BENEFITS

HEALTH

Limit cancer risk: Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risks. Both red and processed meat consumption are associated with colon cancer.
Reduce heart diseases: Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart diseases by 19%.
Fight diabetes: Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Curb obesity: People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weight and body mass indices. A recent study from Imperial College London also found that reducing overall meat consumption can prevent long term weight gain.
Live Longer: Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.
Improve your diet. Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

ENVIRONMENT

Reduce the carbon footprint. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide which is far more than transportation. As annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow, reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
Minimize waste usage. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
Help reduce fossil fuel dependence. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.

WORLD'S HUNGER

People living in underprivileged countries are so needy on food and don’t even have a proper 3 basic meals daily. In fact, the world has more than enough food to feed the entire human population but due to our meat-based diet, huge amount of grain, soybeans and corn are funneled through all the animals we used for food instead of feeding starving humans. There are 936 million people still going hungry every day and there is one person die every 3.6 seconds for suffering for hunger according to a study conducted by Hunger Relief Organization in August 2012. Ironically, we could save 24,000 lives every day if we stopped breeding farmed animals and use that food to feed human beings.

GENERATION

By practicing Meatless Monday, we reduce the meat consumption and consequently save our generation. The world natural resources, mostly water, are almost drained by our 7 billion people. The Food and Agriculture Organization 2011 of the United Nations is predicting that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity. The consumption of animal products contributes to more than one-quarter of the water footprint of humanity. The water needed to produce feed is the major factor behind the water footprint of animal products. Research in 2010 by Mekonnen and Hoekstra proposed that the global water footprint of animal production amounts to 2,422 billion m3/year. This means that the world could conserve nearly 6.64 billion m3 of water each day if we practice going meatless every monday.

ANIMALS

Less meat consumption could save animals' life. The higher the demand on meat, the more the animals are killed. According to Farm Animal Rights Movement, approximately 10 billion land animals are killed every year for food in U.S. and 58 billion are killed worldwide. Many of us do not realise that animals also have feeling, response and can actually communicate between themselves just like human beings. They have the capacity to experience fear, sorrow, happiness and can even respond to intellectual challenges. According to Professor Webster, “Sentient animals have the capacity to experience pleasure and are motivated to seek it. You only have to watch how cows and lambs seek and enjoy pleasure when they lie with their heads raised to the sun on a summer’s day just like humans.” Moreover, animals should not be trapped in cages and should have the right of freedom. Doesn’t this similar to people when we are jailed? How you feel are exactly the same as how animals feel as we are emotion living things. A quote said that “Freedom brings happiness”. Don’t you think so? Many animals like pigs, chickens, and cows are caged and fed with speed growth either by the food they consume or by injection before slaughter. Likewise, the aim of doing so is to meet the demand requested by the population. Mass production in factories could produce in abundant at the same time. Increasing on demand is directly proportional to that of animal killing.