India: PETA Urge Postal Dept to Issue Stamp on Vegetarian Heritage

CHENNAI (NNN-PTI): Animal rights advocacy group, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has urged Department of Posts to release a 'Vegetarian Stamp' ahead of Gandhi Jayanti (Oct 2) and World Vegetarian Day (Oct 1), since "India is considered by many to be the birthplace of vegetarianism."

"PETA India has sent an application to philately division of Department of Posts urging the agency to issue a national stamp honouring the country's strong vegetarian heritage," a PETA release here said.

PETA said that India was 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.

"Vegetarians help stop animal suffering, too. According to Mahatma Gandhi, our spiritual progress demands that we cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants," the letter submitted by Bhuvaneshwari Gupta, Campaign Coordinator, PETA India, said.

Vegetarianism was catching on in countries around the world, and Indians should be proud that it all started here, Gupta said. The stamp would remind people that they could stop animal abuse, slow the production of gases that cause climate change and keep themselves fit by remaining vegetarian, the release said, adding, studies had proved vegans had stronger immune systems than meat-eaters.

"A 2010 United Nations report concluded that 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," it said. -NNN-PTI