World Vegan Day at Sky

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How easy is it to be vegan at Sky? What's your advice to someone wanting to turn vegan? Or, if someone still wants to eat meat but wants to do their part, what could they do to reduce their carbon footprint?

A word from... Robert Morris (Test Engineer)

"While I am based in a remote testing site, so don't spend too much time in the main hubs, whenever I visit Brentwood or Osterley there are tons of extremely reasonable and tasty plant-based food and hot drink options. Whenever I've been out for a work meal my dietary requirements have been considered with no issues. So super easy 

There are tons of great resources online, including the Vegan Society and Veganuary, the latter of which organises a 'Try Vegan Month' in January (but you can take part whenever, and they have loads of good guides!):

https://veganuary.com/eating-guides/getting-started/

https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/how-go-vegan

I think there are two camps, those who try going Vegan in a 'big bang' approach like I did, but most who do so gradually (which is probably a much better option).

A quote from Test Engineer Robert.

I think if somebody still wants to eat meat but is also conscious of the huge greenhouse gas emissions of the Animal Agriculture Industry, even a couple of days a week of Vegan meals will have a massive impact. It would be far better for many people to go Vegan part-time than for a few people to be 100% Vegan!"

A word from... Jollyon Benn (Anti-Piracy Group Enabler Lead)

Someone wanting to turn vegan is almost there. Most people don't want to; have written it off as "extreme" or impossible because "Mmm, bacon".

A quote from this article.

Anyone curious should watch some of the very informative and well produced films that have input from a wide range of voices including academics, thinkers, influencers and subject matter experts:

• The End of Medicine (2022)

• The Invisible Vegan (2022)

• Seaspiracy (2021)

• (Oscar nominated) My Octopus Teacher (2020)

• Breaking the Chain (2020)

• The Animal People (2019)

• The Game Changers (2019)

• Long Gone Wild (2019)

Also, visit peta.org; vegansociety.com and when you're really ready... plantbasedfuture.animalrebellion.org!

A word from... Niall Maconachie (Anti-Piracy Group Enabler Lead)

Here in Sheffield we have a few of us vegans here and the catering team are usually really good and really on the pulse (pun intended!) when it comes to catering for us. We have non dairy options available to us in the staff fridges and the specials and sandwiches have had more and more options added recently.

A quote from the article.

I applaud anyone who even cuts down their meat and dairy consumptions, even if it's just a meatless Monday it's still making a small difference.

[Anonymous]

I don't think being a meat-eater or a vegan will help with carbon emissions. Nor do I think that the likes of UK, Ireland and Sky Group will have any impact of carbon emissions. 

If Sky Group, the UK government or the Irish government want to do ANYTHING, make appeals to China, Unites States, India, Russia and Japan to stop using fossil fuels. 

These are the following total percentages of fossil fuel CO₂ emission per country: 

• China - 30.64%
• United States - 13.53%
• India - 7.02%
• Russia - 4.53%
• Japan - 2.96%

The UK and Ireland produce less than 1.02% respectively. So any impact or change on emissions from these is basically nil and mute. 

Also, don't forget, non-meat foods still need to be transported. And if everyone was to go vegan, more land would be needed causing animals to die and lose their land. Everyone who eats, regardless of what, will always have blood on their hands.