23/german-diet-meat-environment Hats off to the European governments and agencies that are now supporting a more sustainable way of life through less consumption of meat. Due to the urgency of climate change and the many climate disasters happening in our world at present, we hope this trend quickens not only within the EU but throughout the entire world, and hopefully this will progress into a speedy adoption of the plant-based diet.
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