Food for Change promotes food choices that are sustainable, ethical and environmentally responsible.
To contact Food for Change, please email Sophie on sophie@foodforchange.org.uk or Paul on paul@foodforchange.org.uk.
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A fair world, where everyone’s needs are fulfilled, is possible if we all take a little time to think about the choices we make. Because of the huge and growing population of the earth, we need to share our natural resources equitably by making sustainable choices, i.e. those that require the least amount of resources, such as land, water and energy. We also need to ensure our choices respect the rights of others and, as much as possible, do not damage the earth by producing greenhouse gases and other pollution or cause the destruction of natural habitats, such as forests.
The most destructive industries, such as the extractives industry (eg mining for oil, gas, coal, gold and copper) are well documented and many organisations challenge their practices. However, few of us are aware of the growing impact of agriculture. Recently, many organisations (Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Christian Aid, Oxfam) spoke out against biofuels because they cause deforestation in developing countries; which wipes out biodiversity, contributes to climate change and impacts local people who are forced from their homes. These people struggle to feed themselves as food prices rise and increasing amounts of grain and crops are exported to rich countries in the North to produce fuel.
Did you know that the impacts of the livestock sector are more severe than those of biofuels? Currently around 100 million tonnes of grain are used per year for biofuels; however, 754 million tonnes are fed to animals raised for meat, dairy and eggs (1).
Meat processing companies and fast food chains have become very powerful, pushing their products on children with aggressive marketing campaigns, and now also to people in developing countries who are suffering from ‘Western diseases’ such as heart disease and cancer as their meat and dairy consumption rises.
The livestock industry has become not only as environmental issue, but also an issue of human rights and social justice. People in developing countries have the basic human rights to life, food, water, housing, fair working conditions and health just as we do, yet our consumption of animal products abuses each of these rights.
You can take positive action against these injustices by removing animal products from your diet. The livestock industry only continues and grows because people continue to support it by buying meat and dairy. You can contribute to the creation of a more equitable world by boycotting the livestock industry.
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References
1. Crop Prospects and Food Situation UN Food and Agriculture Organization. February 2008.
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