Sir, – The stated purpose of our Environmental Protection Agency is “To protect, improve and restore our environment through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others.”
Instead it appears to have apologetically retracted the telling of an inconvenient truth (“EPA deletes tweet advising people to cut their red meat consumption”, News, August 29th).
If the EPA bows to the IFA and withdraws good environmental advice about eating less meat, I suggest, as a science teacher, that the EPA is failing in its stated purpose. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GREHAN,
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The Guildford Four’s Paddy Armstrong: ‘People thought I was going to be bitter and twisted when I came out of prison’
The 2 Johnnies Christmas Party at 3Arena: It’s easy to sneer at the triteness and crudeness, but are 13,000 happy fans wrong?
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – A tweet urging consumers to cut back on red meat consumption was deleted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following objections from the Irish Farmers’ Association.
The tweet urged consumers to “try veggie recipes” and “reduce your red meat consumption slowly: veggie lunches, Meat Free Mondays, etc.” The tweet also noted that a tenth of meat is thrown out.
The IFA said the tweet had caused “considerable anger among farmers who feel it goes beyond the remit of the EPA and is not consistent with Government dietary guidelines”.
A study published this month showed that the gigantic power of the meat industry is blocking the development of greener alternatives needed to tackle the climate crisis. Analysis of lobbying, subsidies and legislation in the EU showed that livestock farmers received 1,200 times more public funding than plant-based meat or cultivated meat groups. The authors state that “the amazing obstacles to the upscale of alternative technologies relate to public policies that still massively fund the incumbent system”.
We all find change difficult as we cling to the past – even when the new brings tremendous benefits. The first step is to honour the past and let it go. Now is the time to thank intensive beef and dairy production, retire it and move to a regenerative system that is in tune with ecosystems and climate targets. – Yours, etc,
CATHERINE CONLON,
Ballintemple,
Cork.