ENVIRONMENTALIST group Greenpeace and partner organizations are spearheading celebrations for the World Meat Free Week (WMFM) in the Philippines to call on parents, school administrators, and public officials to “free” students, employees, and workers from dependence on industrialized meat, and instead support healthier plant-based meals in public schools and government institutions.
Other environmentalists, youth, women, farmers, and consumer advocacy groups in the country have been part of a growing movement which have organized activities to promote plant-based meals, and calling the attention of local officials on the need for providing citizens with healthier food options, both for their health and the environment.
In a statement, Greenpeace says that high red meat consumption has been linked to cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Five million deaths each year – nearly nine people dying a minute – could be avoided by 2050, if people around the world would shift to healthier diets with more veggies and legumes, and less meat.
Based on a recent report made by Greenpeace International, global meat and dairy production and consumption must be halved by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change.
Saying livestock releases as much greenhouse gases as all cars, trucks, planes, and ships put together.
As part of the celebrations, Greenpeace volunteers and Bacolod Vegans held a cooking demo and talks on organic farming at the Bacolod City New Government Center in Bacolod City.
While in Iloilo, the Zarraga National High School community joined ecological farmers as they prepared plant-based snacks and formulated their weekly meal plans.
In Camarines Sur, the youth and agriculture advocacy group #IAmHampasLupa Youth, the Rinconada Movement for Environment and Sustainable Agriculture, the Bicol Youth for Climate Action, and the Disaster Resilience and Environment Network will be staging an awareness campaign about the benefits of reducing meat consumption at the Iriga City Friendship Plaza.
On June 14, La Tierra Agua, a movement that aims to protect our land and water, will hold a unique Iftar for the Muslim community at the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, as they hold “VeggIftar 2018: Meet on World’s Meat Free Day.”
Earlier, the Iloilo Mountaineering Club celebrated World Meat Free Week in Jaro, Iloilo City.
On the program was a yoga practitioner’s talk on his journey towards a meat-free diet, followed by a yoga session.
Greenpeace International gave recognition earlier this year to Pasig City, which has enacted an ordinance making it illegal to serve or advertise unhealthy food to students on or near schools during school days which, in effect, is a promotion of plant-based meals in schools.
The ordinance applies not just to school canteens, but to stalls, stores, and fast food outlets within 50 meters of schools.
Over in Quezon City, a food truck served plant-based siomai, gyoza, and siopao, prepared by the women of Batis Aware (Association of Women in Action for Rights and Empowerment).
Batis Aware received mentoring on plant-based snacks preparation, as part of their fund-raising and livelihood development, from vegan kitchen advocacy group Me and My Veg Mouth. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
