At many recent global events, they served 100% plant-based (Vegan), or 100% Vegetarian food. It is a relatively new trend.
Golden Globe, 77th award ceremony at Beverly Hills (USA), the Responsible Investment Summit (PRI) at Sao Paulo (Brazil), Climate Change conference COP28 at Dubai (UAE) and the Summit of major emerging economies, BRICS etc. had a strictly vegan/vegetarian food spread and their menus had zero meat offering.
At all these events, the underlying idea behind serving meat-free food was to emphasise their objective of sustainability arising from lower carbon footprint and environmental friendliness of the vegan/vegetarian diet. (A study in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that meat-based meals had, on average, 14 times higher environmental impact than their vegan equivalents)
People who consciously opt for vegan/vegetarian food are either health or climate enthusiasts. There may be other reasons too but even these two are good enough to die for. These veg freaks of the world, with their smaller carbon footprint, help the world to last a bit longer for us. In that sense, they are our friends. Courtesy demands we, at least in our minds, honor them as “Friends of the World”. They are oblivious to the fact that they are obliging us. They have never held this obligation over our heads and never have sought anything in return- not even recognition. A perfect hallmark of a true friend.
Among civilizations, Indians have an ancient tradition of observing vegetarianism as a strict discipline. Modern science too endorses the idea of plant-intensive food. Although India is a majority meat-eating nation, its vegetarian population, too, is massive. It is the world's largest repository of vegetarians. In other words, India hosts the largest group of “Friends of the World”. Translated in the Indian language Friends of the World is “Vishwa-Bandhu”
India and the followers of ancient vegetarian culture are contributing to the wellness and sustainability of all earthlings. They are our benevolent fellow global citizens. They abstain from meat for us to sustain.
The culinary bandwidth of Vegan/Vegetarian food is huge in terms of varieties, ingredients, tastes, flavours and colors. Even occasional, once in a week or once in a month observation of vegetarianism can go a long way towards earth’s cause, our own health benefit and service to our fellow earthlings.
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