Mayor bids for vegetarianism for environmental reasons

A meat store in northern Italy.

For environmental reasons, Chiara Appendino is wading into territory that most politicians don't dare go. It's a daring and controversial step for a country deeply attached to its meat.

When I was 16, I moved to Italy, for a year. I lived in a small town on the island of Sardinia, the outskirts of which were populated by small, rustic farms and countless sheep. Contrary to what people may think, Sardinians are not fishermen who subsist on sardines; they are agriculturists who take tremendous pride in their sheep, lamb, and pork.

I ate a lot of meat that year. The first memorable meal, eaten in an exhausted state of culture shock and homesickness, was pork tenderloin braised in milk. I was introduced to Sardinian porcheddu, whole piglet roasted over a fire, with crispy skin and melting layers of fat. We ate breaded beef or veal cutlets frequently for lunch after school. Pasta was topped with stewed meat sauces or fresh ham, cream, and sheep’s cheese. Dinner parties always started with plates of cured meats, like prosciutto and bresaola. It was delicious. I also gained 30 pounds.

Read Katherine Martinko’s story on Treehugger - “New mayor of Turin, Italy, wants her city to go vegetarian.”