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Beatles star Paul McCartney 'knocked out' by Louth MEP Mairead McGuinness
FORMER Beatle and vegetarian Paul McCartney was dealt a knock-out punch by MEP Mairead McGuinness at a debate on the effects of meat production on climate change.
McGuinness challenged the famous musician when he claimed the solution to climate change lies in vegetarianism at the EU parliament debate last Thursday, December 3.
McGuinness dismissed McCartney's claims that reducing livestock and embracing vegetarianism would help to combat climate change.
"Getting rid of livestock from the planet as a solution to climate change is too far-fetched and unrealistic a proposition to be credible," she said.
McGuinness attempted to dismantle the arguments put forward by McCartney, who is now an environmental campaigner, by insisting technology and targeted research would provide the solution to climate change.
"Research shows that a change in European diets with considerably less dairy and meat products would have only a marginal impact on the environment," she said.
"Those who see vegetarianism as a better way of life or who are vegetarian because they do not want to eat animals should also not jump on the climate change bandwagon."
McGuinness added: "Lastly, those of us who enjoy a roast on Sunday and who hope to continue to do so, would never even consider a meat free Monday.
"We have the left-overs on Monday and in this era of 'waste not, want not', calling for a Meat Free Monday, as Sir Paul is doing, could be a call to waste food, something which none of us should be promoting."
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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