Jens Holm: Climate resolution targets livestock productionEuropean Parliament Member urges Europe to reduce meat subsidies and meat consumption. In early February, the European Union Parliament recommended specific economic measures and changes in consumer behavior to improve its climate policy. One of the ideas originally proposed, though not yet included, was a call for reducing worldwide meat consumption.
Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): The key recommendation is that the European Union should reduce our emissions with up to 40% to 2020, compared to the levels of 1990. And that the emissions of greenhouse gases should be reduced with about 80% at least to 2050.
VOICE: Swedish Member of the European Parliament Jens Holm, who is a vegetarian, is quick to remind that the meat industry is responsible for more of the world’s total emissions of greenhouse gases than all transportation sectors combined.
Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): A very good first step to take would be to cut all the subsidies to the livestock sector. That would be very good for the environment but also very good for the animals.
VOICE: In addition to halting subsidies, Mr. Holm urged ordinary citizens to do their part to greatly reduce emissions simply by eating less meat.
Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): Meat production is one of the biggest environmental problems that we have in the world. The ideal would be if we stopped totally.
VOICE: We wholeheartedly agree and thank you, Mr. Jens Holm for being a noble example and courageous voice of leadership for us all. We also thank the European Parliament for their considerations in this vital direction. May governments and citizens alike join in making it happen – to stop climate change by being veg on a large scale.
In an interview with Ireland’s East Coast FM Radio on August 31, 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai emphasized the importance of official government support for the vegetarian solution to climate change.
Supreme Master Ching Hai: The best solution for our urgent situation right now is a vegetarian diet, and it should be openly endorsed and even made into law if possible, to protect people, animals and our planet, the only one that we have. Above all, if the governments make it a policy to inform the public and to endorse the vegetarian diet, hopefully, it becomes like a trend and to change the bad habit of meat eating and encourage the new, good tradition of vegetarian diet. It will work if the government endorses it.
Energy experts to visit every home to help them go greenUK homes to get assistance in going green. As part of a campaign to reduce carbon emissions and energy bills, the United Kingdom has launched “The Great British Refurb,” where government personnel will conduct audits of every single residence in the country, with all homes to be retrofitted for enhanced energy efficiency by 2030. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said, “We cannot afford not to act. Every home must be able to access the help and technology it needs.” The ultimate goal of the program is carbon neutrality for all residences by 2050.
Bravo, United Kingdom, for your helping hand in raising eco-standards for homes across the nation. May all leaders unite to create a more sustainable future for fellow citizens and our magnificent Earth.
Armenia to offer organic certification and labeling.Starting May 5, producers of organic products in Armenia can be certified and provide consumer labeling through the Ecoglobe organization. As Ecoglobe is also recognized by the European accreditation group DAP, Armenian organic growers that are Ecoglobe-certified will also be able to export and sell their products throughout the European Union.
A green thumbs up Armenia for this beneficial standard! We look forward to more farmers and consumers alike joining together to achieve healthful happiness through an ever-expanding landscape of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
Center for Biological Diversity Declares Legal War on Global WarmingNew law institute aims to curb global warming. The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity in San Francisco, USA, which has operated for over 15 years in protecting imperiled species, has now opened the Climate Law Institute to add a global warming perspective to all its programs. The new institute will advocate for state and federal legislation especially to end the use of fossil fuels as a way to preserve biodiversity, reverse ocean acidification and restore urban wildlands.
We send our accolades, Climate Law Institute on your recent launch. Blessed be your noble efforts in bringing expanded eco-awareness to ensure the conservation of our irreplaceable planetary home.