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distributed enormous amounts of relief goods, environment and lead to global warming. For
they also sent these reusable items to the this reason, following a vegetarian diet is a very
disaster area. Volunteers used them not only for effective way of combating climate change. In
their own meals, but also to distribute hot meals recent years, contagious diseases, such as avian
to survivors, so as to avoid the “second disaster” flu, SARS, foot-and-mouth disease, and mad
of mountains of disposable plates and utensils. cow disease, have been spread through meat
Recipients were encouraged to keep and reuse consumption or close proximity with animals
them. meant for consumption, so Dharma Master
Scientists have shown that meat production Cheng Yen has long been calling on everyone to
is in fact the largest single contributor of improve their health as well as the health of the
greenhouse gas emissions that damage the planet by following a vegetarian diet.

In Houston, Texas, volunteers introduce Tzu Chi's eco-
friendly blankets made from recycled plastic bottles.

1 2 0 Tzu Chi uSA WiNTER 2014