MEAT FREE MONDAYS Officially Launches in SA

Go vegetarian for 24 hours every week – it is the easiest way for every South African to make a difference to the planet.

On 13 September 2010, South Africa saw the official launch of the global Meat Free Monday’s campaign, which urges all South Africans to pledge their support and make a difference by not eating meat, fish or chicken every Monday.mfm-logo

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet,” said Albert Einstein.

Meat Free Monday is an environmental campaign to raise awareness of the climate-changing impact of meat production and consumption. Many people are unaware about the detrimental impact that meat production has on the planet. Livestock farming is the most significant contributor to today’s most serious environmental problems. Animal agriculture contributes significantly to the destruction of tropical rainforests, soil erosion, dwindling reserves of fresh water, land, fuel and other resources.

Statistics around the effect that livestock production has on the planet are staggering:

  • At least half of all the greenhouse gases are due to livestock production.
  • If all Americans ate no meat, chicken or fish for just one day a week, this would result in the same carbon savings as taking 19.2 million cars off the road in the USA for an entire year, or save gas emissions equivalent to 46 million return flights from New York to Los Angeles.
  • It requires 500 times as much land to produce 1kg of beef as it does to produce 1kg vegetables
  • It takes 250 litres of water to produce 1kg wheat, and 25 000 litres of water to produce 1kg meat
  • Cows, pigs and sheep bred for human consumption discharge millions of tons of methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Livestock accounts for about 18 percent of greenhouse gases, more than all the world’s transportation systems including cars

Giving up meat one day a week will not only greatly benefit the planet, but also animals, and our own health. If every South African goes meat free one day a week, 11 200 cattle, 2 million chickens, 10 000 pigs and 22 300 sheep will be saved from slaughter weekly. Furthermore, eating less meat will decrease the likelihood of heart attacks and high blood pressure.
“The world is currently raising over 50 billion farmed animals for slaughter each year and, in addition to its major impact on global warming, this is contributing significantly to the destruction of tropical rainforests and other valuable habitats. Because of its high degree of inefficiency compared to plant protein production, animal agriculture is disproportionately depleting the planet’s dwindling reserves of fresh water, land, fuel, and other resources,” says Tammy Fry, Marketing Director of Fry’s Vegetarian Foods, an internationally successful company based in Durban that produces vegetarian high protein meat alternatives. “This initiative is not just for vegetarians, it is for people who care about the health of the planet, who are willing to experiment with flavours and vegetables and discover that they can create exciting delicious meals without always relying on meat, fish or chicken” she says.

Meat Free Mondays is backed globally by celebrities including Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sheryl Crow and Paul McCartney.

Go to www.supportmfm.co.za to pledge your support or sms the letters MFM and your name and email address to 34007. Sms charged at R2 per SMS. All those who pledge their support for Meat Free Monday’s will receive a personalized pledge certificate and will stand a chance of winning a seven night stay for two at the five star, Big 5 Nambiti Plains Eco Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal.

mfm_products_newsletterAlso available to purchase on the site, with all proceeds going to charity, are a vegetarian and vegan recipe book, Meat Free Monday recycled shopping bags and Meat Free Monday supporter wrist bands. All items cost R25 excluding VAT but include delivery in South Africa.

All individuals, celebrities, schools and corporates are urged to play their part in supporting this initiative.
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References:
•    Climate Change and Livestock Farming – Beauty Without Cruelty. http://www.bwcsa.co.za/files/Climate%20Change%20&%20Livestock%20Farming.pdf

•    Carbon Consumption that could be achieved in the USA through a reduction in meat consumption. http://www.meatthetruth.nl/download/20080518_US_carbon_savings_table.pdf

•    Compassion in World Farming.