'FOOD VS FEED'

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

In 1996, the “Rome Declaration of World Food Security” reaffirmed “the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food“. The signatories also pledged their political will “to eradicate hunger in all countries.”

In 2008, malnutrition and starvation in many parts of the world are not only increasing but are set to reach new peaks of suffering. Dwindling and wasted crops, soaring prices, unsustainable farming practices are just some of the factors which combine to put vulnerable people at life-threatening risks.

It is not acceptable that even in a grim situation with hunger and malnutrition killing nearly six million children each year, huge percentages of available crops are still being fed to farm animals.

In the name of humanity, a responsible global community can no longer afford to invest 7-16 kg of grain or soya beans, up to 15,500 liters of water, and 323 m2 of grazing land in the production of just one kilo of beef for those with the means to pay for it. More accessible and sustainable avenues to secure food for all are desperately needed.

Unfortunately, even though the experts of the FAO consider 'Livestock a major threat to environment', they merely recommend different farming techniques, some of which entail the risk of damaging an already vulnerable environment even more, perhaps beyond repair.

All hungry people, many million of vegetarians and those looking for wholesome alternatives to destructive traditions have the right to expect from decision makers, governments and international bodies a scientific investigation of all available options, including vegetarianism. This resource- and life-saving lifestyle is worthy of unbiased research and promotional effort, not last because of its potential to decide the raging battle of 'food vs feed' in favour of humanity.

For this reason, we appeal to the United Nations and its agencies to stop ignoring vegetarianism and instead study its multi-faceted benefits, with the aim of incorporating them into future strategies for a world without hunger.

Sincerely,

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食物對飼料

親愛的秘書長先生：

「世界食物安全的羅馬聲明」在1996年重申了「民眾得以享有對安全和營養食物的權利」。 簽字者也承諾他們的政治意願－「根除所有國家的飢餓」。

在2008年，營養不良和飢餓不僅在世界上許多地區增加，也刷新了記錄而達到新的痛苦峰頂。減少和被浪費的穀物，飛漲的物價和不能永續耕作的農耕方法只是結合並導致弱勢的人民在生命威脅風險的部份因素。

無法接受的是，甚至是在幾乎每年六百萬個孩子，死於飢餓和營養失調的嚴厲情況下，而有用穀物中的巨大百分比仍然被使用於餵養農場的動物。

以人道的名義而言，一個負責任的全球性社區不能再供給，以耗費7-16 kg穀物或大豆，上至15,500公升的水和323 m2放牧土地，只為能支付生產一公斤牛肉的產品。為全部的絶望需求者保全食物，是更能接受及持續的大方向。

不幸地，即使聯合國糧食及農業組織的專家考量：「家畜是對環境的一個主要威脅」，他們僅僅推薦不同的農耕技術，提供一些破壞一個已經脆弱的環境所需承擔的風險，再者或許超出修復能力之外。

所有飢餓的人，幾百萬的素食者及那些選擇有益健康方式以取代消極傳統飲食者，他們有權去期待決策者、政府和國際機構為所有可利用的選擇，包含素食主 義做一個科學的調查。這種資源－和救生生活方式，是公正的研究和增進努力的價值，不能持續是因為它的潛在性決定了在人道的偏好上食物對飼料的激烈爭議。

為此，我們對呼籲聯合國和它的代辦處停止忽視素食主義，並以學習它多面的好處取代合併它們的目標，而達到一個無飢餓世界的未來策略。

誠懇地，