Lebanese minister shuns call to give up kebabs

Apparently hummus and tabouleh are no substitute for the succulent kebabs Lebanon is famous for because Lebanon's environment minister on Thursday shunned a call to give up kebabs and live on the country's wide range of vegetarian dishes.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) appealed to minister Antoine Karam to "lead Lebanon and the world in the charge against climate change and environmental destruction by going vegetarian and advocating a vegetarian diet."

The request is part of the organization’s campaign for Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22 every year.

Lebanese cuisine offers a variety of vegetarian-friendly food, such as tabbouleh and dips like hummus and baba ghannoush, but meat is also a central part of the local diet.

Ashley Fruno, PETA's senior campaigner, told AFP the organization was hopeful Karam would swear off meat as part of a global effort to cut down on greenhouse-gases emitted by livestock farms and to be kinder to animals.

The minister, however, was taken off guard by the request and said that while he is all for the environment, he is not willing to give up kebbeh, shawarma and other local meat dishes.

"They (PETA) probably won't like what I think," he told AFP. "If I turn vegetarian, will I be helping animals?"

"There are other, more important steps," he added. "We have to look at the whole picture."

They (PETA) probably won't like what I think

Environment Minister Antoine Karam