East Surrey MP Mounts Bucking Bronco to Show Support for Planet-Friendly Farming Print
Friday, 28 August 2009 14:33
28 Apr 2009

East Surrey MP, Peter Ainsworth, joined Friends of the Earth to show his support for planet-friendly farming by climbing aboard a mechanical bucking bronco.

Mr Ainsworth said:

“The global meat and dairy industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, and is wiping out wildlife around the world.

“It is a tragedy that tropical forests are being chopped down in developing countries to grow food for our cows, pigs and chickens.

“Friends of the Earth’s call for a move towards planet-friendly farming is welcome – we need to take action to make sure the system works for the planet and for farmers and families in Britain.”

Friends of the Earth has released new research - as part of their Food Chain Campaign - showing that families in England are paying over £700 million in tax each year to prop up factory farms.

The report – Feeding the Beast – highlights how factory farms link the food on our plates to rainforest destruction in South America and calls on the Government to fix the food chain by supporting small farms and spending taxpayers’ money only on planet-friendly farming.

The report also highlights some shocking facts:

* Livestock production is responsible for 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the planes, cars and lorries on the planet.

* On current trends animal feed production and cattle ranching alone and will destroy 40% of the Amazon rainforest by 2050.

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director, Andy Atkins said:

“Small farms are losing out to huge factory farms - the killer link in a hidden chain that connects the food on our plates to climate change and rainforest destruction.

“Cash-strapped families have no idea that millions of pounds of their money is being spent on an industry that contributes more to climate change than all the planes, cars and lorries on the planet.

“It’s great that MPs such as Peter Ainsworth are concerned about the link between the meat and dairy industry and climate change - the Government needs to fix the food chain and use our money to support planet-friendly farming for good meat and dairy for families in Britain.

Notes:

* Peter Ainsworth MP is one of 174 MPs to have signed Early Day Motion 845 which raises awareness of the environmental and social damage being driven by the global meat and dairy industry and calls for action.

* For more information on the money spent on factory farming see: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/feeding_the_beast_media.pdf

* For more information on the impacts of the global meat and dairy industry see Friends of the Earth’s ‘What’s feeding our food?’: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/livestock_impacts.pdf

* The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, “the livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.”

* Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it . We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. We campaign on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity, waste, transport and food. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.