As the Meat Free Monday campaign celebrates its 10th year, the campaign, headed by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, is launching #MFMCountMeIn – a ‘loud and proud’ way to be part of a growing global movement.
The #MFMCountMeIn anniversary campaign aims to bring celebrities, businesses, not-for-profit groups, educational institutions and individual supporters together, to celebrate what people are doing on the meat free front and inspire even more people to get on board. A host of high profile supporters have already endorsed this, including Ringo Starr, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Joanna Lumley, Paul Rudd, Isla Fisher, Annabelle Wallis, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Nealon, Ellie Goulding, Alicia Silverstone, David Walliams, Orlando Bloom, Beth Ditto, Alexis Gauthier, Livia Firth, Rosemary Ferguson, Ocean Robbins, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Dr Christiana Palmer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson – and many more are planning to join in the conversation today.
Meat Free Monday has come a long way since its launch in 2009, working with hundreds of schools, universities, restaurants and businesses, making an appeal at the EU Parliament, publishing The Meat Free Monday Cookbook, producing a documentary short, ‘One Day a Week’, etc. But these are critical times and there is still a long way to go.
From the McCartney family on celebrating the anniversary:
Paul: “10 years of Meat Free Monday – I can’t believe it! It’s beautiful, and the support we’ve had from all these lovely people – you and all the other lovely people – it’s been great. It’s a simple idea that people have caught onto. They love it, we love it, the planet loves it, everybody loves it, the animals love it. It’s Meat Free Monday – happy 10 years!”
Mary: “I am proud to be a member of the Meat Free Monday global community, where everyone can make a difference. It’s a word of mouth movement, so please spread the message – Happy 10th Birthday Meat Free Monday!”
Stella: “Join us in celebrating 10 years of Meat Free Monday. Our planet needs us more now than ever. So let’s save the animals, save the planet, together.”
The link between diet and climate change is now widely known and the science is clear: In 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that we have just 12 years to stave off a huge climate crisis, with the food system identified as a major problem. Just last month, a stark report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services highlighted how one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction as a result of human activity including animal agriculture and industrial fishing.
Young people across the world have been reacting to the lack of political action on climate by staging ‘climate strikes’, international group Extinction Rebellion has called on governments to take action and the UK Parliament has called a climate emergency.
Shopping habits have changed dramatically in the last ten years, with consumer demand leading to many new plant-based products now being available in shops and restaurants. According to research company Kantar Worldpanel, 150 million more meat free dinners were sold in January 2019 compared with the same month the previous year. And 21% of UK households have cut down on their meat intake, a shift due in part to campaigns like Meat Free Monday.
The meat free movement is gaining huge strides outside of the UK too with successful campaigns running in over 40 countries. Meat Free Monday has a new logo, with a personal touch from Paul McCartney, and hopes its fresh and fun anniversary campaign will inspire people to become part of the movement, or, if already supporting, reduce their meat and dairy consumption even further. Please join in online using the hashtag #MFMCountMeIn.
For more information about Meat Free Monday and to receive updates about exciting announcements throughout the year, please visit www.meatfreemondays.com.