Propelling 'Second Servings of Meatless' in AR and Strategy for Legumes Pushes Forward (PAN)
Spicing Up Our Plates: PAN's Proposal for a Greener Portugal
In a lively press conference at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, Inês de Sousa Real, spokesperson for People-Animals-Nature (PAN), suggested that Portugal should embrace the concept of "meatless Mondays" - a weekly day dedicated to vegetarian meals in public institutions.
Sousa Real envisioned such a proposal being implemented in establishments like universities, schools, and government buildings, including the Assembly of the Republic. She argued that adopting vegetarian initiatives could significantly decrease food's carbon footprint and boost human health.
Last November, PAN presented a similar initiative in the Assembly of the Republic, prompting Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, to challenge Sousa Real to partake in a traditional Portuguese dish, "francesinha de carne barrosã," as a demonstration of "tolerance and moderation." The vegan leader of PAN politely declined the invitation.
Advocating for a national strategy in legume production, Sousa Real stated that Portugal should rekindle its cultivation of cereals and position itself in line with decarbonization objectives. In a political landscape marked by future elections, Sousa Real reaffirmed PAN's willingness to dialogue with the incoming government, be it left or right, to advance its mission and safeguard its voter base.
During the conference, Sousa Real addressed recent instances of animal violence in Portuguese livestock farms and called for the creation of funds to support companies transitioning to more sustainable production methods. As the only vegan deputy in parliament, Sousa Real expressed her intention to sensitize her colleagues and advocate for animal rights and welfare in agricultural practices.
Addressing the current climate crisis, Sousa Real underlined the need to change our eating habits and the way we view the planet's resources, as well as speaking about the detrimental impact on human health of Earth's ongoing transformation.
In related news, PAN pushes for an Animal NHS funded with bullfighting money (More Here).
In official records, Portugal is actively pursuing strategies to decrease the environmental impact of its food consumption. However, there is no clear mention of "meatless Mondays" in these plans. The country has recently launched a national strategy to promote plant-based protein as part of the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2030) to combat the ecological footprint of food, which makes up about 30% of the country's total. This strategy emphasizes supporting domestic legume cultivation and processing, intending to reduce reliance on animal products and promote sustainable eating habits. For specific details on the implementation of programs such as "meatless Mondays," it's essential to refer to official communications from the Portuguese government and the Assembly of the Republic.
- Despite the absence of "meatless Mondays" in official records, Portugal is pursuing strategies to decrease environmental impact in food consumption, specifically promoting plant-based protein as part of the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2030).
- Inês de Sousa Real, spokesperson for People-Animals-Nature (PAN), envisions a national strategy in legume production, aligning with decarbonization objectives and positioning Portugal as a leader in sustainable eating habits.
- Sousa Real advocated for the creation of funds to support companies transitioning to more sustainable production methods, addressing recent instances of animal violence in Portuguese livestock farms.
- PAN's proposals include addressing the current climate crisis by encouraging a shift in eating habits, promoting vegetarian meals as a means to boost human health and decrease food's carbon footprint.
- In response to the traditional Portuguese dish challenge, Sousa Real, the vegan leader of PAN, expressed her intention to sensitize parliament members and advocate for animal rights and welfare in agricultural practices, as a representative of health-and-wellness, food-and-drink, and environmental-science lifestyle.
