European Vegetarian Union

Press Release by the European Vegetarian Union


World Vegetarian Day Appeal on 1 October 2003

On the occasion of World Vegetarian Day, the European Vegetarian Union, an umbrella organisation serving the interests of millions of vegetarians in Europe, appeals for more respect for the vegetarian way of life.

The choice of such a lifestyle is based on a large variety of reasons, some of which are

…health considerations

“… appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases” (Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada -June 2003)…

Compassion for animals

  • “800 million chickens, 15 million sheep, 9 million pigs and 3 million cattle are slaughtered every year in the UK”. (Compassion in World Farming)
  • “The question is not, Can they reason nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?” (Jeremy Bentham)

…ecological awareness

Example water shortages: It takes 100.000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of beef and just 500 litres for one kilogram of potatoes. (from Compassion in World Farming Trust, 2002)

…individual contribution to solve the global hunger problem

  • About three-fifth of world consumption of coarse grains is used for animal feed.
  • A growing share of wheat is used for animal feed in the industrial countries – 45 percent of total use in the EU.
  • It is expected that “even by 2030 about 440 million undernourished may remain” (Source: FAO – World agriculture 2015/2030)

    • The above mentioned reasons and many other principles of vegetarianism motivate a growing number of people to change their way of eating. But in spite of ever more vegetarians, it must be noted that normally the overall support for the individual vegetarian is small, or even nonexistent.

    In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly resolution in December 1948, it is stated under Article 25 that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family…”

    For the vegetarian, only a diet without meat or fish provides the “adequate standard of living” for himself and his family. Therefore vegetarians will use the opportunity of World Vegetarian Day to appeal once more to decision makers and industry to provide the services which they are entitled to: sufficient suitable food choices in all governmental and other state-subsidised facilities (hospital, schools etc) and decent alternatives in the food- and catering industry.



    European Vegetarian Union
    26, Rue Moncoureur
    B 7011 Ghlin
    Tel. 00 32 65 362584
    Email: evu@ivu.org
    Website:www.european-vegetarian.org

     

    © European Vegetarian Union - Contact form