Meat Free Monday

Paul McCartney backs 'Meat Free Monday' to cut carbon emissions

Former Beatle, Chris Martin and Sheryl Crow launch campaign to reduce meat consumption to tackle climate change.

Sir Paul McCartney has followed in the footsteps of the world's leading climate scientist and a small Belgian town by calling on people to go meat-free one day a week and cut carbon emissions.

Backed by celebrities ranging from Chris Martin to Sheryl Crow, McCartney today launched his Meat Free Monday campaign asking households to cut out meat on Mondays and slow global warming.

"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," said McCartney. "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."

Reducing meat consumption didn't just slow climate change, he said, but would help to fight global hunger and improve the welfare of animals.
Last year the world's leading authority on climate change, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, told the Observer that going meat-free once a week was the "most attractive" way for individuals to reduce emissions. Earlier this year The Guardian revealed that hospitals in the NHS were taking meat off menus as part of a strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while just last month the Belgian town of Ghent announced plans to make every Thursday a meat-free day.

The links between meat and climate change have been well-known for several years. A UN study in 2006 showed that the livestock industry was responsible for a staggering 18% of man's global greenhouse gas emissions, partly because of deforestation in the Amazon.

McCartney's meat-free mission will be supported by several high-profile chefs, including Giorgio Locatelli and Yotam Ottolenghi, who have created vegetarian recipes for the campaign's website. Linda McCartney Foods is also promoting the message, while Oliver Peyton and other restaurant owners will be highlighting meat-free dishes. The ongoing campaign hopes in future to measure the number of people switching to meat-free Mondays and reducing CO2 emissions.

McCartney's move follows last week's government reshuffle that now sees two vegetarians, Jim Fitzpatrick and Hilary Benn, holding the two most senior positions at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

I am all for saving the environment, but I don't know that eating no meat one day a week is really going to make that much of a difference. I mean of course if the entire world did it, it would have some effect, over time with less meat being sold due to less demand, but overall .... I dunno.

It's not as if the cows and sheep and chickens and whatever are disappearing for that one day a week, they still have to be fed, housed, cleaned, milked, slaughtered, trucked around and all that stuff, which is what causes the carbon emissions in the first place.

Plus there's that adage about the most CO2 emmission coming from cows farting or soemthing. If we're eating less meat, there would be more uneaten cows, so there would be more CO2, right?

well, you know, every little bit counts.

The fact that it's a weekly thing makes it a ok idea (i wouldn't put money on it actually working though). If it were Annual Meat-Free Day that would be stupid. But if people actually did it, it would reduce worldwide meat consumption by 14%, so that's pretty good i think

I am going to eat twice as much meat once a week to balance it out.

-HECK!

I hate the enviroment. What has the enviorment ever done for me?

It aint done ****.

Burgers, however. They have helped the Whid many a time.

If Chris Martin backs it then I am against it.

lodgebo wrote:

If Chris Martin backs it then I am against it.

That's actually the mantra I live my life by. That and don't read a book recommended by Oprah.

lodgebo wrote:

If Chris Martin backs it then I am against it.

Haha, well said sir.

-HECK!