10:10 Campaign launched in Dublin this week

“Oh no”,  I hear you say,  “not another one”.  But please folks, this campaign may just be the difference we have been waiting for.

Launched in the UK last month by film producer Franny Armstrong, he of The Age of Stupid  fame, the 10:10 campaign is about individuals and by extension, organisations putting their names on the line to pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by the end of 2010  – its a lifestyle change, a behavioural change.

By signing up to 10:10 you are not just promising to reduce your own emissions – you become part of a national drive to hit an ambitious goal country-wide. In homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals, sports clubs and universities, it’s a support network that backs each other to take the first necessary steps on the road to becoming a low-carbon society.

Read about the UK campaign here.

John Gormley launched the Irish version last Thursday, Oct. 29th

Meat Free Monday

McCartney launches Meat Free Mondays

Paul McCartney with daughters Stella and Mary

I have to confess to enjoying  my own home-made beef burgers in a red onion and wine gravy – its a real winter comfort food but I know only too well the effect rearing cattle has on the environment so I’m going Meat Free Mondays.

Renowned musician and vegetarian, Paul McCartney, helped launch Meat Free Mondays in response to the ever-growing climate change crisis.

Personally I think its a great idea – healthwise, dietwise, economicwise and environment-wise and I’m looking forward to changing my eating habits.

Here are some other reasons why its a good idea.  I’ll post some  tasty veggie recipes soon – you’ve been warned.

According to the UN Report ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’, methane-emissions from cattle account for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, even higher than global transport emissions which come in at 13%.

Here are some other facts:

Meat is a “major stressor” on the world’s ecosystems, according to a UN report

*Meat makes 1.4 per cent of global GDP but 18 per cent of greenhouse gases

*Forty calories of fossil fuel energy go into producing a calorie of beef, but 2.2 calories for one calorie of plant protein

*Livestock production uses 8 per cent of the world’s fresh water

*One billion people are overweight, mostly in the west, where meat consumption is higher. Vegetarians tend to be slimmer

*The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating 500g red meat a week

Of course,  ICSA leader, Eddie Punch has dismissed the idea as ‘nonsense’ and in an article  headed ‘Farm leader dismisses McCartney’s meat-free campaign’ Punch claims the campaign is a front for ‘militant vegetarianism dressed up as concern for the environment’. Don’t you just love it.

He has a point though when he claims that ‘ageing pop stars, noted for their conspicuous consumption and wasteful jet setting, are hardly best placed to lecture ordinary meat-eating folk on how to change their lifestyle patterns in order to save the planet.”

There’s a more in-depth interview with Macca and his two daughters Stella and Mary here.