HELSINKI, FINLAND, March 6, 2009: Senni Kela, spokesperson for the Finnish Vegan Society , says several studies indicate that the number vegetarians in Finland is somewhere between 3 and 5 percent of the population. “I believe that the number is constantly growing, especially now when people are realizing that their meat- and dairy-heavy diets contribute to climate change.”
This figure would put Finland somewhere in the middle of the global vegetarian league tables. A 2008 study indicated that 3.2 per cent of Americans are vegetarian, and a 2006 report indicated that 6 per cent of Britons are the same. India, of course, has more vegetarians and vegans than the rest of the world combined: 40 per cent of the population, or more than 400 million people, don’t eat meat. Hinduism emphasizes vegetarianism and Jainism demands it.
In Finland, other reasons predominate: “The main reasons are ethical, ecological or health-related,” explained Kela. “We do not want to support the unnecessary exploitation and killing of animals.” She indicated that switching to a meat-free diet could save many lives per year. “Plus, the food is delicious.”