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Subscribe to RSSLos Angeles is hoping to persuade people to become vegetarian – at least one day per week. Under a resolution unanimously approved by the city council this week, all future Mondays in the City of Angels have been declared "Meatless Mondays."
It's part of an international campaign to cut down on meat consumption for health and environmental reasons.
Both the spiritual home of the hamburger and a haven for the health-obsessed, Los Angeles became the largest city in the nation to support the Meatless Monday campaign. The nonprofit initiative, started in 2003, is associated with Johns Hopkins University's public health school.
Councilwoman Jan Perry, who introduced the motion with Councilman Ed Reyes, noted the environmental impacts of meat production, and she emphasized that a high-meat diet has been linked to health problems such as colon, prostate, kidney and breast cancers, as well as heart disease.
"Eating less meat can prevent and even reverse some of our nation's most common illnesses," Perry said.
"We've become disconnected in some ways from the simple truth that our health is directly affected by the foods we eat,'' she added.
Read more from NBCLosAngeles.com
Her motion posted 12-0 in a council session Friday.
Reyes said it is easy for individuals to feel helpless in the face of issues as big as global warming or the obesity epidemic, "but the small changes we make every day can have a tremendous impact. That's why this 'Meatless Monday' resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.''
The council resolution referred to the link between livestock and environmental problem, and noted that reduced consumption of animal-based foods can "lower our carbon footprint."
The decision was made "in support of comprehensive sustainability efforts as well as to further encourage residents to eat a more varied plant-based diet to protect their health, protect animals and protect the environment."
The resolution also pointed to statistics showing more than half of Los Angeles County residents are obese or overweight, and stated reduced meat consumption can lower health risks.
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I go meatless already...I eat Burger King most everyday...
Amazing, first that stupid gun law in Chicago and now this piece of idiocy. The liberals have become even more unhinged since the election.
And it only gets worse going forward. Or would tht be backwards?
DEV:
Yes, and its only been 5-days since the election. Imagine what they can do in four years.
This is so silly and wasteful. Yes its healthier but the councils time could have been better spent finding ways to improve their school system and helping poor kids who don't get meat anyway. In LA if you really want to help the environment leave your cars at home and use mass transit on Mondays. Gee there's a thought.
Why Meatless Mondays? We Catholics have been doing Meatless Fridays for centuries!
Yeah, this is going to work, not.
The land of gyms, health clubs, spas and the beautiful people is obese? Say it ain't so...
The fruits and nuts will revolt and ignore the law. The beef industry will file suit and kill vegetable Monday.
"Call any vegetable. Call it by name ... " - F Zappa
Speaking of Crockpots... With stupid ideas like this, it no wonder people have little respect for law and order.
So what's the penalty for not following Meatless Monday? Do you not go to heaven? Are you carted off to jail? Maybe they would show more leadership abilities if they worked at regulating the meat industry to force livestock producers to stop dosing animals with antibiotics and genetically altered grain. THAT would actually help improve public health. I'm sure there are plenty of people in this country who can't even afford to eat meat every day, and they're health hasn't been impacted in a positive way. More impotent rules by impotent politicians.
Don't see many skinny welfare recipients!!!
"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"
Circle of life, we should let the wildlife know to follow this.
I propose ignoring idiot liberal Tuesdays!
Keep on with your never ending taxes and we will go two days being without anything to eat.
And the Democrats wonder why we dont get along.Stay out of our lives! Government does NOT know what is best.
What's really up is that in a very subtle way they are attempting to ease everyone into the reality of the mass starvation that is surely to come right before the $hit hits the fan for good. The gov is experts at that you know. We call it government propoganda
You would think that the LA city council would have more important things on their agenda....then a "meatless Monday." At the cost of meat....there are probably lots of people who go without meat several days a week.
oh wait....politicians don't have to worry about that....there is always plenty of food on their tables.
