This World Vegan Day, let’s go the Vegan way
After first being celebrated back in 1994, World Vegan Day has become an annual tradition worldwide – a tradition that has become a sustainable way of life
Health, climate change, animal welfare, these are just some of the reasons why people are embracing a plant based lifestyle. But the truth is that if we are to look at a sustainable future – veganism is the way forward.
According to BBC Future, if veganism was adopted by everyone by 2050, the world would have about eight million fewer deaths every year. Food-related emissions would drop by around 60% and repurposing former pastures into native habitats and forests would alleviate climate change and bring back lost biodiversity. This would include larger herbivores such as buffaloes, and predators such as wolves, all of which were previously pushed out or killed in order to keep cattle. Lastly, veganism would lower the chances of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers.
Sharing his view on World Vegan Day, Here and Now 365‘s Managing Director Manish Tiwari said: “What started off as a movement is today a way of life – and a sustainable one at that too. If we are looking to secure our future, it is high time we break the cultural and geographical shackles we have grown up with and embrace veganism as a way that would only help us as a society to live for a future that is sustainable, compassionate and cruelty free.”
The Middle East, which is known for its consumption of meat, is also now evolving into a green society. Earlier this year, Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed announced plans to open nearly a dozen vegan restaurants throughout the Middle East. “By 2020 we are aiming to have a minimum of 10 restaurants/cafes. Our region occupies parts of the top ten most obese counties in the world. I’m not saying opening 10 restaurants will solve this issue, but you better believe it’s a step in the right direction.”
Another inspiring move is by the German Environment minister Barbara Hendricks who has ruled that only vegetarian food is to be served at official functions. This comes as not surprise considering majority of the meat substitutes are from Germany.
