Washington, DC (September 12, 2018) — As part of the Living The Change sustainable living campaign, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the largest non-profit advocacy organization for Hindus living in the United States, has increased its commitment to green eating and sustainable living.
Beginning in 2019, 30 percent of all dishes served to the 1400+ participants at HAF’s awareness events, galas, and annual Washington, DC Advocacy Forum will be vegan.
Currently, 100 percent of food served at these events by the Foundation is lacto-vegetarian.
“Hinduism has long extolled the benefits of following a vegetarian diet for those pursuing serious spiritual study, on the grounds of ahimsa (non-harming),” said Mat McDermott, co-author of the Hindu Declaration on Climate Change and HAF Director of Communications.
“What is becoming more and more clear, looking at our dietary choices through an environmental lens, is that though a vegetarian diet itself creates a much lower burden on our shared planet than does a meat-heavy Standard American Diet, a vegan diet can even further reduce our environmental impact. In doing that we can even more deeply apply the precept of ahimsa in our lives while simultaneously helping prevent climate change,” McDermott concluded.
Faith group commitments made as part of the Living The Change campaign will be publicly announced on September 12, 2018 at a Multi-Faith Service of Wondering and Commitment, at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, starting at 4pm PT. The event, held at the start of the Global Climate Action Summit, is co-presented by the Episcopal Diocese of California, GreenFaith, and Interfaith Power & Light.
Register to attend or watch the livestream of this event here.
