January, 22 2015, 11:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Stephanie Feldstein, (734) 395-0770, sfeldstein@biologicaldiversity.org
'Meatless Mondays' Resolution Introduced to New York City Council
NEW YORK
The Center for Biological Diversity is joining environmental, public health and animal rights advocates in supporting a New York City Council resolution being introduced today in favor of Meatless Mondays. The resolution was introduced by council members Helen Rosenthal and Corey Johnson.
"Making meat-free options more widely available and encouraging New Yorkers to skip meat on Mondays is a huge step forward in sustainable leadership for the city," said Stephanie Feldstein, the Center's population and sustainability director. "Reducing meat consumption is a critical part of fighting climate change and protecting endangered species."
Meatless Monday is a national and international campaign that encourages people to enjoy meat-free meals on Mondays to improve their personal and public health, animal welfare, wildlife protection and environmental and agricultural sustainability. The resolution would bring awareness to the efforts already under way in restaurants, schools and cafeterias across the city to provide meat-free meals on Mondays, and it would call on an expansion of those efforts city-wide.
Approximately 40 schools in New York City already participate in Meatless Monday, including public, private and charter schools at all grade levels. New York City colleges and universities have also participated in Meatless Monday, including Barnard College, Brooklyn Law School, Columbia University, Fordham University, LaGuardia Community College and Manhattan College.
Restaurant owners in New York City such as Bill Telepan, Mario Batali, John Fraser and Marisa May currently participate in Meatless Mondays by offering vegetarian options to their customers.
"We're issuing a call to all New Yorkers: Let's go meatless on Mondays. By doing so, we're not only helping the planet, but ourselves," said council member Corey Johnson, chair of the council's Health Committee. "Studies have shown that red meat in particular has a carbon footprint similar to automobiles. And if New Yorkers cut out meat just one day of the week, we could potentially make a dent in rates of obesity, cancer and diabetes."
"Every time we choose a vegetarian meal, we're choosing to help protect our health, the health of our planet and animals," said Erica Meier, executive director at Compassion Over Killing. "By introducing this Meatless Monday resolution, the New York City Council is sending a powerful message about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, and of course, eating fewer animals."
"Great to hear that New York City officials are considering introducing Meatless Monday. It's such an easy and enjoyable way to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our health," said Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, founders of Meat Free Monday. "If the resolution passes, we look forward to seeing what delicious and creative meat free options chef up with on Mondays in this amazing city."
The Center for Biological Diversity's Take Extinction Off Your Plate campaign highlights the environmental impact of meat production and urges Americans to reduce their environmental footprint and help save wildlife by eating less meat. More than 19,000 people have already taken the Center's "Earth-friendly Diet Pledge" to reduce their meat consumption.
At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.
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