Government and schools rally for meat-free meals

On March 4, all 151 elementary and middle schools in the Formosa’s (Taiwan) Chiayi County pledged that Friday meals would be without any beef, pork, chicken, lamb or fish.

This health- and environment-promoting measure was led by Chiayi County Magistrate Zhang Hua-guan.

Zhang Hua-guan – Chiayi County Magistrate (F): From now on, every Friday, we shall have healthy veg lunches. What does it mean to have healthy veg meals?

It means that there is no meat, no beef, no chicken, no pork, no lamb. With this kind of meal, our students will be much healthier and livelier.

Children assembled (M,F): Okay!

VOICE: At the official starting event, County Magistrate Zhang and students enjoyed a nutritious vegan lunch with soy protein and pumpkin-cabbage soup. Also attending in support were the heads of Chiayi County universities, high schools, and elementary schools.

Dr. Lin Jin-chao – Dean, Toko University (F): After this activity, I will make a report to our president to have the school join together with County Magistrate Zhang.

VOICE: With the Formosan(Taiwanese) Environmental Protection Department finding that eliminating meat is a simple, effective, and practical way to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions, the central government is now recommending that schools across the island make meat-free meals available one day each week.

Dr. Lin Tsong-Ming – Deputy Minister of Education, Formosa (Taiwan), VEGAN (M): Global warming is becoming worse. As to the vegetarian diet, I think we can encourage it.

VOICE: The Chiayi plan, like other recently introduced reduced-meat programs in Yunlin, Hsinchu, and Changhua Counties, emphasizes healthy eating habits and especially the halting of global warming by avoiding animal products.

Tseng Nan-shun – Principal, Song-May Elementary School (M): Being veg is the way for us to reduce the danger of global warming, and I totally agree with it.

Chen Yun-ru – Student, Jhu-Tsun Elementary School (F): With the serious situation of global warming, meat eating is causing a lot of bad effects.

VOICE: Another aspect of this county-wide initiative is its encouragement of respect for life and care for the animals.

Dr. Huang Gui-nan – Professor, Tatung Institute of Commerce and Technology (M): The first consequence of being veg is less killing, and this is a kind of ethical education.

Zhuang Ming-xun – Student, Jhu-Tsun Elementary School (M): We have to do something to protect the animals.

VOICE: Our respectful accolades, Magistrate Zhang, Chiayi County and other Formosan governments and schools! May this be the start of even greater meat-eliminating actions to curb climate change, save the animals and ensure a safe and healthful future for all children!

Group of students (M,F): Be veg! Go green! Save the planet! Yeah!

British government agency Natural England reports that nearly 500 species of flora and fauna became extinct in the past two centuries alone, with 1,000 more now on the brink of vanishing forever due to hunting, pollution and climate change.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/11/extinct-species-england

“Global Warming and Health” Summit held in Formosa (Taiwan)

Findings on climate change presented by Dr. Liu Shaw-Chen, Director of the Environmental Change Research Center of Academia Sinica in Formosa showed that the duration and intensity of typhoons and rainstorms on the island have doubled within 45 years, while the rate of sea level rise in Formosa is higher than the world’s average.

In response to the urgency of these and other global warming effects, the National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch and the Yunlin County government held their first climate change forum in Yunlin.

Participants called on the government and medical professionals to act decisively in reducing meat consumption to halt global warming, while also averting a human health crisis.

Ming-Been Lee, President of Taiwan Medical Association, Formosa (M): From the medical field, we already found out that meat-eating is one of the factors that affects global warming. So as we talk specifically about health issues,of course we should emphasize vegan, plant-based food.

Dr. Rui-Yun Xu – Attending physician, Hua-Lian Tzu Chi Hospital , Formosa (F): Vegetarians have a purer and healthier body. We see that from many of our past surveys and many medical reports.

VOICE: Initiatives to encourage the veg trend, such as that already launched by the Yunlin County government, were also discussed.

Zhi-Fen Su, Yunlin County Magistrate, Formosa (F): We encourage all schools to go meatless at least one day a week. From Meatless Mondays, we gradually promote and extend to two days a week. We hope this would allow all of us humans to focus on our own health as well as the harmonious relationship with natural resources, and begin to take this kind of issue seriously.

VOICE: National Taiwan University Hospital, Yunlin County government, and all summit dignitaries and participants, many thanks for your efforts to encourage society toward the manifold benefits of the plant-based diet.

