LETTER
TO
THE
UNITED
NATIONS ORGANIZATION (UNO)
It is
necessary that we
put
on
the
agenda
a
GLOBAL
PACT
FOR
A
PLANT-BASED
FOOD SYSTEM
A commitment to
a joint effort of all
to
transform the
current food
system
into
a plant-based
food diet
out of the
respect for
the right
to life
of animals
and people.
Why?
Here
is a
list of
reasons:
-
Considering
that the
contempt for
the rights
of animals
has allowed
acts of
violence against
them.
-
About seventy
billion terrestrial
animals and
trillions of
aquatic animals
are being
needlessly killed every
year, as
we don't
need to
eat meat
to survive.
-
We
owe equal
respect for
the right
to live
of other
species, because animals
are also
conscious and
capable of
feeling pain
and suffering
- Considering that the use of animals for food has brought various diseases:
SARS,
caused by
coronaviruses; H1N1
swine flu;
avian influenza;
mad cow
disease;
AIDS
that originated
from hunting
chimpanzees, among
other diseases...
-
Killing wild animals and the contact with their bodily fluids make it easier for
viruses to eventually jump from the infected animal to humans.
-
And
the widespread use of antibiotics on intensive animal farming has contributed to
the emergence of
antibiotic-resistant superbugs, making it difficult to treat
and cure
bacterial infections in people.
-
Despite growing food insecurity and
global hunger, a large part of the arable
land and grain produced on the planet are used for livestock.
- Considering some environmental impacts of livestock, such as:
intense use
and contamination of
water by
waste,
fires, carbon
dioxide emissions,
destruction of
habitats, loss
of biodiversity...
-
Forests
have
been
deforested and replaced by pastures and large grain
monocultures to feed animals that will be slaughtered.
-
Deforestation reduces the humidity and rainfall so necessary for agriculture,
water supply and power generation in hydroelectric plants.
-
Livestock emits
methane,
a potent greenhouse gas that intensifies global warming
and
climate change such as
droughts and floods.
-
Food
systems are responsible for more than a third of
global greenhouse emissions.
Considering
that cruelty
is part
of industrial
animal farming:
- Animals are deprived of freedom in intensive confinement
- Females are enslaved and treated like machines for the production of meat, milk and eggs, and then slaughtered
- Industrial egg production involves the killing of billions of male chicks every year and the confinement of hens in cages or sheds
-
Milk
production involves artificial insemination, successive pregnancies for milking,
separation of the mother from her newborn baby, among other abuses
The killing
unnecessary for
survival is
an evil
that we
cannot allow
to continue happening.
According to the
American Dietetic Association, well-planned
vegetarian or
vegan diets are
healthy
at all
stages of
life, nutritionally
adequate, and
can provide
health benefits.
They
reduce the
incidence of
obesity, hypertension,
high blood
cholesterol, heart
attack deaths,
risk of
diabetes and
some types
of
cancer
such as
prostate and
large intestine.
What each one can do
Actions
for the
respect of
life
UNO
Include
"Respect for the Right to Life of Animals" in the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) agenda,
calling for
the joint
effort of
all (countries,
companies and
society) to
make the
transition and
transform the
current food
system into
a plant-based
feeding.
Industries
and consumers:
Replace animal milk with vegetable milk, preferably fortified
Replace cheeses and other dairy products such as ice cream and yoghurt with vegetable versions
Replace
animal meats
with
beans
or plant-based
meats
Replace
egg with
vegetable alternatives
in recipes.
Replace animal leather with synthetic leather or other materials
Governments
of nations
Prohibit
fires and
halt the
loss of
biodiversity.
Combat
deforestation and
illegal occupation
of public
lands.
Contain
the advance
of livestock
and large
monocultures of
grains for animal feed.
Stop
giving subsidies
to the
livestock sector
that degrades
the environment.
Provide
incentives for
family farming, the
planting of
diversified foods and
agroforestry.
Protect
global health.
Definitely ban
the trade in
wild animal
meats.
Combat
antibiotic resistance and one of its main causes which is the intensive
confinement that
makes massive
use of
antibiotics
so
that animals
survive in
overcrowded conditions
and grow
quickly.
Ending
nutritional myths.
Bring up-to-date
vegan food
and nutrition
education to
health professionals,
students and
the general
population through
food guides.
Encourage people
to replace animal meats with beans rich in protein and iron.
Encourage
the plant-based
healthy eating
pattern in
restaurants and
hunger relief
programs.
Reduce taxation
and provide more incentives for industrialized plant-based products such
as vegetable milk
and meats
so that they become
cheaper and
more accessible
to the
population.
Include
vitamin B12
in food
fortification as
this is
the only
nutrient that
needs to
be supplemented
in the
animal-free vegan
diet.
Support
the
new
technologies that
are being
developed for
the production
of meat
without the
slaughter of
animals to
put a definitive end to
slaughterhouses.
GLOBAL
PACT
FOR
A
FOOD
THAT
RESPECTS
THE
RIGHT
TO
LIFE
OF
ANIMALS
AND
PEOPLE
For
a better
world for
us, our
children and
future generations
For
the health
of people
and the
environment
For
the abolition
of animal
killing
For
justice and
animal liberation
from suffering
For
compassion and
love for
animals
Ana
Claudia Correa
Brazilian
educator and
animal rights
activist
Scientific
references on
the Natureba
website:
www.natureba.com.br
“The time will come when men such
as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of
men.”
Leonardo da Vinci
GLOBAL PACT FOR A PLANT-BASED FOOD SYSTEM
