The musician wants people to ditch meat for his birthday. | Mary McCarthy
Paul McCartney wants only one thing for his birthday: for people to ditch meat.
The musician, who turns 78-years-old on June 18, wrote a guest blog post for international animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). It is also the 10th anniversary of the short documentary “Glass Walls,” which McCartney presented. The 12-minute film shows graphic undercover footage of animal suffering within slaughterhouses.
“All I’ve ever wanted for my birthday is peace on Earth—including for animals. That’s why this year, I’m urging fans to watch a video I hosted for PETA, titled ‘Glass Walls,’” McCartney wrote. “We called it that because if slaughterhouses had glass walls, who would want to eat meat?”
“[P]lease watch this short video and share it with your friends. Thank you,” McCartney added.
The soon-to-be 78-year-old and longtime vegetarian has a lasting legacy of speaking up for animals. McCartney cut meat out of his diet more than 40 years ago along with his partner, the late Linda McCartney, who died of breast cancer in April 1998 at age 56. Linda launched the vegetarian meat range Linda McCartney Foods in 1991. Her activism has had a lasting legacy on McCartney and his family.
“I think it’s always good to question norms,” McCartney said in an interview with The Telegraph about going vegetarian with Linda. He added: “just because I’ve always eaten meat and two veg, all my life, do I have to stay like that? I found it was really great to open myself up and say, I can change, there is no harm in that, or as Linda used to say, ‘It’s allowed.’ I loved that. That was one of her great sayings.”
McCartney’s outspokenness towards animal rights issues extends beyond food. In 1993, he released the song “Looking for Changes,” which protests vivisection. He has worked several animal charities, including Humane Society International, World Animal Protection, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
In 2009, he co-founded Meat Free Monday with his daughters, sustainable fashion designer Stella McCartney and photographer Mary McCartney. The initiative works with businesses, schools, and celebrities to encourage people to have meat-free meals at least once a week.
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