Veggie Brits saving the world
Britain is going veggie – it is official. If current trends published recently by the Government continue, the UK will be fully vegetarian by 2076.
Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that last year over 13 million fewer farmed land animals were slaughtered in the UK than the year before. The trend is continuing downwards, with nearly 50 million fewer killed in 2008 than in 2005.
More of us than ever before are going veggie to save lives – the average Brit can save up to 11,047 animals in a lifetime by simply not eating them! Many are cutting out meat for environmental reasons – especially as livestock farming causes more global warming gasses than the entire world's transport system put together.
Going veggie also fights poverty – by allowing people in developing countries to eat crops rather than feeding them to our farmed animals. Veggies are also leaner, lovelier and more luscious – so it is no wonder so many are now making the switch.
Free help on cutting down your meat intake or going veggie is available. Contact Viva on 0117 944 1000.
Justin Kerswell,
Campaigns manager,
Viva,
Bristol.
4 Comments
by Justin Kerswell, Bristol
Friday, May 15 2009, 3:40PM
“Actually we are eating less meat as a nation. Although the following was not included in the letter it clearly shows that to be the case. Defra figures show that consumption of poultry meat in the UK last year fell by a massive 67,000 tonnes (four percent); pig meat consumption fell by a staggering 74,000 tonnes (down by over five per cent).
The facts speak for themselves. The year 2076 is purely an illustration of the current trend - which is we eating less and less meat.
I'm sorry if that upsets anybody's anti-vegetarian apple cart!”
by Martin, Knowle, Bristol
Friday, May 15 2009, 1:49PM
“This vegan article seems like a load of tripe too me.
Talk about cherry picking facts and exaggerate stories around them to suit the agenda. Yes more people are aware too much meat is not good for them or anyone else but there is no evidence that Britain will be veggie by then.”
by Steven, North Bristol
Friday, May 15 2009, 12:00PM
“I often find vegetarians to be as fanatical as religious fundamentalists.
The fact of the matter is that this country will NOT become vegetarian by any year let alone 2076.
Another fact (convenientlty ignored by the veggie propagandist) is that import of meat have risen over the same period as UK-slaughtered animals has fallen. The reason why UK-slaughtered animals has fallen has been in effect of Govt regulations on abbatoirs - meaning it's far cheaper to import than home-slaughter.
But never let the facts get in the way of a good rant, eh?”
by Vic, Bristol
Friday, May 15 2009, 9:07AM
“There are some very dodgy conclusions and extrapolations being drawn by Justin.
It could just be that as much meat as ever is being consumed, and that we are eating imported meat because it's cheaper. It is more profitable in the UK to use a field as a golf course rather than graze animals on it. So let's all take up golf and save the planet and live to the year 2076 and see if everyone really is a vegetarian by then.
That's *proper* science!”