Meatless Monday (by Diana Liang)

      In a society where one cannot go a day without hearing about any number of environmental problems plaguing mankind, “reduce, reuse, and recycle” has been etched into most of our brains. In fact, we’re all pretty familiar with most conventional programs aimed at saving the environment. Such programs include switching over to renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, wind power, etc. Many of us have also heard the joke about cows being a major contributor to the destruction of our environment. However, what many don’t realise is that there is actually a program in place that backs up this very idea – Meatless Monday.

      Meatless Monday was first introduced to Americans during the WWI. Meatless Monday, along with Wheatless Wednesday, had been implemented by the United States Food Administration as part of a campaign urging families to reduce consumption of key staples as part of the war effort. These saved key staples could then go to men in the frontier. This program worked so well that it was used in WWII as well.

      Meatless Monday as we know it today was created in 2003 in association with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Liveable Future as part of a public health awareness program. This campaign, endorsed by over 20 schools, was launched in efforts to help Americans reduce their risk of preventable disease by cutting down on their intake of saturated fats.

      This program provides numerous health benefits. For starters, both red and processed meat have been linked to the development of colon cancer, and studies have also shown that diets rich in fruits and vegetables may also lower cancer risk. According to a study by Harvard University, switching over from a diet high in saturated fat-rich foods, namely meat, as well as full fat dairy, to a diet rich in polyunsaturated fats, such as vegetable oils and nuts, can reduce the risk of heart disease by a whole 19%, and these are just two of the countless health benefits.

  Although the Meatless Monday campaign was originally set up with health in mind, Meatless Monday also has its environmental benefits.  According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the meat industry accounts for approximately 1/5 of all manmade green house gas emissions. To put that figure into perspective, even green house gas emissions from transportation amounts to less than 1/5 of all man made green house gas emissions. Therefore, by cutting down on meat consumption helps reduce our carbon footprint.

      A second environmental benefit of the Meatless Monday program is cuts in water usage. It is rather shocking to hear that approximately 1, 800 – 2, 500 gallons of water goes into a single pound of beef. In comparison, only 220 gallons of water goes into each pound of soy tofu produced in California. This is especially beneficial as water is a scarce resource today.

      Third of all, Meatless Monday helps reduce our fossil fuel dependence. There is approximately 40 calories of fossil fuels that goes into each calorie of feed lot beef produced in the US. To put this figure into perspective, only a mere 2.2 calories of fossil fuels is needed to produce one calorie of plant based protein. Therefore, by moderating meat consumption, fossil fuel demand will too, be cut, and the implications of reducing fossil fuel usage, as well as the consequences of using fossil fuels need not even be elaborated upon.

  While not originally set up for its environmental benefits, the Meatless Monday program is an easy and effective way for everyone to work on saving the environment. Its innumerable benefits to the environment are invaluable. Meatless Monday is an easy way for everyone to lend a hand and every bit of effort counts. Watch out world; Meatless Monday, here we come!