We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.McCartney: I’m not anti-farming
SIR PAUL McCartney has hit back at criticism from the farming industry over his ‘Meat Free Mondays’ campaign which aims to reduce meat consumption in a bid to combat climate change.
Speaking after a debate in the European Parliament today (Thursday, December 3) he said the campaign was not aimed at farmers, but was encouraging consumers and Government to make a difference.
He said: “I’m not an expert on world farming but my suggestion is that Government and bodies like the European Parliament can help people to change their habits.
“I don’t think this means the demise of farming but I do think it has to adapt. I would love it if what I am saying is wrong and we could just sit around and not do anything, but I think the facts are too true to ignore it.
“I understand that farmers need to make a living but maybe we need to adapt here (in Europe) and everywhere else.”
He also hit back at criticism he was pushing his own anti-meat agenda, saying it was not a ‘narrow-minded point of view’ and warned if something wasn’t done there would be a ‘very real global crisis’.
He was backed by Professor Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), who backed the idea of taxing red meat to help reduce consumption.
He said: “A tax would make a lot of sense. It would be an effective of bringing about change but we as human beings can be responsible for our own behaviour.”
The debate in the European Parliament follows heavy criticism from the industry over Sir Paul’s Meat Free Monday campaign, which encourages consumers to cut down on their consumption.
NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren wrote to Sir Paul ahead of the debate, claiming his campaign was predicated on a ‘general prejudice against meat consumption’ and called for a proper, informed debate on the issue.
Mr McLaren said: “With the world’s political leaders due to sit down to discuss climate change in Copenhagen next week – a landmark summit that could be the launch pad for further targets, restrictions and challenges for farmers throughout the world – more and more commentators like Sir Paul are coming out of the woodwork.
“We need politicians in Copenhagen to see past some of the personal agendas being pedalled when arriving at their decisions.”
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Readers' comments (11)
Joyce H. Smith | 3 December 2009 6:59 pm
Suggesting Monday as the meat-free day is counter-productive and could encourage waste. Sunday is the day for the roast, and leftovers should be consumed on Monday. Having been brought up in World War II, I am disgusted by the way people waste meat now. An animal's life is taken to feed them and then they treat most of its body as rubbish - and say they can't afford to buy high welfare free range meat. My gran, a countrywoman, even used the chicken's claws to make broth. So, a meat-free day is fine, but NOT MONDAY. "Eat less meat and waste no meat."
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Worldwatcher | 3 December 2009 8:42 pm
Sir Paul actually understates the problems and opportunities, as you can see at http://wellfedworld.org/PDF/FAOConsult12-09.pdf , which is summarised at http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=51046&lang=en .
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Wendy | 4 December 2009 4:46 am
With modern refrigerators, roast easily keep until Tues. It allows more variety than eating meat two days in a row.
A global plan needs to be put in place, not just consumers deciding to reduce meat, without warning farmers. Funds could be use to help farmers produce things besides the poluting over-population of cattle.
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farmers wife worcs. | 8 December 2009 12:22 pm
leave us alone if you wish to eat meat eat it lets look at the waste and emmissions going on all around us from lights left on in goverment buildings all night to the planes that transprt these people to these talks the have to much to say and thus emit more gases both ends being vegetarians.it just seems that they live in glass houses when we ars strugerling to keep a roof on our heads.
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Farmers Friend | 8 December 2009 1:47 pm
I certainly would not advocate a meat free day, that is personal choice.
But if this is to save the world from Global Warming, why are they not pushing eating seasonal food from your region or at least country. We import far more than we need to and I would bet that the impact of transporting New Zealand Lamb is a far bigger problem than eating meat 7 days a week!!
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Anonymous | 8 December 2009 5:51 pm
Why does the meat free day have to be a Monday. I suggest that many people already have a meat free day anyway eg pizza, pasta, fish and chips. egg and chips etc. Why do these people have such an obsessive need to convert everyone?
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john beattie | 8 December 2009 8:24 pm
as a very dedicated carnivour even i dont eat meat every day and any way its not a 30 % reduction in livestock thats required its a 30 % drop in human population thats required as its highly unlikey we can feed every one and if the population keeps increasing we will have to change to more veg type diets as its the only way we can feed the world we should have a maxuimum child limit draconian i know but its a must in my eyes would 2 per coyuple really be unreasnoble thus at least holting growth then causing reduction due to unfortunate die off and in fertile couples at the minute the human race is begining to look little better than locus and we know what happens when the food runs out oh yes you all die
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Rosemary Marshall | 11 December 2009 5:36 pm
Meat eaters cannot get away from the fact the livestock need vast amounts of water and feed which could be used for primary nutrition.
However, if you wish to consume flesh would it not be better to eat less but of a far higher quality? Meat cannot be produced at the prices advertised without short cuts, hence its appalling quality.
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M.B, Middleton in Teesdale | 12 December 2009 10:12 am
I too am concerned by polluation. But you cannot quantify this type... TV is full of foul language and sexual inuendo (even Top Gear has sunk to low levels). People who are in full public view are setting bad examples to our children. Getting drunk, being violent, using drugs (Mr Macca you too !!) all excused by saying we are famous... Don't throw stones in you smoking house is the saying.... clean your own act up bsfore ours !!
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Carl | 14 December 2009 2:46 pm
What is it with these people... eat this but don't eat that... do this but don't do that... in my eyes you should eat what you want when you want it if you can get your hands on it... forget about global warming my only concern is the temperature inside my oven.
On a more serious note, I worked with the environment agency back in 2003 to secure several IPPC licences for a major food manufacturer. I was a little concerned about one site which had 26 industrial gas fired ovens discharging straight to atmosphere. I asked whether we should be monitoring emissions in the same way we would for say a gas fired steam generating boiler. Imagine my surprise when the EA told me that the biggest source of pollution in that area was in fact traffic gases from the adjacent B road.
My advice... eat what you want, sell your Range Rover and get yourself a bike if you have any concerns about the environment.
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