PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation celebrated Chinese New Year by sharing a meatless message at its annual New Year's Blessing event held on Sunday, February 23.
At least one person, an educator, took the stage at the event held at the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation, to declare that the information shared had inspired her to stop eating meat.
Some 65 persons attended the event, which featured a colourful and much-appreciated lion dance performance by All Children's Education (ACE) school pupils as well as adult volunteers. A number of similarly-dressed female pupils also took to the stage for a brief and entertaining performance.
Invited guests got a chance to see the humanitarian work the international arms of Tzu Chi Foundation had done around the world in 2013 in a 20-minute video presentation entitled "Tzu Chi Footprints."
The main message of the programme was to enlighten guests about the effects of meat and the health benefits of going meatless. Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung and volunteer Mercedes De Windt elaborated about this topic. Several brief videos about the downsides of meat were also shown.
One of the videos was a news report showing the treatment of meat with carbon monoxide gas to make it look fresh. Reports indicate that more than 70 per cent of all beef and chicken in the United States, Canada and other countries are being treated with carbon monoxide gas. It can make seriously decayed meat look fresh for weeks. The meat industry continues to allow this gas injection into many of the meat products people consume on a daily basis.
Cheung and de Windt also shared their personal story about how they both stopped eating meat.
To emphasize the message about vegetarianism, guests were treated to a range of vegetarian delicacies prepared by the loving hands of Tzu Chi volunteers, Cake House Supermarket and Tzu Chi supporter Foo Hoo Restaurant. The dishes included cream of corn pudding with caramelized coconut, glazed lentil walnut apple loaf, vegan chicken cutlet, vegan beef with rice noodle, spicy vegan chicken, deep fried eggplant, baked eggplant, vegan ham, garden salad, veggie fish with vegetables, baked eggplant slices, vegetarian fried rice, bruschetta/ toasted French bread, vegan cheese and cracker and vegan potato salad.
It was after the meatless message that the educator pledged to stop eating meat and indicated that she would also be joining the foundation. Several other persons also took to the stage and gave a testimony about Tzu Chi.
For persons concerned about whether they will obtain sufficient protein if they stop eating meat, it is important to note that ample amounts of protein are thriving in whole, natural plant-based foods. For example, spinach is 51 percent protein; mushrooms, 35 percent; beans, 26 percent; oatmeal, 16 percent; whole wheat pasta, 15 percent; corn, 12 percent; and potatoes, 11 percent. The World Health Organization says the average 150-pound male requires only 22.5 grams of protein daily based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, which means about 4.5 percent of calories should come from protein.
Tzu Chi cares about Mother Earth and very little garbage was created from the event. Additionally, no disposable plastic utensils were used in the event, only reusable items.
Another highlight of the programme was the Bamboo Bank return ceremony where pupils and volunteers emptied their donation boxes into what is called a bamboo bank. Invitees also went on stage and put money into the bamboo bank. A total of US $389.50 was collected. The funds will be used for Tzu Chi initiatives.
Volunteers and pupils also performed a sign language song before Cheung and new Tzu Chi Commissioner Yamile Bastidas handed out special "red pockets" from Tzu Chi Founder Master Cheng Yen in what was referred to as a Master's Appreciation ceremony.
A total of 31 volunteers took part in the event along with 20 pupils.
Additional information about Tzu Chi, becoming a volunteer, member or persons who want more information about going meatless can contact Tzu Chi Foundation at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..