Gov’t asked to serve less meat

MANILA, Philippines — A group of environmentalists on Monday urged the government to serve less meat and more plant-based food in public schools and offices nationwide.

Virginia Llorin, Greenpeace Philippines’ Food and Ecological Agriculture campaigner, said the government must lead in providing the people with healthier food options, to protect the environment and promote public health. 

Llorin said public officials must “free” students and workers from dependence on industrialized meat, by promoting plant-based meals in public schools and government institutions.

“Public institutions are some of the biggest purchasers of industrial meat. By encouraging them to serve less and better meat, and more plants in their canteens and during meetings and events, we reduce bulk demand for meat,” she explained.

According to Llorin, high red meat consumption has been linked to cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

She said millions of people will be saved from possible death if people around the world would shift to eating more vegetable and less meat.

A recent report from Greenpeace International showed that global meat and dairy production and consumption must be halved by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change.

Greenpeace and partner groups are mounting activities nationwide in line with World Meat Free Week.

In Quezon City, a food truck served plant-based siomai, gyoza and siopao, prepared by the women of Batis Aware (Association of Women in Action for Rights and Empowerment). Batis Aware received mentoring on plant-based snacks preparation, as part of their fund-raising and livelihood development, from vegan kitchen advocacy group Me and My Veg Mouth.

In partnership with the Quezon City Health Department, the groups also engaged city officials by giving them baskets of vegetables from the Peoples’ Food Movement, a group of individuals and organizations that seek to address fundamental problems in the country’s food system. 

The city officials also received Power Plant Vegetable Postersand Recipe Cards made by Alessa Lanot, surface pattern designer and watercolor artist, and other professional visual artists.