Dutch government to reward vegetarian eating?

[Guest guest]

Lots of publicity in the Dutch press this morning about the annual report of the

Netherlands environmental assessment agency in which it is stressed that the

eating of meat and other animal products is very harmful for the environment

(which we already knew of course).

 

The report was published much earlier but there is some speculation that the

government may actually take some action in the form of a tax on meat

consumption - tomorrow the annual budget is presented in the Dutch parliament

and it just happens that the finance minister is a vegetarian!

 

For an English abstract of the report see

http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2009/Climate-benefits-of-changing-diet.html

 

Piers

[Guest guest]

I don't really approve of forcing people to be vegetarians.

 

Patricia

 

--- On Sun, 9/13/09, piersalgarve <piersalgarve wrote:

 

piersalgarve <piersalgarve

Dutch government to reward vegetarian eating?

 

Sunday, September 13, 2009, 10:43 PM

 

Lots of publicity in the Dutch press this morning about the annual report of the

Netherlands environmental assessment agency in which it is stressed that the

eating of meat and other animal products is very harmful for the environment

(which we already knew of course).

 

The report was published much earlier but there is some speculation that the

government may actually take some action in the form of a tax on meat

consumption - tomorrow the annual budget is presented in the Dutch parliament

and it just happens that the finance minister is a vegetarian!

 

For an English abstract of the report see

http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2009/Climate-benefits-of-changing-diet.html

 

Piers

 

 

 

---

 

 

[Guest guest]

, Patricia <moondreamer64_2000 wrote:

>

> I don't really approve of forcing people to be vegetarians.

 

Well I can't see anywhere, in the report or in my post, where anything is said

about forcing people to be vegetarians. I think they were talking of a possible

tax on meat eating - but maybe it will turn out to be a storm in a vegetable

stock cup anyway!

 

Piers

[Guest guest]

I don't feel a person can really be one until they're ready for it.

 

Patricia

 

--- On Sun, 9/13/09, piersalgarve <piersalgarve wrote:

 

piersalgarve <piersalgarve

Re: Dutch government to reward vegetarian eating?

 

Sunday, September 13, 2009, 11:15 PM

 

, Patricia <moondreamer64_2000 wrote:

>

> I don't really approve of forcing people to be vegetarians.

 

Well I can't see anywhere, in the report or in my post, where anything is said

about forcing people to be vegetarians. I think they were talking of a possible

tax on meat eating - but maybe it will turn out to be a storm in a vegetable

stock cup anyway!

 

Piers

 

 

 

---

 

 

[Guest guest]

, Patricia <moondreamer64_2000 wrote:

>

> I don't feel a person can really be one until they're ready for it.

 

Again that doesn't contradict anything that was said. Tax measures can influence

behaviour in a desired direction whilst benefiting the exchequer. And a lot can

be done to stimulate discussion and improve awareness - that vegetarian eating

is healthy, even healthier, and that it is " normal " - I remem a BIL being

surprised that " ordinary people " were also vegetarian!

 

Piers

[Guest guest]

This is a good step imho Piers! #*$#* govt taxes it goes without saying. But

govts already tax tobacco petrol alcohol and luxury goods and people choose how

much they consume. Even if this doesn't pass it shows greater awareness and

responsibility twds dealing with a present crisis and opens a door for similar

action and debate - for us all. Good for the Netherlands!

 

Best

Pat

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.

Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

[Guest guest]

I am hard pressed to see the down side here-given the vague nature of the the

tax-on-meat idea;What is not vague is this:Our present means of food

production,weather it be plant or animal based,is unhealthy for our planet.

The thrust of the abstract is in this vein,though it is pointed out that less

meat is beneficial-hard to take issue with that,I would think.

Hopefully,a system will be put in place to help meat-producers there shift to an

agrarian based business,modified to better suit not only the future needs of a

large population,but the future needs of Earth as well.

[Guest guest]

Have just mentioned it to my husband, a meat eater, he was less than

impressed. While I agree we don't want to force people to be

vegetarians, it is nice, just for a change, to not feel like the freak

in my group of friends.

 

Squirrel x

 

 

 

piersalgarve wrote:

>

>

>

> <%40>, Patricia

> <moondreamer64_2000 wrote:

> >

> > I don't really approve of forcing people to be vegetarians.

>

> Well I can't see anywhere, in the report or in my post, where anything

> is said about forcing people to be vegetarians. I think they were

> talking of a possible tax on meat eating - but maybe it will turn out

> to be a storm in a vegetable stock cup anyway!

>

> Piers

>

>

[Guest guest]

Aha you've had that too then? So many people I meet cannot believe I'm

a vegetarian, apparently ALL vegetarians are really thin, really pale

and look unhealthy all the time On the tax issue, isn't alcohol

taxed? hasn't there always been a tax on cigarettes? and how many

people does that seem to deter?

 

Squirrel x

 

 

piersalgarve wrote:

>

>

>

> <%40>, Patricia

> <moondreamer64_2000 wrote:

> >

> > I don't feel a person can really be one until they're ready for it.

>

> Again that doesn't contradict anything that was said. Tax measures can

> influence behaviour in a desired direction whilst benefiting the

> exchequer. And a lot can be done to stimulate discussion and improve

> awareness - that vegetarian eating is healthy, even healthier, and

> that it is " normal " - I remem a BIL being surprised that " ordinary

> people " were also vegetarian!

>

> Piers

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree that taxing something that is not good for the environment is a great

idea. After all, like alcohol, meat is absolutely unnecessary for survival,

therefore, a luxury. My husband is also a meat eater and, I am sure, would have

comments to make that would not be in agreement with me. However, that is what

makes our relationship interesting.

 

Kathleen

 

 

This is a good step imho Piers! #*$#* govt taxes it goes without saying. But

govts already tax tobacco petrol alcohol and luxury goods and people choose how

much they consume. Even if this doesn't pass it shows greater awareness and

responsibility twds dealing with a present crisis and opens a door for similar

action and debate - for us all. Good for the Netherlands!

>

> Best

> Pat

> Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.

> Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

>