If thought that Germans all eat frankfurters and schnitzel, they do – but most of them eat vegan versions! By ratio, Germany is the world’s most vegan-friendly country (followed by Israel and the USA). It’s partly to do with the strong holistic health movement (naturopaths have the same status as conventional doctors) and like Italy, most towns and villages have a thriving indie health shop).
Germany is also a pretty green country. It has Green MPs in government (one MP almost replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor) and there is also a thriving Young Greens movement and an animal welfare party. Far more liberal than most countries, the co-leaders are a bisexual woman and Iranian man, yet the press don’t bat an eyelid over there.
The city of Kiel is a testament to how zero waste cities start. From leftover meals to hair recycled from salons, you can even buy juice made from apples that would otherwise have gone to landfill. There are public free water drinking fountains and bans on single-use plastic, along with the city council leader being a Green Party candidate. The city is even trialling a pay-as-you-throw scheme, which like water meters, means that people who throw away the least amount of rubbish, pay less money in tax.
Berlin is the world’s most vegan-friendly city. LikeMeat is a German sausage brand, created by the son of a meat company boss. He indulged his son’s whim of creating vegan meats. It was so successful, it now produces more profits than meat! Veganz is the world’s first fully vegan supermarket with its own climate-balance initiative, to ensure that what it sells is sustainable, as well as meat-free. Its team of over 100 people are bringing 22,000 products to the shelves of supermarkets in 11 European countries.
how Germany protects its forests & trees
Unlike England, Germany’s forests are completely safe. 90% are heavily protected by law and the 72 tree species are home to up to 10,000 animals and plants. There is a strong Green Party influence in Germany but even without it, all parties protect the wild areas, which account for almost half of Germany’s land area (including all those forests surrounding the fairytale castles). Tree are so protecte d that there is even a word for it: Bannwald. Next door, one third of Austria is also made up of protected forests. In Croatia, 10% of the country is National Park. From lakes to waterfalls and from trees to valleys, this is a country that looks after its woodland. It seems nearly all governments know how to protect their trees, except ours.
The best ways to help preserve old-growth forests? Stay away from palm oil, use recycled paper and bathroom tissue, choose recycled wood products, and live a sustainable life! If planting trees, learn more on toxic trees and mulches to keep away from pets (many trees are also toxic to horses, including yew and oak).
