Despite the increasingly overwhelming evidence of the impact that meat & dairy farming has on the planet, none of the national environmental campaigning organisations currently promote plant based diets. Wouldn`t it be great if we could influence groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace to encourage their supporters and the general public to adopt a veggie/vegan diet for the benefit of the planet?!! Well, now we have an opportunity to do just that.

Friends of the Earth are currently developing their next Five Year Plan for 2008-2013 and they are seeking help from their members/supporters across the country. This plan will dictate the overall approach that Friends of the Earth takes as an organisation and the types of campaigns they are likely to run from 2008 onwards. FOE want all local group members to tell them what campaigns they should work on and how.

Not Currently a Member?

If you`re not currently a member of your local FOE group, it`s easy to sign up! Joining doesn`t mean that you`re obliged to attend meetings & other events(although that`s a great way of networking!), it simply means you`ll be able to contribute your thoughts about FOE`s future campaigns. There are over 200 local FOE groups across the UK, so there`s bound to be a group near you, and you can become a member for as little as £2-3 a year. You can find your local group here

How You Can Input Your Thoughts

January 2007 - Regional Five Year Plan Consultation Meetings
During January 2007, every region across the country will host a Five Year Plan Consultation Meeting. Local group members are being encouraged to attend their regional meeting. The West Midlands meeting takes place on Sat 13 Jan in Birmingham City Centre. You can find details of your regional meeting here or you can give your opinions in an online strategic consultation here

April - May 2007 - More Online/Written Consultation
More communication and small scale consultation on the key strategic decisions so far.

Autumn 2007 - Developing and Deciding on Specific Campaigns
This will be about specific campaigns, resulting in the `campaigns package` that Friends of the Earth will take forward over the first period of the next plan. There will be more online/written consultation, possibly further regional face-to-face discussions and finally, there`ll be more consultation at the FOE Conference 2007, to be held at Reading University from 7th - 9th September.

For further details and for updates throughout 2007, bookmark this page

Why Should FOE Promote Plant Based Diets?

Ditching animal products in favour of vegetarian/vegan diets is the single most effective action that any individual can take to reduce their personal impact on the planet. The evidence for this is indisputable, so much so that organisations whom you may not expect to speak out, are beginning to do so. For instance, take a look at this quote:

"The livestock sector accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions - more than transport, which emits 13.5%."

This quote is taken from a report titled - Livestock’s Long Shadow, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The report goes on to say that livestock production is at the heart of almost every other environmental catastrophe confronting the planet - rainforest destruction, spreading deserts, loss of fresh water, air and water pollution, acid rain and soil erosion. You can read the report in full here

We would urge you to read this report and familiarise yourself with the facts before attending one of the consultation meetings or filling in the online forms. Much more information can be found in Viva!`s excellent and fully referenced report Planet on a Plate
With enough pressure from compassionate, environmentally minded people, we have no doubt that FOE can be persuaded to include the promotion of plant based diets in their five year plan. And other organisations will then surely follow suit! 

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