Why is Amsterdam banning meat advertising? The goal is social self-reflection

The Dutch capital’s move is in line with international efforts to examine the connections between climate change, environmental impact and ethical food production. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), industrial animal husbandry is one of the sectors with the largest environmental footprint. More and more research points to health and social consequences.

The India Club Foundation believes that Amsterdam’s decision raises a communication and ethical issue. Public advertising suggests the values ​​to be followed by a given society.

“The real question is not what we eat, but what we take for granted”

– says Zoltán Leveles, chairman of the board of trustees of the India Club Foundation and leader of the Bharata Community.

“The ahimsa principle of ancient Vedic philosophy, non-violence, plays a central role in millennial culture. The principle of non-violence, also embraced by Gandhi, is a call for self-reflection. The Amsterdam decision facilitates this internal dialogue.”

According to the statement, numerous misunderstandings have arisen around the meat advertising ban. Many see it as a legal restriction. Amsterdam’s response is that the city does not wish to promote production models that raise significant environmental and ethical debates on publicly funded platforms. A similar approach can be observed in the restrictions on advertising of fossil fuels in several major European cities.

The India Club Foundation emphasizes: in Hungary, too, there is an increasing interest in conscious nutrition, especially among the younger generations. The rise of plant-based eating is not a fad. It is part of a longer social transformation in which health, environmental protection and ethical aspects appear simultaneously. According to the organization, the example of Amsterdam points to the responsibility of cities and communities to shape the value system. The decision creates an opportunity for society to rethink its relationship to food production, consumption habits and the responsibility that comes with them. The India Club Foundation and the Bharata Community will continue to encourage dialogues that connect people – across religious, worldview, and lifestyle differences.