Thanks for stopping by the enVeg site. enVeg is a UF student organization based around a truth that may be hard to swallow: Animal agriculture is harming our planet.

Read about our chalking messages in the Alligator at: http://alligator.org/articles/2009/09/25/news/campus/090925_enveg.txt

The discussion about animal agriculture’s effect on climate ignited recently because of a report from the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization called “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” which revealed that the livestock sector is a major contributor to land degradation, water scarcity and climate change.

In fact, the report revealed, livestock production contributes to a whopping 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the world’s transport combined.

That’s why enVeg asks students to reduce their meat consumption in order to help the planet. We set up a table biweekly in the Plaza of the Americas, on what we call “Meatless Mondays,” to ask students to give up meat one day a week in order to minimize their ecological footprint.

The campaign is inspired by Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who said that a global reduction of meat consumption – just one day a week – would dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Even if you’re not ready to make the switch to a completely plant-based diet, if Americans gave up meat just once a week, we would dramatically reduce the climate problem.

Please join us! Our upcoming events include:

• A vegetarian/vegan potluck with Gators for a Sustainable Campus Sunday, September 27 at 1:30 p.m. in the Plaza of the Americas
• Our next biweekly meeting Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Rinker 210
• A talk and Q & A with activist Bruce Friedrich on the ethical and environmental reasons to adopt a plant-based diet - Saturday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m. in FLG 210
• A talk with vegan triathlete Brendan Brazier Wednesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. Room to be announced.

We look forward to seeing you around and please contact us if you have any questions!

~ enVeg