JOIN USHindus back McCartney's call for vegetarian day
Well-known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada on Wednesday, said vegetarianism, besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions, was good for ethical and health reasons also.
McCartney had reportedly written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking if he would make January 12—the anniversary of the founding of the Indian branch of animal welfare charity PETA—a meat-free day.
“Would you please think about declaring one day every year, perhaps on the anniversary of PETA India’s founding to celebrate vegetarianism and compassion towards animals?” he wrote.
“Such a declaration would save countless animals, reduce the environmental devastation caused by the meat industry and help participants clear their arteries and their consciences. It would be a celebration of life—all life,” McCartney wrote to the prime minister.
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that Hinduism promoted strict vegetarianism insisting on “ahimsa” (not harming living creatures) and non-killing, and renouncing animal slaughter and meat eating. It suggested taking of “sattvik” (vegetables, fruits, etc) and avoiding rajasik (eggs, etc) and “tamasik” (meat, intoxicants, etc) foods.
Rajan Zed argued that there was extensive protection of life in Hinduism and ahimsa was a command. All the major religions of the world were opposed to killing, he added.
Zed further said that as eating less meat would help the environment, more celebrities should come out in support of staying away from meat, thus contributing to a healthier world.To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the world’s livestock, which is one of the most critical contributors to global warming, McCartney is also advocating Meat Free Monday.
McCartney, who has been a vegetarian for over 30 years, finds vegetarianism “very simple, tasty, and most enjoyable”. According to reports, meat is responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than transport’s 13 per cent. According to an estimate, around 42 per cent of India’s about 1.2 billion people are vegetarian.