Earlier this week, Sir Paul McCartney sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him to honor animals by declaring January 12 as a national Vegetarian Day. This observance could help save animals, protect the environment and improve people’s health.

More than 40 percent of the 1.2 billion people who live in India do not eat meat. On the other hand, beef is a $73 billion a year industry in the United States, where many Americans eat almost 70 pounds of cow meat each year. By declaring a day to celebrate vegetarianism, India could set an example for the rest of the world to follow.

Please sign the petition and let Prime Minister Singh know you support McCartney’s idea of a “celebration of life – all life.” With a little luck, McCartney’s next letter will be addressed to the White House.

Photo credit: Anna’sfarm