McCartney calls for Meat Free Mondays

LONDON, June 15 (UPI) -- British rock 'n' roll icon Paul McCartney, along with his daughters Mary and Stella, are promoting a new food campaign called Meat Free Monday.

The campaign, which encourages people to help slow climate change by having one meat free day a week, has already gathered support from Chris Martin, Jeff Koons, Alec Baldwin, Woody Harrelson, Doris Day, Sheryl Crow, Kevin Spacey, Kelly Osbourne, Zac Goldsmith, Gillian Anderson, Jake and Dinos Chapman, David de Rothschild, Monty Don, Sam Taylor Wood, Sharleen Spiteri, John Frieda and Ricky Gervais, organizers said Monday.

The U.K. Food Climate Research Network estimates food production is responsible for between 20 percent to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and says livestock are responsible for around half of these. Livestock production releases gases such as methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and have a much more powerful climate changing effect than CO2, campaign organizers said in a release.

"I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable, healthier world," McCartney said in a statement. "Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism."

The campaign is supported by Linda McCartney Foods and has a dedicated Web site at www.supportMFM.org.