Archived press release

Let us eat grass: cows graze outside parliament for rainforest-free food

8 November 2010

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50 campaigners dressed as cows descended on Parliament today (Monday 8 November 2010) to call on MPs to back Friends of the Earth's campaign for rainforest-free food, ahead of the second reading of the Sustainable Livestock Bill which takes place this Friday (12 November 2010).

Friends of the Earth and Bill sponsor Robert Flello MP handed in a petition to DEFRA, calling on the department to back the Sustainable Livestock Bill. More than 55,000 people from across the UK have demanded the Government gets behind planet-friendly farming.

100 MPs must attend the second reading and vote for the Sustainable Livestock Bill on Friday for it to stand a chance of becoming a law. Friends of the Earth is calling on people to join the MOOvement for rainforest-free food today (www.jointhemoovement.com) and ask their MP to vote for the Bill.

Bill sponsor and MP for Stoke on Trent South Robert Flello said:

 "The Sustainable Livestock Bill gives us a real chance to stop harmful farming practices trashing our planet and support British farmers to use home-grown feed.

"MPs have been overwhelmed by the strength of feeling about this issue from people all over the country - but we need to make sure they vote for the Bill on Friday, so please contact your MP today."

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

 "We need to feed our animals on home-grown feed and let them graze outdoors instead of packing them into factories and stuffing them full of feed grown by destroying rainforests.

"The Government responds to Friends of the Earth's campaigns - tell your MP to vote for rainforest-free food."

ENDS

Notes to editors

 1. Friends of the Earth's MOOvement for rainforest-free food has seen 55,000 people back its call for Government action to reduce the impact of meat and dairy farming. It is calling on people to ask their MP to vote for the Sustainable Livestock Bill when it is debated in Parliament on November 12.You can join the campaign at www.jointheMOOvement.com

 2. For more information on the impacts of the meat and dairy sector, see Friends of the Earth's What's feeding our food? report at: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/livestock_impacts.pdf

 3. For more information on the Sustainable Livestock Bill, see Friends of the Earth's briefing http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefing_notes/livestock_bill.pdf

 4. Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. More than 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust