Spain is renowned for its meat and vegetarians often find it a challenge to find meat-free dishes across much of the jamón-loving country, but not for much longer if one of its main cities has anything to do with it.
Barcelona on Tuesday declared itself “veg-friendly, friend of vegan and vegetarian culture” after one of the city's left-wing parties brought the proposal to City Hall.
The title “veggie-friendly” will include several concrete steps to help vegetarian and vegan visitors to Barcelona, as well as encourage residents to embrace a meat-free diet – at least one day a week.
City Hall will produce a vegetarian guide to Barcelona, as well as promote vegetarianism by establishing a new BCNvegPoint – a space for vegetarians and vegetarian or vegan businesses.
The city will also promote the global Meat Free Mondays campaign.
The campaign was launched by Paul McCartney along with his daughters, Mary and Stella, in 2009 to raise awareness of the detrimental environmental impact of eating meat.
People are encouraged to try one meatless day a week to help slow climate change and improve their health.
McCartney is a well-known vegetarian and his late wife Linda McCartney was a prominent animal rights activist and the author of several vegetarian cookbooks. She also started the vegetarian food company Linda McCartney foods.
The proposal passed with the support of the left-wing coalition Barcelona en Comú, the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), the Socialists, the Convergence and Union party (CiU) and the CUP.
The Popular Party and Ciudadanos abstained from the vote, allowing it to pass.
Ep! BCN es declara ciutat Veg-Friendly, amiga de la cultura vegana i vegetariana a proposta d'ERC #BCNVegFriendly pic.twitter.com/nX3k4gYwC1
— ERC Barcelona (@ERCbcn) March 22, 2016
The proposal was brought to the City Hall by the Republican Left of Barcelona (ERC), which happily tweeted the news on Tuesday evening.
Member comments