"[T]here is a strong environmental case for switching from meat to plant-based alternatives."

Edited extracts from a letter by The Vegan Society have been published - along with other critical letters - in the Sat 7 Aug 2010 edition (paper online) of the New Scientist magazine: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727720.100-green-eating.html

"Bob Holmes assesses the environmental argument for giving up eating meat (17 July, p 28), tacitly accepting the broad scientific consensus that current animal-farming techniques have unsustainable environmental impacts. However, it is not just meat that is implicated in such damage, but all products we derive from farmed animals.

"The Vegan Society has reviewed the evidence in its Global Food Security literature (http://bit.ly/aA9NfE).

"Holmes suggests that radical transformation of the animal-farming industry might one day reduce the environmental damage it causes. That's all well and good, but the fact is that the world's animal-farming industry, as it is today, is one of the top three causes of all major environmental problems, from local water pollution to global climate change."

Our full letter is available on our Web site: http://www.vegansociety.com/news/New-Scientist---vegan-for-the-planet.aspx

It was written in response to the New Scientist cover story, "Veggieworld: Why eating greens won't save the planet" (available to New Scientist subscribers on their Web site: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727691.200-veggieworld-why-eating-greens-wont-save-the-planet.html ).

Contact: Amanda Baker Mobile: (07847) 664 793 Email: media@vegansociety.com Tel: (0121) 523 1737

Notes for Editors

1. Founded in 1944, The Vegan Society promotes vegan lifestyles - which exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Registered Charity No. 279228, Company Registration No. 1468880, VAT Registration No. 448 5973 95