In conjunction with World Vegetarian Day, which falls on October 1, the Malaysian Meatless Day Campaign Committee urges Malaysians to reduce their consumption of meat by choosing to have more vegetarian meals in view of the global challenges facing us.
Malaysians are also urged to join the Meatless Monday campaign as their personal contribution towards helping the health of the environment and also to improve personal eating habits to ensure a healthier lifestyle.
Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people to not eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet. And more people, organisations and establishments are getting on the meatless bandwagon under the banner of Meatless Monday, an international campaign that encourages people to drop meat from their plates on Mondays and consume nutritious and wholesome vegetarian.
Their goal is to help you reduce your meat consumption by 15 percent in order to improve your personal health and the condition of the environment.
Climate change remains as one the greatest problems facing the world today and meat eating is a major cause of global warming. The meat industry is:
- The main driver of deforestation – over 70 percent of the Amazon rainforest is cut down for meat production
- The largest single source of water pollution
- Responsible for potent greenhouse gas emissions – livestock produces more greenhouse gases than all worldwide transportation combined.
- Generates 65 percent of human-caused nitrous oxide(296 times as warming as CO2).
Accounts for 37 percent of all human-caused methane (23 times as warming as CO2)
Source: Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options (FAO, Rome 2006)
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change - then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.
'In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in greenhouse gases in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,' said Pachauri.
“Even if you would skip meat once a week, you would save 170kgs of CO2 every year.”
Increasing scientific evidence today points for the need to reduce meat consumption as a means of adopting a healthier lifestyle and enjoy better health.
“A meat-free diet rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals provide optimal nutrition for both children and adults, forming the foundation for dietary habits that support a lifetime of good health. Leading medical organisations, including the American Dietetic Association, agree that balanced plant-based diets are healthy.” (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, June 2003)
Why Monday?
After a weekend where we eat and party, it seems logical to detoxify ourselves on Monday and what better way to do it then go without meat on Monday. “From an early age we internalise the rhythm of having structure and planning ahead, and studies suggest we are more likely to maintain behaviours begun on Monday throughout the week,” says US-based Tami O’Neill, project associate for Meatless Monday.
Make a commitment now: go meatless on Mondays.
Pishu Murli Hassaram is a member of the Malaysian Meatless Day Campaign Committee
