• More than 30 million people around the world have explored a vegetarian diet.
• Beef consumption has been reduced by 25 percent
• Veal consumption has been reduced by 75 percent
• major retailers have marketed meat-free foods
• Teenagers have come to think that being vegetarian is cool
• a 1-percent drop in meat consumption has prevented the suffering and death of 90 million animals each year.

How easy is it to give up meat for three meals? Some people find that the very thought brings them out in a sweat. They worry in the same way as people asked to give up smoking.

Many who decide to turn vegetarian start by giving up land animals and poultry, but continue to eat fish. This is based on the perception that some animal protein is needed to remain healthy. Generally, after giving the matter some thought, fish disappears from the menu.

In his book "The Prophet's Way", author Thom Hartmann talks about the resources required to "grow" cattle, compared to growing crops. In his Earth Changes appendix, Hartmann reports the following:

• Food most likely to cause cancer from herbicides: Beef
• Amount of U.S. non-vegetarian mother's milk with significant levels of DDT: 99 percent.
• Amount of U.S. livestock and poultry receiving drugs during their lifetime: 80 percent.
• Risk of death from heart attack for average American man: 50 percent
• Risk of death from heat attack for average American man who consumes no meat: 15 percent.
• Amount you reduce your risk of heart attack by reducing your consumption of meat, dairy and eggs to nil: 90 percent
• Amount of the world's total methane emissions directly attributable to cattle: 20 percent

The first day of spring, March 21, symbolizes rebirth and renewal. Maybe next in the Great American Meat Out, March 20, you may give up meat for a day--or perhaps two days--or longer.