THE MILLENNIUM VEGETARIAN PLEDGE

At a vegetarian rally held on the Friday 31st of December 1999 in Hyde Park, London the following historic declaration and a vision statement was read out:

We hereby pledge to bring about a 21st Century in which the human race will finally make peace with the animal kingdom. Human beings will no longer kill, maim, torture or exploit fellow sentient beings for food or other purposes. Animals will have fundamental rights which will be internationally recognised.

It is clear beyond any doubt that the survival of the human race depends upon the survival of the forests and other natural resources and the animals with whom we share this planet. We pledge to protect them all. We oppose the introduction of animal genes into plant foods.

The human race will reach the pinnacle of civilisation when it extends the hand of friendship and compassion to the animal kingdom and returns to the plant based diet best suited to the moral and physical needs of our species, thus avoiding the related evils of animal exploitation, human starvation and environmental destruction.

At the turn of the 20th. Century and the beginning of the 21st. let us make a tryst with destiny to create a world free of violence towards all living beings that are dependent on our love and compassion. Together let us embark on that journey that will bring about a world in which all animals are treated with mercy and compassion and accorded rights that human beings take for granted.

The Museum of London is to keep the pledge perpetuity.

Nitin Mehta
April 2001