The public are being encouraged to take up the challenge to go one week zero meat as part of the Malta Meat Free Week challenge organised by VeggyMalta, starting on Monday, till the 24th of October.

In this, the fourth year running for the challenge, the initiative is targeted at increasing the growing community of vegans, vegetarians and also flexitarians (people who consume very little meat) in Malta.

This year’s theme is `Go One Week Zero Meat – The planet will thank you.’ The aim is to emphasise the direct link between meat (and dairy) and climate change.

Malta Meat Free Week and VeggyMalta coordinator Darryl Grima said that “by choosing to do the challenge you are making a positive impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, animal cruelty and your health. In fact, there are few things that an individual can do that can have such a wide positive impact on the environment as reducing their consumption of meat.”

He explained that “it is calculated that meat and dairy production contributes around 14% of the total greenhouse emissions generated. This is equivalent to all the greenhouse gasses generated by all means of transport put together, including cars, planes, trains and ships. This is why a change in lifestyle can have such a positive impact.”

Malta Meat Free Week has managed to involve various stakeholders from importers and retailers in this common aim. This year around 20 of the major supermarkets plus a number of online and health shops across Malta and Gozo have chosen to support the initiative and will be offering meat-free products at discounted prices, the organisers said.

Those who want to join the challenge can do so by going on www.maltameatfreeweek.com and join online. This year a weekend break at the Radisson Blu Resort St Julian’s for 2 people is offered as a prize for somebody who completes the challenge.

The initiative also has a facebook page. The campaign is sponsored by Alpro and Heinz (vegan mayo) as main sponsor and Sheese (a vegan cheese) and Linda McCartney and Birds Eye Green Cuisine (vegan meat alternatives) as sponsors.

It is important that people participating tag maltameatfreeweek on facebook or Instagram with their photos.

The organisers said that a number of organisations, groups and blogs have supported this initiative including MSPCA, Animal Liberation Malta, Marrow Health, Veg Fund, ProVeg and Cruelty Free Malta.

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