Men and women have been meat eaters since the dawn of time for human-like and human creatures. I am elderly and enjoy a good steak sans veggies almost every day. At 71 I'm probably in better health than most others. I don't go to doctors, take medications, don't smoke, don't drink. And if you think I will give up my protein fixes, you can darn well forget it. I'm a meat eater! Most of you out there are also meat eaters! Make a point of buying all of your meats on Mondays.
So you have a leftist city council government using their authority to proclaim a day of the week where they encourage everyone to follow a particular religions dietary code.
More people don't have a problem with this?
(Yes, vegetarianism is a religion. It is a belief system based on a perceived moral code. It fits every single definition of a religion. )
Screw this big brother mentality our government has instilled in us. Get out of my wallet, my kitchen, my bedroom and my dinner time!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its small, but its the beginning of the new world order Obumma spoke of. AmeriKa!! #Impeachobama
Liberals need the gov't to think and act for them. Many are borderline retards!
Think--and eat--outside the (KFC) box or (McDonalds) bag for a change. It's a suggestion only; to experiment and see and taste "what else is out there". Be a little more open to that, and life will be more of an adventure. Teach the kids, and they will be more open-minded than you are. Mostly, have some FUN with it!!
You mean indoctrinate!!! You want to eat leaves and twigs, that's your business, but don't impose your bullsh*t on others, ahole!!!
Maybe your anger is related to eating dead animals??
Maybe your stupidy is related to the lack of protein. And where do you get off telling people what they should do with their lives and the lives of their children?
Rally........It's called communist liberalism. This nation is being eaten alive by it, time for another 1861 adventure.
Isn't it great, LA is full of fat a$$ porch monkeys and fence climbers that shoot at each other all f^ck'n day, and this what their Sh1tty City Counsel comes up with?
Rally, you really are overreacting. No one is telling you what to do with your life; please look up the definition of "suggestion". Trying new things does not mean that you have to change your life or your lifestyle--it just opens a door to what else is out there. I was married to a meat eater for 36 years and it was never an issue. Our kids were exposed to both ends of the stick, and made their own choices (they usually preferred what I ate--and I promise you, there were no leaves and twigs on the menu!).
Farewell--my grilled avocado-tomato-cheese on whole grain toast is calling. Love yah!!
Joanna:
In the liberal world of big govt, suggestions lead to enacted laws. Look at NYC for the pattern. Need I elaborate for the ignorant?
***
Rally, there are some interesting articles on introducing vegetarian and/or vegan diets to the prison population (yes, they had a choice!) and how it affected behavior and violence. I can't put links here, but just google "vegetarian diet and prison population". (Remember--I am merely suggesting it--I am not telling you to!) It's just interesting reading.
Again--I am strongly support Free Choice--but sometimes choices are not as free as you think they are--because you have not tried the alternative(s). I respect your choice, even after calling me an a**hole, stupid, and ignorant. Be well!
I majored in criminal justice and I remember a study in the UK where they started giving them more vegetables and vitamins and the violence and behavioral problems went way down.
And I looove the ignorant guy above stating that vegetarians eat "sticks and twigs." Last night I had Swedish meatless balls with a mushroom/rosemary gravy, the night before that I had chicken teriyaki -- all vegan meats, just as chewy, savory and tasty, no cholesterol, just as much protein, and no animals involved. Also no biting into grizzle or getting veins stuck in my teeth. No worries about cooking it ok so I don't get e. coli. because there's no poop in it from inefficient slaughter methods. SO many ignorant people out there who think being vegetarian means living on sunflower seeds or carrots, LIES. My meat eating younger brothers have to take high blood pressure meds and mine is perfect. Gonna go make pumpkin pancakes for my kid for breakfast now. We definitely don't go hungry or go without! We hate salad.
A lib. does not like meat there for NO ONE SHOULD EAT MEAT.....on the other hand....the dear lady would appear to NEED SEVERAL FOODLESS DAYS. You can talk the talk.....but its tough to walk the walk.
Good catch, Larry. Looks like she's tipping the metric ton scale a bit!
I have no weight problem or health issues and I have been eating meat everyday. I think if you have weak genes you may want to eat healthier than those that have strong genes. Most bleeding hearts; tree huggers; Birkenstock wearing hippies; and animal right activists have weak genes, otherwise they wouldn't come up with this sh-t.
