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LONDON - Paul McCartney's estranged wife today accused consumers of meat and dairy products of fuelling global warming, as she launched a vegan campaign at London's famous Speaker's Corner.
Heather Mills, currently in a divorce battle with former Beatle McCartney, urged dairy consumers to imagine that the milk in their coffee was actually from a rat, a cat, or a dog.
Mills, 39, asked people to "cut down on one or two meat and dairy and fish dishes a week."
"We are the only species that drinks another person's milk, so why aren't we drinking rat's milk, or dog's milk, or cat's milk, that's how crazy it is," she said.
"It's mad that we are having cow's milk. Even cows don't drink it after one year but we continue forever."
Mills focused on the environmental impact of deforestation and livestock on global warming, citing figures from animal rights group Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva).
Viva claims dairy and meat products are major causes of greenhouse gases.
"When Viva told me it was 18 per cent, that's more than all global transport, I was in shock," Mills said. "Airplanes only bring 3 per cent, while they are being picked on with taxes."
Mills, the 39-year-old estranged wife of Paul McCartney, said milk consumption was completely irrational.
Mills has posed for a poster for the Viva! campaign, headlined: "Hey, Meaty, you're making me so hot!"
Meanwhile, McCartney, 65, threw his support to a campaign to prevent the closing of a post office in Lower Heswall, 3 miles southwest of Liverpool, near one of his homes.
"This village post office is a vital part of local community life and as such should be saved for future generations to cherish. Its 100-year history should not be cast aside lightly," the ex-Beatle said in a message read outside the post office by his brother Mike.
Mike McCartney signed a "save the post office petition" twice once for Paul and once for himself.
- AP