* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Mosby
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
US VegWeek - April 20-26
FOR the purpose of recognizing the week of April 20-26, 2015 as "US VegWeek" and encouraging residents, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, organizations and other institutions to join public officials in choosing and offering a greater variety of vegetarian foods.
body
Recitals
WHEREAS, Baltimore was the first city in the United States to adopt Meatless Mondays in its public schools system.
WHEREAS, Baltimore�s 7th District has launched a successful �Get Fit Challenge� to promote fitness and nutrition as a way to improve our personal health as well as our health as a community.
WHEREAS, Baltimore�s Office of Sustainability �develops and advocates for programs, policies, and actions by government, citizen, businesses, and institutions that improve the longterm environmental, social, and economic viability of Baltimore City�.
WHEREAS, the United Nations recognizes that �Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today�s most serious environmental problems� .
WHEREAS, recent studies and reports have demonstrated that we can lower our carbon footprint simply by reducing the amount of animalbased foods we eat.
WHEREAS, a plantbased diet has been shown to use fewer resources and cause less pollution.
WHEREAS, more than twothirds of the adult population in the United States and nearly a third of children and teens are overweight or obese, and obesity is associated with a higher risk of various health ailments including heart disease and type2 diabetes.
WHEREAS, the American Dietetic Association recognizes �appropriately planned vegetarian diets ? may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases� and that vegetarians tend to have lower rates of heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
WHEREAS, a growing number of people are reducing their meat consumption to help prevent animal cruelty.
WHEREAS, national nonprofit organization Compassion Over Killing encourages people to choose vegetarian foods as a way to help build a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world, and municipalities across the country have officially recognized the organization�s US VegWeek program to that end.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, that the Council hereby dedicates and proclaims the week of April 2026, 2015 as �US VegWeek� and encourages residents, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, organizations and other institutions to join public officials in choosing and offering a greater variety of vegetarian foods.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Health Commissioner, the Director of the Office of Sustainability, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and the Mayor�s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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