Keep the carrots, ditch the sausage

London - A Belgian city is about to become the first in the world to go vegetarian at least one day a week.

Starting this week in Ghent, there will be a regular weekly meatless day in which civil servants and elected councillors will opt for vegetarian meals.

The United Nations says livestock is responsible for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, hence Ghent's declaration of a weekly "veggie day".

Public officials and politicians will be the first to give up meat for a day. School children will follow suit with their own veggie day in September.

It is hoped the move will cut Ghent's environmental footprint and help tackle obesity.

Around 90 000 so-called "veggie street maps" are now being printed to help people find the city's vegetarian eateries. - Ananova.com