A local farmer says while Meatless Monday is a good idea, society needs to do more to change their eating habits, and eat less meat in general.
Julia Smith with Urban Diggs says people should only eat meat twice a week anyway.
“You can’t just not eat meat today and go back to eating McDonald’s tomorrow,” she said. “We certainly need to eat a lot less meat.”
Smith will be at West Broadway Meat Co. at 1 p.m. today where local businesses and butchers will be butchering a water buffalo. Global BC received some tweets and messages from people in the community outraged at this ‘public slaughter’, but Smith says the buffalo is already dead and they are merely inviting some customers to come down and learn more about where their meat is coming from while they carve it up.
“It’s purely coincidence it’s on Meatless Monday,” said Smith. “I’m definitely too busy this time of year to organize publicity stunts.”
Five local businesses will be taking part – Rehoboth Farm raised the buffalo, WB Meat, Trevor Bird of Fable Kitchen & Top Chef Canada, and Michael Kaisaris from Re-up BBQ who will also be joining in.
“It’s all about producing really high quality sustainable food,” says Smith.
Meatless Monday is a growing international event where people are urged to eat vegetarian for one day.
“In recent years there’s just been such a movement to experiment with vegetarian options,” says Peggy Neu, president for the Monday Campaigns, behind Meatless Monday. “Once people try it, they find they like it.”
Smith says that is not the way to go however. “Where does that leave our local butcher shop?” she asks. “Should they just shut down for the day?”
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