By IANS,
Mumbai : People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has urged the postal department to issue a national stamp honouring the country’s vegetarian heritage ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary (Oct 2).
Sending an application to the philately division of the Department of Posts, PETA said India has the highest population of vegetarians in the world.
The proposal also comes ahead of World Vegetarian Day (Oct 1) and Vegetarian Awareness Month (October).
In a letter accompanying the application for the proposed postal stamp — which shows three sets of two leaves each and reads ‘Vegetarian India’, PETA said India is considered by many to be the birthplace of vegetarianism and that adopting a vegetarian diet is the best way to protect one’s health, animals and the environment.
“Vegetarianism is catching on in countries around the world, and Indians should be proud that it all started right here,” said PETA India campaign coordinator and nutritionist Bhuvaneshwari Gupta.
“This stamp would remind people every day they can help stop animal abuse, slow the production of gases that cause climate change and keep themselves fit and trim by simply going vegetarian,” she added.
Quoting a 2010 United Nations report, PETA said a global shift towards a vegan diet is necessary if we are to curb climate change, reduce pollution, stop forest destruction, alleviate world hunger and conserve resources.