2023 Great Love 30

36 From Cravings to Action According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), food systems are responsible for 70% of water extracted from nature, 60% of biodiversity loss, and almost a third of human greenhouse gas emissions. Food has a major influence on our bodies, homes, environment, and economies. Our eating habits reflect our connectedness, or a lack of it, to Mother Nature and the world. Our current dietary and lifestyle choices are jeopardising the balance of nature and ecology. It is evident from the COVID-19 pandemic that zoonotic diseases pose a significant health risk to humans. Climate change, frequent natural disasters, and the drastic increase in world hunger serve as reminders of the interconnectedness between our eating habits and the planet’s sustainability. Tzu Chi has been advocating vegetarianism as a way to protect life, the environment, and Mother Earth. During the pandemic, Tzu Chi launched the “Bento of Love” programme to promote a plant-based diet among the public. In addition, the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” has resulted in improved health for many participants through a whole-food plant- based diet.