I find it sad that people are so defensive to this suggestion. I understand the concern that this is more big government but as the article states, Meatless Monday has been around since 2003. It is just a suggestion not an order. It takes 20 times more energy and recourses to produce one pound of beef than a pound of grain. Simply stated, if the world was vegetarian there would be no starving people. It is as much a matter of compassion as well as health. We fat Americans need to wake up and start practicing the Christian principles we proclaim.
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein
You must be one of those PITA idiots pushing your "Animals have Rights" agenda!
"We fat Americans need to wake up and start practicing the Christian principles we proclaim."
If you're a vegetarian why are you a lard a$$ to begin with?
Rallyforge,
I would suggest you did a better job making yourself out as an idiot than me. Everyone reading this will notice I said nothing about animal rights or PETA which you managed to misspell as well. This is about people starving and has nothing to do with animals. How you managed to get extract PETA and animals from my post defies intelligence which you obviously are shy of.
No, Rallyforge had it right, PITA, Pain in the A$$.
Exactly, JW!
California = morons
California also was the leader in the no-smoking movement with equal resistance by the right-to-smoke crowd. We know what happened there. Why do people feel threatened when their unhealthy lifestyle is even just being discussed? Before commenting here and dissing California and their meatless Mondays idea, go research what impact our current ways of meat production and consumption has on you and on our environment. Go ahead and stuff yourself with meat full of hormones and antibiotics - remember, you eat what your meat eats including candy, feathers and ground up bones and waste from dead animals. Check it out before you comment, the information is out there. And: Guten Appetit!
Daisie:
What others do with their lives is non of your f-ing business! You liberals think it's okay to legalize marijuana and the turn around and say food, cigs, etc. is bad! Dumbazz!!!
I guess your reading comprehension is lacking, so I'll explain: I said in my post to go ahead with whatever you want to do. And enjoy. So your comment does make no sense. Early symptoms of too much BSE exposure...?
You know, I already do this. But when someone tells me I have to I'll stop.
The only things more offensive to me than this article are some of the comments that I found below it! In one comment I believe I saw someone saying not to criticize this resolution because its better to mock actual people (overweight people) than it is to mock silly policies like this one. In another comment I read that this is for the good of overweight people because it will help them get skinny. Last I checked, I live in America and I am entitled to do what I want, within reason, and I don't think that being overweight is a crime. Some people are just born that way...I eat junk all the time but you wouldn't be able to tell by my appearance. Also...I know fat Vegans/Vegetarians and skinny meat eaters. It's not what we're eating, but how much. I eat meat all the time and I've weighed 180 lbs for the past 9 years (I'm 25).
Must be something in the ocean waters. New York and LA both thinking they can tell people what and when to eat. Let's just hope it doesn't work it's way inland and infect those of us who still want to live our lives.
Keep voting for liberal dems and it will be spread across the country like the plague did in Europe!
Case in point: In NY, an anti-smoking group was pushing for a law to ban smoking in your own homes. In NYC, the mayor passed a law prohibiting salt in restaurants. Also, in NYC, the mayor recently passed a law outlawing 32oz soft-drinks.
Yeah, that global elitist SOB and his ilk are exactly what is drawing this nation closer to another civil war each and every day. This time instead of 600,000 casualties they are going to number in the tens of millions, and imo it can't come soon enough. That is the ONLY way we will ever purge this nation of the GD communist SOB's. KILL EM ALL BYGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
You two are right wing whacks! The scum Karl Roved stirred up to promote his agenda. I am not really sure why I am even taking the time to respond to your hate filled remarks. For Christ sake this is about helping the people of this planet. Are you too stupid and hate filled to see that? Are you Christians? Answer me! Are you?
Listen up all you queers and lesies this means no split licking and wennie washing on mondays
It also means no fur-burger on Mondays!!!
nice. very classy.
No CLASS, RALLYFORGE & BURGEREATER.
That's FUNNY!
Awwww, the PC Police have spoken!