Are Meatless Mondays Sending the Wrong Message to Meat Eaters?
Since its launch in 2003, Meatless Mondays has undoubtedly brought the ethical argument about meat consumption to mainstream attention, but is it leading people to believe that one day a week is enough?
On a mission to raise awareness of the environmental, health and animal rights issues that surround meat consumption, Meatless Mondays encourage people to start the week off right by eating healthy and tasty meat free meals. The campaign has spread to 36 countries around the world, with local governments, school authorities, large corporations and individuals all making pledges to cut meat from their diet for one day a week.
The Facts Speak for Themselves
Whatever your ethical beliefs are surrounding meat and dairy consumption, there is no denying the facts about the damage that these industries are causing to the planet, animals and personal health. According to the Environmental Working Group, “if everyone in the U.S. ate not meat or cheese just one day a week it would be like not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.” Society’s obsession with meat is literally destroying the planet, one animal at a time, and we have the power to stop it simply by switching to an alternative diet, one which benefits everyone.
Around 25 million land animals are killed for consumption in the United States every single day. If Meatless Monday could become a nationally recognized and respected campaign, we could reduce the amount of animals being killed each year for food by more than 1,300 million. Imagine how much impact this would have on the amount of suffering, death and environmental destruction.
Is the Campaign Creating Conscience Complacency?
Despite the incredible potential of the Meatless Monday campaign, there are many who believe that it is giving people the wrong idea about what is needed to resolve many of the world’s issues. Cutting meat from the diet one day a week is obviously a step in the right direction, but if that’s where the journey ends, then we have possibly facilitated a complacent attitude towards the issues which founded the campaign in the first place.
Surely if people believe in adopting Meatless Mondays it’s because they understand the inherent problems with the meat industry and wish to make a positive difference. Why then would we rest at making a change for just one day? You would never see an anti bullying, racism, or sexism campaign which advocates that we stop discriminating against a certain group of people on one day a week, so why do we do this for animals?
If not eating meat on a Monday is beneficial to animals, the environment and our health, then cutting it from our diets altogether is infinitely better.
A New Type of Campaign Could be the Answer
For many, Meatless Mondays provide a way to feel part of a positive movement to improve the world we live in. It is a small enough change to people’s lives that it is still convenient, but a big enough statement that they feel as though they have accomplished something positive (which of course they have).
However, if we want to see long and lasting changes in the world, before it’s too late, more substantial action is required. Campaigns such as Veganuary are taking it to the next level, urging people to go veg for one month, starting with January. Experts claim that it takes around 30 days for us to form new habits and break old ones, and this is why Veganuary is such a powerful campaign.
By pledging to go veg for just one month, you could break through a cycle of habitual meat and dairy eating and bring about lasting change. If you felt uplifted by being part of Meatless Mondays, imagine how empowering it would be to make the change more permanent.
Photo Credit: Veganbaking.net
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