In a recent article in “The Australian,” the most widely read national newspaper in the country, Tasmania correspondent Matthew Denholm observed that cattle farmers are noting signs of diminished public demand for beef products.

Mr. Denholm explained that indeed, there is a growing global public call help mitigate climate change by reducing meat consumption, and he included mention of the efforts of Supreme Master Ching Hai.

The following is an excerpt from the article.
“…A campaign is under way to persuade Australians to eat less meat to reduce greenhouse emissions. The Australian Vegetarian Society says the issue is as important in the climate change debate as coal-fired energy, while SBS TV viewers would have noticed ads – financed by Vietnamese-born [Supreme Master] Ching Hai -- urging the world to “Be Veg. Go Green. Save the Planet.” Such groups cannot be dismissed as fringe-dwellers,since their arguments are echoed by the UN, which says livestock produce 18 per cent of world greenhouse emissions -- more than all forms of transport combined (13 per cent).

The head of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Indian scientist Rajendra Pachauri – a vegetarian – is among those urging a cut in meat consumption as the quickest, easiest way to cut emissions.”

VOICE: The article stated that the Australian cattle farmers believe that the younger generation of consumers and their concern about livestock as a cause of global warming could very negatively impact the industry.

The story concludes with a comment shared from an Australian veg advocate.“Mark Berriman, [New South Wales] director of the Australian Vegetarian Society, believes Australians’ meat-loving culture will change as ‘reality’ sinks in. ‘Reducing meat consumption takes out the most powerful of the greenhouse gases
but also takes them out at a much quicker rate than removing carbon dioxide,’ he says.”

VOICE: Our appreciation goes to journalist Matthew Denholm and The Australian for informing readers about the causal link between meat consumption and climate change. To save our irreplaceable planet and precious co-inhabitants, may humanity make the veg trend a foremost priority, through which alternative economic opportunities will surely follow.

Supreme Master Ching Hai’s original slogan, “Be Veg, Go Green, Save the Planet” indeed offers a simple but effective way to preserve our world, as explained in a May 2009 videoconference in Togo.


Reference
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26259209-5013871,00.html