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Barrett Backs Vegetarian Celebration
posted on 20/05/2008

Local Assembly Member and committed veggie, Lorraine Barrett, is encouraging people to consider the effect their diet is having on the environment.

Speaking in the Assembly this week Lorraine highlighted how ‘going veggie’ is also ‘going green’.

Along with being a healthy diet, vegetarianism is also good for the environment. The Vegetarian Society claim that the average meat-eaters diet takes up to three times as many resources to produce as that of a vegetarian.

U.N. scientists produced a 408-page report titled ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’ and declared that raising animals for food is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the worlds entire transport system!

Lorraine Barrett AM said;

“Study after study has shown that animal agriculture contributes to global warming and environmental destruction. Humans can significantly help stop global warming by adopting a vegetarian diet or reducing the amount of meat they eat. More so than by giving up their cars.

“I am not calling for everyone to give up meat but rather just to consider reducing the amount of meat consumed and turning to locally produced and seasonal fruit and veg”.

With climate change making headlines and many people unsure of what they as an individual can do to help, giving up meat and cutting back on dairy is a positive choice for you, for the animals and for the planet.

Lorraine Barrett AM also tabled a Statement of Opinion in the Assembly asking other AMs to sign up and show their support for vegetarian Week 2008.

Notes to editors

18% of world global greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock production, whereas 13.5% comes from transport.
Animals require much more water than the growing of grain to produce the same amount of protein.
Tropical forests are destroyed daily to create more land to raise livestock and grow grain for animal feed. Livestock production is responsible for 70% of Amazonian deforestation.

For more info on Vegetarianism week please see www.vegsoc.org/nvw/

Statement of Opinion reads:

This Assembly:

Welcomes Vegetarian Week (19th – 25th May) for raising awareness that going vegetarian or eating less meat is an easy way for individuals to lower their own environmental impact and significantly reduce our carbon emissions;

Recognises that vegetarian food has come a long way from the days of plain salads and nut cutlets and notes that vegetarians typically have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity certain cancers and lower blood pressure;

Supports the promotion of a vegetarian diet as a viable alternative within healthy eating campaigns.