'MEAT OUT DAY' TODAY

20 MARCH, COME AND JOIN IN
“INTERNATIONAL MEATOUT DAY”

http://learni.st/ - Today is March 20th, or as some people call it ‘International Meatout Day’ which is an international observance helping individuals evolve to a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains. The purpose is to expose the public to the joys and benefits of a plant-based  diet, while promoting the availability and selection alternatives to meat and dairy in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations. 
Meatout has grown explosively since its inception in 1985 to become the world's largest annual grassroots diet education campaign. Thousands of caring people in all 50 U.S. states and a host of other countries welcome Spring with colorful educational events. These range from simple information tables, exhibits, and cooking demonstrations to elaborate receptions and festivals. Visitors are asked to "kick the meat habit on March 20 (first day of spring).

Several mainstream health advocacy organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University, and the American Heart Association, have since launched their own campaigns to promote consumption of plant-based foods. Today, people are asked to explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Meatout reflects national trends: Mainstream health advocacy organizations and the official government publication "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" tout plant-based foods. Over 30 million Americans have explored a meat-free diet. 
One in five teens thinks vegetarianism is "cool." National beef and veal consumption have dropped by 25 and 70%, respectively. Major manufacturers and retailers are marketing meat-free and dairy-free meals. Several national fast food chains are offering veggie burgers and several major baseball parks are selling veggie dogs.

International Meatout Day is the world's largest campaign to educate people on the benefits of a plant-based diet, with no animal derived ingredients. Supporters organize many activities, such as festive events, public lectures and wholesome meat-free dinners, cooking demonstrations, food samplings, distributing pamphlets and providing dietary information. All living beings are sentient beings. That makes us alike in the way we feel pain and pleasure. When we choose to avoid meat we are promoting a less violent life for all living beings on this planet. A person with only choose to eat a diet based on plants during the period of his life, can save from a cruel death more than 6,000 animals.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Every day, several times a day, every living being, in whichever part of the world he may be, enjoys a universal ritual - eating. ... The Bhagavad Gita states that foods such as milk products, grains, fruits, and vegetables increase the duration of life and give strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Conversely, foods such as, meat, fish and fowl are putrid, decomposed and unclean. They cause numerous hazards to physical health. The Srimad Bhagavatam, the summum bonum of all Vedic literature, states that meat-eating is one of the four pillars of sinful life. Apart from bringing severe sinful reactions, meat-eating also dulls the human intellect thus rendering it incapable of understanding the higher dimensions of life. Therefore real spiritual life, nay real human life, can not begin unless a human being stops killing his younger brothers, innocent animals, just for the satisfaction of his tongue.

Śrīpad Chaitanya Charan das :
"Think Before You Eat"
The Spiritual Scientist - Vol 1 Issue 8
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2011/12/think-before-you-eat/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/