L'altra settimana, il Presidente Obama ha detto di essere aperto a ogni suggerimento, ad ogni idea "sia che provenga da un democratico che da un repubblicano che da un vegetariano". Uh uh...indovinate chi stava ascoltando?!
Naturalmente l'instancabile Ingrid E. Newkirk, presidende della PETA, che ha subito inviato una lettera alla Casa Bianca per chiedere al governo Obama di porre maggiore attenzione alle mense scolastiche, in un'ottica sempre più...vegetariana.
"Insegnare ai nostri ragazzi i benefici dei pasti vegetariani potrebbe salvare gli animali, concorrere nel non peggiorare la situazione riguardo ai cambiamenti climatici e aiuterebbe i ragazzi a mantenere la loro salute così come sarebbe loro di grande aiuto nell'evitare i maggiori killer dei nostri tempi: cancro, malattie cardiovascolari e obesità" scrive la Newkirk.
Sarebbe un'ottima cosa se nelle mense scolastiche, e non solo quelle, si ponesse maggiori enfasi sul cibo locale, organico e a base vegetale.
Sappiamo tutti come gli Stati Uniti siano il paese con la maggiore incidenza di obesità nella popolazione, con relativi strascichi di malattie cardiovascolari, diabete, arteriosclerosi, etc. E sappiamo anche come questa tendenza sia stia diffondendo in tutti i paesi cosiddetti "industrializzati" (stavo per dire..."ospedalizzati"!), e l'Italia tra questi (una persona su tre nel nostro paese è in sovrappeso).
Per vostra curiosità, vi riporto per intero la lettera inviata da Ingrid E. Newkirk. Supporreste mai qualcosa del genere qui da noi?! Io no.
Già immagino il putiferio che si scatenerebbe. Il Presidente dell'Associazione Macellai strillerebbe come un ossesso dagli schermi tv, i politici apparirebbero indignati a Porta a porta, i consueti nutrizionisti (!) minaccerebbero la popolazione tutta circa l'imminente carenza di nutrienti a cui si andrebbe incontro con questa deleteria tendenza, etc.etc. Forse Umberto Veronesi direbbe qualcosa di positivo, ma la gente ascolterebbe comunque di più la vicina di casa, la zia e la dietologa del settimanale di gossip, tutte molto più ferrate in questioni alimentari.
February 12, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters, thank you for saying that your administration is open to any idea, whether from “a Democrat or a Republican or a vegetarian.” May I suggest an idea that would indisputably bolster the economy, reduce work days lost, improve the health of our nation’s children, reduce medical costs, and spare millions of animals from needless suffering? Please direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to end purchases of meat, eggs, and dairy products for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and replace them with healthy vegetarian foods like fruits, vegetables, veggie burgers, faux-chicken patties, and more.
As you know, obesity and its associated health problems have reached a crisis level that is now affecting our nation’s young people. America’s children are already overweight, and as they get older, their health-care costs will increasingly soak up money that could otherwise be invested in new American technology and businesses. As these children enter the workforce, the economy will suffer another blow as they take more sick days. Fortunately, the long- and short-term human and economic effects of the epidemic could be largely reversed by giving plant-based meals to children now in order to instill healthy eating habits in them.
As you know, vegetarian foods have no cholesterol and lots of fiber; meat, eggs, and dairy products contain a lot of cholesterol and have no fiber. No wonder that meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada are among the many health organizations that are reporting that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; … lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.”
In addition to harming Americans’ health, the meat industry is a leading cause of environmental degradation and pollution, is energy intensive, and causes enormous animal suffering through debeaking, dehorning, castration, and other painful procedures, which are carried out without any painkillers. Conditions of intensive confinement, inhumane transport, and poorly regulated slaughterhouses also cause animals great stress and fear.
Because of the lobbying efforts of the meat and dairy industries, NSLP meals are heavy in saturated fat- and cholesterol-laden animal products. We ask you to direct the USDA to reverse its policy of propping up these politically powerful industries at the expense of our economy, our health, our children’s health, and animals.
A bright, healthy future for our economy and our children can begin with a nutritious, delicious vegetarian lunch in the school cafeteria. We would be happy to discuss this proposal further or to advise you on this issue. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President