Animal activists propose vegetarian diet against food crisis

Philippines News.Net
Thursday 8th May, 2008 (IANS)

Animal protection activists Thursday urged Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to adopt and publicly advocate a vegetarian diet as part of efforts to ease a food supply crunch and sky-rocketing prices.

In an open letter to Arroyo, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) noted that while the world is already growing enough crops to feed every human being, some of this food is used to feed animals being raised for consumption.

'Animals raised for food consume nearly one billion metric tonnes of food edible by humans every year - that's enough to feed about half the world's population,' Jason Baker, PETA's Asia-Pacific director, said in the letter.

'It takes up to 16 kg of grain to produce just one kilogram of meat,' he added.

Citing Arroyo's vow to lead the Philippines by example, Baker asked her: 'Will you now lead the Philippines in the charge against hunger by going vegetarian and advocating a vegetarian diet?'

PETA offered to assist Arroyo's staff with vegetarian menus and other information about the diet.

The Philippines, now the world's biggest rice importer, has been scrambling to build up stocks amid surging prices of the staple grain and other food items. The government has also been distributing less expensive rice and food to poor communities.

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