He gave us The Beatles, he gave us Wings (which The Quietus
at least are pretty pleased about), he gave us Stella McCartney, and
now Paul McCartney is giving us a big ol’ kick in our meat-eating arses
with Meat Free Mondays! The campaign, which is sponsored by Goodlife,
is backed by numerous herbivorous celebrities, including the family
Macca, and urges us to give up meat for at least one day a week.
Leading a meat free life can have numerous positive implications,
both ethical and nutritional, but one of the main reasons behind the
Meat Free Mondays campaign, is environmental. As well as rearing an
obscene amount of ozone layer damaging, farting cows, the meat industry
accounts for a huge level of harmful carbon emissions.
Recognising that most meat-eaters would rather roast to death on an
climatically damaged planet than give up their hangover bacon sandwich,
Macca and co suggest that giving up meat for just one day a week
(Monday, if you hadn't guessed) can have a positive impact on the
environment. He told The Guardian:
"I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental
challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice
about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner,
more sustainable, healthier world. Having one
designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that
everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important
political, environmental and ethical issues all at once."
Indeed, giving up meat for just one day a week encourages
us to have more variety in our diets, to eat more vegetables, saves
money, and shows us that there is more to good food than animals. When
you can make a delicious curry, a summery and nutritious couscous, or a gorgeous stew without a hint of beef or chicken, who needs meat anyway?
Check out MeatFreeMondays.co.uk for loads of brilliant vegetarian recipes.