Climate Camp Activists Target Environmentally ‘Irresponsible’ Meat Industry

Photo opportunity at Smithfield Market, Charterhouse Street, London EC1

Contact: Paul Jacobs on 07748 175012

This morning, six Climate Camp activists have occupied the roof of
Smithfield meat market [1] to highlight the links between climate change
and meat consumption. The activists have dropped a banner bearing the
message “Fight Climate Change - Go Vegan”.

They also quoted the 2007 UN Food and Agriculture report that found that
18% of global greenhouse emissions are caused by animal farming – more
than the entire transport sector worldwide [2]. The protesters argue that
all major political parties have failed to address this serious problem
and as a consequence the public have not been encouraged to adopt an
environmentally responsible diet.

The group is calling for more people to choose a vegan diet, which
excludes all animal products including meat, eggs and dairy, in order to
massively reduce climate altering emissions. “An animal-based diet is no
longer sustainable with climate change threatening the planet, its
ecosystems, and the people who depend on them,” said Clare Whitney, one of
the activists.

The fossil fuel input to produce a day’s food for a vegan is just under
10,000 calories, compared to 34,000 calories for a meat eater – the
equivalent of nearly 1.5 tonnes more carbon dioxide per person per year
[3]. As such, the climate camp protestors maintain, changing the way we
eat is one of the most powerful ways for individuals to reduce their
carbon footprint.

Smithfield market is one of the largest wholesale trading places for meat
products in the UK. Eighty-five thousand tonnes of produce pass through it
each year including meat, poultry and cheese.

Phil Murray, 22, noted: “the meat industry is up there with short-haul
flights as one of the most environmentally irresponsible sectors.”

The action is taking place as part of the Camp for Climate Action [4], a
week-long protest against the building of a new coal-fired power station
at Kingsnorth in Kent, which, if built, will emit between 6 and 8 million
tons of CO2 every year.

To speak to someone at the action, call Paul Jacobs on 07748 175012. For
more general information and interviews about the Camp for Climate Action,
call the Climate Camp Media Team on 07932 096677.

Notes to editors

[1] Smithfield Market is on Charterhouse Street, London EC1
[2] United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation 2007. Livestock’s
Long Shadow: environmental issues and options.
 http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.html
[3] The Vegan Society www.vegansociety.com
[4] For more info on the Climate Camp visit www.climatecamp.org.uk

For further comment on the action, call Paul Jacobs 07748175012.

ENDS