Green MP prompts parliament to introduce Meat Free Monday

11 August 2010

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP has asked the parliamentary catering authorities to consider introducing Meat Free Monday to the catering outlets in parliament.

The Meat Free Monday campaign, which is being pursued all around the UK by environmental and other groups, is encouraging local authorities, schools and other public and private bodies to allocate one day a week to providing a totally animal-free menu in order to help tackle the world's environmental and other problems.

Caroline Lucas MP explains in her letter:

"Farming and slaughtering animals is now recognised as a significant contributor to today's greatest environmental problems. According to the United Nations, livestock farming could be responsible for up to 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transport sector combined. As well as saving carbon, reducing the amount of meat in our diets will also help improve health. (1)

"Parliament could send a powerful message and set a great example by designating one day a week as Meat-Free."

The letter was co-signed by Lib Dem MP John Leech and Labour MP Kerry McCarthy.

 

"Opt for quality over quantity," say Greens

A Green Party spokesperson said today:

"The central message of the campaign is that one meat-free day a week can make a difference.

"This is not about expecting everyone to become vegetarian or to restrict people's choices, but to spread awareness of the impacts that people's individual and collective choices can make.

"Meat Free Monday is an inventive and useful idea. The Green Party would like to see the UK move towards a situation in which people who choose to eat meat will opt for quality over quantity. A smaller amount of better-quality meat, produced in a sustainable way from animals that are well looked-after, would make for a tastier and healthier diet, better animal welfare and a significant contribution to tackling climate change."


 

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