As P.E.A. Award nominations announced, founder calls for a sea change in our habits
Jarvis Smith
"We're slowing killing our planet by our unhealthy habits", claims leading environmental commentator, committed vegan and founder of the P.E.A. Awards, Jarvis Smith. Jarvis is on a mission to set humanity on a path that is healthy both for us and the planet. And his forthcoming awards have all the answers...
"Why is it that charities, governments and big business are not trying to change in the light of the fact that meat eating has one of the biggest impacts on climate change?" A study published in Climatic Change has revealed that dietary Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in self-selected meat-eaters are more than twice as high as those in vegans.[1]
"Well simply because they will lose voters, customers and supporters, meaning the bottom line is effected, i.e. it comes down to money. Some of the biggest lifestyle changes required that would impact on the best scenarios of outcome for people is changing our everyday habits. Think about it, if we all stopped eating meat, driving around for shopping or travelling to and from work supporting (in the majority of cases) the very thing that is killing us and our planet, we could change the world quite quickly.
"We are certainly on the cusp of people wanting change; just look at the Brexit vote. We now require leaders who will speak honestly about what's needed. For the longevity of humanity, economics needs to change to eco-awareness. We are all caught up in the cycle of a perpetuating economy - buy this, eat that, look like this, wear that and so on. So let's take meat eating as an example of a fairly simple lifestyle change.
"Now there are two options, we keep eating factory farmed meat, which contributes to cutting down trees to plant crops in order to feed animals. Trees take carbon from the atmosphere and give us back oxygen, so the less trees the less quality air we breathe. Now the main source of animal flesh you eat is cows, who also contribute massively by consistently emitting methane gas, causing damage to the planet's eco system and atmosphere [2]; but in simple terms again, ours and the planet's air supply. Without air we cannot survive; without our planet we cannot survive; nobody is discussing the extinction of humanity, but in real terms that is what we are allowing.
"Factory farmed mass produced meat, essentially consumers' food fodder, is full of antibiotics, with animals kept alive with drugs, living in terrible conditions, just so they can live long enough to grow to a size to be eaten. However, we have a choice. We don't have to live this way anymore; there are other ways to live in a world not controlled by ego and money.
"We need to consider that if we just stopped doing one simple thing, our very existence won't fall apart, and the world won't stop and we won't drop dead. The British Dietetic Association says that, '...well-planned plant-based, vegan-friendly diets can be devised to support healthy living at every age and life-stage.'[3] We can collectively work together and offer solutions that are kind and consider everyone and everything involved. Surely life is more important than popularity, money and eating meat. Surely????"
And this is the reasoning behind Jarvis setting up his prestigious P.E.A. (People. Environment. Achievement.) Awards, the UK's leading sustainability awards, celebrating and honouring the individuals and teams behind the products, services and businesses that are changing the face of our planet.
Now in its sixth year, the Award winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on 7th October with exclusively vegan food and drink provided by i360, Juniper Green organic Gin, Luschcombe Organic and local craft beer sensation Bison Beer. Tickets cost £60 and can be booked at www.peaawards.com/tickets.