Meat Free Week 2014

In just one month's time, Australia's annual Meat Free Week will return bigger and better from 24-30 March. The national week is dedicated to raising awareness of the amount of meat Australians eat and the impact it has on human health, the environment and the welfare of animals.
 
Australians eat twice the recommended dietary guidelines of meat (a whopping average consumption of 113kg per person per annum) and almost three times as much as the world average. This consumption compromises our health, and with global meat production predicted to double within six years, it also raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and animal welfare.

Participants of Meat Free Week are sponsored to go without meat, including seafood, for seven days in order to raise funds for one of three leading charities – Bowel Cancer Australia (health), The Australian Conservation Foundation (environment) and Voiceless, the animal protection institute (animal welfare).

The 2014 campaign will be supported by a raft of famous faces including musician Ben Lee and actor Krew Boylan, as well as respected experts in the areas of health, the environment and animal welfare. Leading chefs Simon Bryant, Belinda Jeffery and Bill Granger are among many who have provided a range of delicious meat-free recipes, which can all be found on the website - www.meatfreeweek.org - along with information on how to take part.

Meat Free Week was launched in 2013 to raise awareness of excessive meat consumption and the animals harmed by factory farming. Through their research and discussions with a wide range of experts, founders Melissa Dixon and Lainie Bracher realised the negative impact the large amount of meat we consume has on our health and the environment.

'Meat Free Week quickly became a hot topic, creating debate in both traditional and social media," says Bracher. 'Ultimately, our goal is to get Australians thinking and talking about the amount of meat they eat and how it's produced. When it comes to our eating habits, a small change can make a huge difference."

During the 2013 campaign, Greens NSW MP Dr John Kaye introduced a motion to the NSW Legislative Council congratulating Meat Free Week and calling on all members of the Upper House to support this important initiative. Dr Kaye adds: 'Excessive meat consumption in Australia is contributing to poor health outcomes, environmental degradation and unacceptable rates of animal mistreatment. The 2014 Meat Free Week campaign is great opportunity to raise awareness of these issues."