Meatless Monday and fish on Friday

WHEN Paul McCartney pushed for Meatless Monday, an initiative to reduce meat consumption, he must have wondered why it shouldn't be Meatless Friday.

In the school the former Beatle attended, it was on Fridays when they couldn't eat meat. In predominantly Catholic Philippines, Fridays are for fish, substitute for meat.

The bill filed by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño (HB #6311) would require all elementary and secondary students to consume vegetables, not meat or fish, at school on Mondays.

Why Monday? It started with Healthy Monday, an international campaign with such programs as Meatless Monday and Kids Cook Monday, long observed in US, Europe, and some cities of Asia.

Monday, organizers said, signifies a fresh start, after the bad habits at weekend, for the youth's resolve to live better during the week.

The Casiño bill introduces what has long been promoted in other parts of the world. And the major reason is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Meat, "from farm to fork," is blamed in large measure for the blight on environment.

'Happy meal'

The concept of global warming sounds abstract to school pupils and their parents who prepare their children's daily lunch. Easier to grasp would be the pitch that it's better for their kids' health and less harsh on their budgets.

Plant-based meals can be enforced in school cafeterias but can pupils be compelled to buy veggies instead of a "happy meal" of burgers and fries at a Jollibee or a McDonalds nearby?

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph or @gmail.com)