18 Days of McCartney Day 14- Meat Free Monday

Macca's on a mission to save the world and he wants you to get involved!

"If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That's the single most important thing you could do. It's staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty."- Paul McCartney

Meat Free Monday is a campaign started by Paul McCartney and his two daughters, Mary and Stella. The organization started on 15 June, 2009 after being participates in Meatless Monday.

Meatless Monday is an international program that encourages people to give up one day a week, Monday, to not eat meat. By not eating meat it can significantly help improve ones health and the health of the world. The organization was part of The Monday Campaigns Inc. founded in 2003 by Sid Lerner.  But the story of Meat free meals came long before that.

Paul McCartney;The Meat Free Monday Cookbook

It was during World War I when President Wilson promoted citizens to give up meat of Tuesdays and for one meat free meal a day. The Untied States Food Administration (USFA), which was run by Herbert Hoover at the time as well as the American Relief Association,  would advertise recipe books, menus, and magazines to support Meatless Tuesdays and Wheatless Wednesdays.  Not too long afterwards, World War II broke out which called for this campaign to start all over again. Meat, along with sugar and gasoline. Although, it began with Wilson's  thinking to ship meat off to the U.S troops and feed Europe populations suffering during this era instead of saving the animals, with the slogan;

"Food Will Win the War"

 After meeting his first wife, Linda, Paul McCartney had became an animal activist and full vegetarian. It's no surprise though after his love of animals shown through his farm in Kintyre, Scotland, and for those who followed The Beatles must know about his love for his sheepdog, Martha. Paul had taken part in the UK's version of Meatless Monday called Meat-free Mondays, which was gaining big support from organizations like Goodlife Food and as an environmental campaign itself. Ghent, Belgium became the first city to have an official weekly vegetarian days, with Veggie Thursday (Donderdag Veggiedag) which was created by an organization funded by the Flemish government, the Ethical Vegetarian Alternative.  Paul and his daughters began the campaign on 15 June, 2009, from there Meatless Monday took off in Israel where they announced their Meatless Monday, Israel restaurant even started to create their own meals for Meatless Monday. Sao Paulo having a huge success being supported by the Brazilian Vegetarian Society. That same year in December, the campaign was launched in Australia.On 6 April, 2010, the first US city to officially become part of Meat-Free Monday, calling it Vegetarian Day, was San Fransisco. The Minitry of Environmental and Nature Protection of Croatia began their support for the project in March of 2012.

On 15 July, 2009 The McCartney's launched their own website, MeatFreeMondays.com, where they state;

"You don't have to join or become a member - or do anything else other than have one meat-free day each week - but by registering your support, you'll help show the world the power and positivity of the Meat Free Monday message"

To register and save lives of animals, your health, and the planet, simply go to MeatFreeMondays.com and click "Get Involved" to sign up for free where you will receive an email saying;

"Thanks for registering you support of Meat Free Monday!

Stella,Paul,and Mary;The Meat Free Monday Cookbook

Please encourage your friends and family to join in too and please continue to visit www.meatfreemondays.com for all the latest meat-free news, events and delicious recipes!

Warm regards,

The Meat Free Monday team

One day a week can make a world of difference.

Together we can have a huge impact!"

In 2011, Paul, Stella, and Mary McCartney released the Gourmand World Cookbook Award, The Meat Free Monday Cookbook, with recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert for every Monday in a year. That's right 52 weeks worth of Meat-free recipes from the McCartney household, Twiggy, Pink, Skye Gyngell, Giorgio Locatelli, Mario Batali, Tom Aikens, and many more other celebrities who care and support Meat-Free Monday. Books are being sold at The Meat-Free Monday website, order your copy today.

"The vast majority of people are conscientious and would want to do something in their own lives to help secure a happier future for the generations that follow. While many suggestions offered can be quite difficult to put into practise, the idea of one meat-free day per week is something that many people find doable and something that, with the help of this book, can be achieved relatively easily."- Paul, Stella, and Mary McCartney, The Meat Free Monday Cookbook.

 I'd continue to write more about the organization itself but if I did that then you wouldn't visit the website! So while your sitting down, or standing, or what ever position you are in while reading this silly little post, click here, and became part of Meat-Free Monday today to change the world.

The following video is Paul McCartney's "Meat-Free Monday" song;