MALACAÑANG yesterday rejected the appeal of
the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific (PETA)
for President Arroyo to adopt and advocate a vegetarian diet
as part of the campaign to fight hunger in the midst of a food
shortage.
PETA director Jason Baker, in a letter to
President Arroyo, said adopting a vegetarian diet and publicly
advocating it "would do far more than any photo-op -- it would
set a great example and show a deep commitment to ending the
food crisis in the Philippines as well as the world hunger."
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said it isn't
likely that the President will go along with the suggestion.
He said "the President would be for freedom of choice" because
people have different dietary requirements or inclinations.
Baker said raising animals for food leads to world
starvation because the animals consume nearly a billion metric
tons of food edible for humans every year, which he said is
enough to feed about half the world population. He said it
takes up to 16 kilograms of grain to produce just a kilogram
of meat. - Regina Bengco
