MEDIA RELEASE

30 March 2007

Meat Industry Threatens Life on Earth
Group highlights the true cost of eating meat

A meat industry ‘official’ will use their destructive powers to carve up the Earth while two farming ‘representatives’ will give away slices to a hungry audience today in Wellington. The public is expected to enjoy eating the Earth’s resources until they are depleted. National animal advocacy organisation SAFE says the action (commencing at 12.45pm on the waterfront behind Te Papa) will demonstrate just how harmful the meat industry is to animals and the Earth.

“Farm animals are a terrible drain on the Earth’s resources with cattle and sheep, particularly in New Zealand, being identified as leading contributors to global warming,” says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.

“Almost half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gases are from methane and nitrous oxide emissions caused by livestock. In addition, it takes 500 litres of water to produce 1 kilogram of potatoes, 2,000 litres to produce 1 kilogram of soybeans and a staggering 100,000 litres to produce 1 kilogram of feedlot beef.”

“Many of the world’s leading authorities on climate change are finger pointing at the meat industry. The meat industry is being implicated in contributing to acid rain, cancer, starvation, air pollution, animal suffering, deforestation, land degradation, water pollution, animal slaughter, soil erosion, obesity, diabetes and species’ extinction.”

“At a time when the world discusses climate change, we must address the serious consequences of farming animals for meat. Meat consumption has increased five-fold in 50 years and is expected to double by 2050, with most animals being kept on intensive farms.”

“How can the New Zealand meat industry today celebrate 125 years of farming animals when they are also linked to threatening life on Earth? Consumers must look at their eating habits and decide if it’s time to quit, or at least reduce, eating meat to help save the Earth.”

SAFE has launched QuitMeat.org.nz - a new website highlighting the true cost of eating meat and the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

ENDS

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