Morrissey has never been particularly shy about his vegan lifestyle--the Meat is Murder lyricist wrote an open letter to former vice president Al Gore, in hopes to change the carnivorous menu for "Live Earth Road to Paris," into a vegan-only menu.
The Smiths singer wrote, "Serving meat and dairy products at an event to combat climate change is like selling pistols at a gun-control rally." He continued to unload his emotions in a lenghty and strong worded letter to Live Earth cofounders Kevin Wall and Gore, combating their decision to serve meat products at the 2015 incarnation for Live Earth.
"We already know that raising animals for food is a leading cause of climate change and that moving toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat climate change's worst effects," Morrissey writes. "Animal agriculture severely affects the world's freshwater supply and is a major contributor to global greenhouse-gas emissions, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and air and water pollution, among many other harmful effects."
Pharrell Williams plays the role of Live Earth Creative Director and together with Gore and Wall, they announced that June 18 would be the day the 2015 Live Earth events would kick off, including concerts spanning six continents notes Rolling Stone.
The celebration launches a year-long campaign to "shine a global spotlight" before Paris hosts the United Nation Climate Change conference. Over 100 artists will make appearances at the event but performances have yet to be confirmed.
If once there were any doubts of Morrissey's eating habits, his 1985 LP Meat is Murder put any wonder to rest. Remaining a heavy PETA activist, he threated to terminate a February 2103 gig at Los Angeles' Staple Center after they failed to go meat free for his visit--McDonalds vendors included. Only until after the venue was dubbed meat free, fitting his tour rider, would Morrissey consider resuming his performance, reports Entertainment Weekly. His Madison Square Garden concert follow the same vegan protocol, as he claims in his open letter.
"If you choose to serve animal flesh at Live Earth, you'll be making a mockery of the very concept of the event, in which case it should be renamed "Dead Earth: We Contributed!," Morrissey concludes. "Don't be a denier of the causes of climate change. You know the facts. Make the right choice." In a press release, PETA says that Live Earth producers told them that organizers have no control over what food the venues involved serve.
Read Morrissey's letter below:
Dear Mr. Gore and Mr. Wall,
I am writing to ask you to do the one thing that will do the most good for the planet and the majority of its inhabitants: not serve meat or dairy products at Live Earth 2015. I don't mean offering a vegan option-I mean not serving animal products at all. Otherwise, the event will make no sense-it'll be "greenwashing." Serving meat and dairy products at an event to combat climate change is like selling pistols at a gun-control rally. Your responsibility is to alert people to a crisis, not sell out to the vendors responsible for it.
Not only is it possible for venues to provide a 100 percent meat-free menu-as is done now at every concert venue in which I perform, including Madison Square Garden, where I have a show at the end of June-it's also a moral duty.
We already know that raising animals for food is a leading cause of climate change and that moving toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat climate change's worst effects. Animal agriculture severely affects the world's freshwater supply and is a major contributor to global greenhouse-gas emissions, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and air and water pollution, among many other harmful effects.
Since you can't miss the fact that meat consumption is killing the planet-your own sponsor organization, the United Nations, states this-and since venues can and will cater vegan food for events, if you choose to serve animal flesh at Live Earth, you'll be making a mockery of the very concept of the event, in which case it should be renamed "Dead Earth: We Contributed!"
Don't be a denier of the causes of climate change. You know the facts. Make the right choice.
Sincerely, Morrissey
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