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| Meat of the matter |
| A O / Nov 15, 2009, 00:00 IST |
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Intense debate on non-vegetarianism continues with flexitarianism emerging as the new diet fad.
While preparations are underway for the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, a new report by Lord Stern, author of the influential 2006 Stern Review, a report which discusses, in detail, the effects of global warming, is already under the scanner. Since the aim of the conference is to forge a deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently to prevent an increase in global temperatures, Stern, also a former economist with the government of UK, believes, “Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases. It puts enormous pressure on the world’s resources. A vegetarian diet is much better.” In his view, meat production is responsible for 18 per cent of global CO2 emissions.
Interestingly, Stern, not a vegetarian himself, adds that the one sure shot way to tackle global warming problems is for the “world to turn vegetarian”. Not surprisingly, the report has been termed as “blasphemous” by dedicated carnivores.
Obviously, a balanced and varied diet — which includes meat, of course — is a sensible way to live. So, while the debate on vegetarianism versus non-vegetarianism continues, the new fad in dieting world is already shaping up. It’s called “flexitarianism” and is being supported by the likes of Sir Paul McCartney who, for the record, is also expected to attend the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Just what is flexitarianism? Essentially, it is cutting meat completely from one’s diet for just two days a week, which, experts believe will be enough to stop global warming. Latest research by global environmental groups, Friends of the Earth and Compassion in World Farming, looked at different diets, farming methods and land use to find out how much carbon dioxide is produced under different models. The findings pointed out that enough food could be produced to feed the growing world population, while not increasing greenhouse gases, if more sustainable farming methods are used. The emphasis of the report has also been on food consumption too and targets people who have milk, cheese, pork and chicken on a daily basis.
The idea of the flexitarian diet is to cut out meat completely on two days and eat slightly smaller portions of both meat and dairy on other days. For example, instead of having fish daily — as many households in West Bengal do — it should be consumed thrice a week only. Or, for that matter, instead of consuming a chicken dish once every day, it should be cut down to three-four times a week only. Even eggs, according to the report, shouldn’t be consumed every day.
As Clare Oxborrow, senior food campaigner, Friends of the Earth, mentioned in an interview, “People could make a difference with small changes to their diet.”
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