News

Ghent goes green instead of red

May 14, 2009 Edition 4

GHENT: The Belgian town of Ghent has urged its citizens to go vegetarian on Thursdays.

"No meat on the table one day a week is good for the climate, your health and your taste buds," the city council told citizens on its website.

Town councillor Tom Balthazar launched the appeal at Ghent's vegetable market yesterday, calling on people to pledge to turn vegetarian at least once a week, preferably on Thursdays.

The campaign, "Thursday - Veggie Day", argues that meat eating can contribute to heart disease and obesity. Organisers also say meat production is bad for the environment, as it leads to forest clearance, consumes grain and water, and causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars in the world. - Sapa-dpa