#WorldMeatFreeDay: A Great Day to Consider How Daily Food Choices Impact People and Planet
It’s back! Today is #WorldMeatFreeDay, a great time to think about how the everyday choices we make about the food we eat can impact our health and the health of the planet.
From deforestation to water pollution and climate change, the mark that industrial animal agriculture leaves on the environment is huge.
Globally, livestock production is responsible for around 14 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—that’s more than the emissions from all road vehicles in the world.
Animal agriculture is the largest source of the most powerful greenhouse gasses: methane and nitrous oxide. On top of that, growing crops for animal feed, especially soy, results in the deforestation of rainforests, releasing yet more CO2.
There is now overwhelming evidence, that we can’t possibly avoid catastrophic climate change if we don’t address the impact of high levels of meat consumption. We are already living beyond our planetary means. Feeding a growing and more affluent global population of at least nine billion by 2050 simply isn’t possible unless we make some changes.
We need a “less is better” approach to meat eating. That’s where World Meat Free Day can make a difference by raising awareness of how simple, small changes can start to have a positive global influence. The World Meat Free Day website has a sustainability calculator that shows how meat-free meals can have an immediate impact on carbon emissions and water usage.
If 10,000 people go meat free for just one day, they save:
- The CO2 equivalent of driving a car 288,917 kilometers.
- Enough water for one person for 93 years.
Just imagine the impact if your whole family, town or workplace did the same. Or, imagine if you kept up Meat Free Mondays for a whole year or even ate no animal products every day! It’s easy to adopt more meat free days in a way that works with your lifestyle.
More and more people are starting to recognise the benefits of eating less meat describing themselves as “flexitarians,” “meat-reducers” or “part time carnivores” as well as going full-time vegan and vegetarian. If you wish to continue eating meat, you can commit to eating less and use the money you save to choose better quality meat—produced to higher environmental and animal welfare standards. You can even visit our I Know Who Grew It challenge platform to make a commitment and challenge your friends.
Every meal matters for the planet. This year, celebrate World Meat Free Day with us—and share with friends and family too.
Source: https://ecowatch.com/2016/06/13/world-meat-free-day/
Vocabulary Words:
1. Impact - (noun) A marked effect or influence
2. Emission - (noun) The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation
3. Catastrophic - (adj.) Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering
4. Sustainability - (noun) Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance
5. Flexitarian - (noun) A person who has a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish
Discussion Questions:
1. Would you consider being a vegetarian even for just one day? Why or why not?
2. What are the benefits of including meat in a diet? What are the disadvantages of being a vegetarian?
3. What is a better reason for becoming a vegetarian health reasons or animal rights?
4. Do you agree that vegetarians are the healthiest eaters? Why?
5. In your opinion, would becoming a vegetarian help solve environmental issues? Why do you think so?