May everyone swiftly turn to this nutritious fare to halt climate change in time and ensure the health of all. As mentioned on previous occasions in addressing the urgent state of our Earth, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke during an October 2009 videoconference in Hong Kong of the personal and planet- saving benefits of the
organic vegan lifestyle.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Everybody knows organic vegetables are very healthy. You see, if you eat organic vegetables, you will hardly have to go to the hospital and all the money we can save to better education for the children, better care for the elderly, and building more beautiful roads, more equipment, inventions, and use it more for sustainable energies, for free for everybody. The benefit has no ends.

It’s high time we turn away from the harmful, unsustainable meat business and go toward a more civilized, more efficient, more sustainable, more humane means, namely organic vegan. And it will save the planet.

In a letter to the United Nations, US climate envoy Todd Stern confirms the United States’ goal of reducing emissions 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.

http://www.france24.com/en/20100128-us-affirms-climate-goals-un

Enthusiasm runs high in Formosan (Taiwanese) school for reduced-meat program

Following an initiative launched by the Student Council, Yangtze High School in Yunlin County, Formosa (Taiwan) began to adopt meals without beef, pork, chicken, and fish, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The program is starting with one day, and eventually will extend to all days of the week. With students who were inspired by a recent presentation on the climate impact of meat given by the Yunlin County Government, Supreme Master Television’s correspondent reports on the program’s success from Yangtze High School, Formosa.

Formosan (Taiwanese) Correspondent (F): Earth-loving viewers, I am here at the Yangtze High School of Yunlin County, Formosa. In this school, a group of students realized how desperate the warming is now faced by the planet.
On their own accord, they asked their principal to offer the whole school a “Healthy Less-Carbon Diet” to help save our precious Earth.

Alex Wu – Student Council chair (M): We thought it will impact the planet a lot if we continue to eat meat.
Therefore at first, I promoted this measure in our class.

Eric Hong – Student (M): We held a class meeting and decided to extend this activity to the whole school in the future. Then hopefully in the future it can be extended to our families.

Peng-Chou Wei – Principal, Yangtze High School (M): After the media reported the fact, I received many calls and many internet messages, commending us.
They also look forward to our students inspiring other schools – all of us together to save the planet!

Correspondent (F): The Student Council chair represented all students in the pledge: “Cherish animals, respect lives and eat vegetables to stop global warming” and save the Earth.

The decision has brought about enthusiastic responses from the students. Many conveyed their messages in the school newspaper to show how much they support this wise, loving decision.

“Only after having this lunch do I feel that I have made a contribution to the Earth…” – Yang Kai-Hsiang

(female) “… I realize how valuable each life is. I also understand how I can change the world through small actions.”
– Wang Sheng-Wen

Correspondent (F): Let’s take a look at these young, healthy and active friends.
Correspondent (F): What is your vision of Earth’s future?
Eric Hong – Student (M): So we hope that in the future, through the vegetarian activities we promote, we can gradually curb climate anomalies.
Janny Yang – Student (F): I think it’s a very great measure. We let ourselves be healthier and even protect our environment. Classroom of students: Be veg, go green, save the planet! Yeah!

VOICE: Bravo and many thanks, Yangtze High School Student Council, fellow students and faculty, and the Yunlin County Government of Formosa for your leadership in reducing meat to stop climate change.
May this be the start of the most ideal organic vegan trend benefiting schools throughout Formosa and the world!

Formosan (Taiwanese) high school students promote meat-free meals to save the planet

The Student Council of Yangtze High School in Yulin County, Formosa (Taiwan) launched a campaign calling on the entire school to adopt meat-free meals to reduce carbon emissions, going from class to class to promote their message.

After gaining approval from the students and teachers in the school of over 1000 people, the high school is starting with one veg meal a week and will gradually increase to meat-free meals served daily in the future.
A statement from the Student Council said, "We can be just as healthy and happy without meat, and have the vitality for our study while we love our planet at the same time."

Student Council and participating students of Yangtze High School, we applaud and admire your noble initiative. Blessed be all such efforts as yours in bringing optimal refreshment and vigor to humans while restoring our Earthly home.
http://mag.udn.com/mag/campus/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=227314

Vegetarian school lunches now more prevalent in US

A recent survey completed by 1,200 school nutrition directors throughout the US revealed that vegetarian meals have increased as a regular school lunch option from 22% in 2003 to nearly 67% in 2009. Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, which subsidizes the meals, received over 10,000 public comments in 2008 requesting an increase the availability of vegetarian foods at schools. The survey also showed that 20.5% of the lunch programs nationwide offer vegan meal options, meaning foods with no animal-based products. In an effort to feature even more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in lunches, the School Nutrition Association is calling for an increase in government subsidies for its programs.

What heartening news! Bravo, School Nutrtion Association and US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, for your efforts to expand offerings of vegetarian and vegan meals! We look forward to the day when such delicious fresh veg meals are the norm for students worldwide.