The case in summary: Hanne-Lene Dahlgren, one of Norway’s biggest vegetarian influencers, has received threats and incitement after urging that meat consumption must be reduced by 30 percent by 2025. Dahlgren was advised to move to a secret address, but has chosen to continue its fight to reduce meat consumption. She believes that a reduction in meat consumption will be good for the climate, as between a third and a quarter of all emissions in the world come from our food system. Dahlgren argues that we can increase self-sufficiency in Norway by replacing some of the meat consumption with fruit, vegetables and grains. She believes that food in Norway is too cheap, and that we buy and eat more than we need. Despite threats and incitement, Dahlgren wants to inspire others to reduce meat consumption. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I have received ugly messages by SMS and e-mail such as: “I hope you drive into a rock face” and “You should be careful, we know where you live”. It has been quite special to experience. That’s what Hanne-Lene Dahlgren says, one of the country’s biggest vegetarian influencers. When she speaks in the media, people pepper the comment section with: “Møkkakerring”. “Ugly blonde”. Etc. She has set herself the goal that we must reduce meat consumption by 30 per cent by 2025. Not everyone applauds that. Do you want to eat less meat for the sake of the environment? Have your say at the bottom of the matter. Husband Anders Dahlgren praises his wife for being “incredibly strong, rational and sensible”. He himself copes with the messages worse than her. – I find it very unpleasant and often think: Why would she put herself through this? The husband Anders Dahlgren is worried about the messages his wife receives. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news That the couple has two small children makes it even more frightening. – Yes, you really wanted me not to continue with this, Hanne-Lene turns to her supporter, who responds with a couple of nods. But the mission continues. The matter is too important to throw in the food waste bin. From Google to spokesperson for a vegetarian diet She had a permanent job as an analyst at Google. But four years ago, Hanne-Lene changed pastures to spread vegetarian enthusiasm. Was the grass and lettuce greener on the other side? – I guess it was better that the grass had to be watered more. At the time, there was little talk about the need to eat more greens. We simply needed a proper focus on it, she states. Dahlgren creates food content and recipes on social media. Writes cookbooks. Debates. Makes “mythbusters about climate and Norwegian agriculture”. Among other things. – If we had eaten more as the health authorities say, it would have been good for the climate. Between one third and one quarter of all emissions worldwide come from our food system, explains Dahlgren and adds: – That proportion is increasing because we eat more and more high-emission food. Here she participates in the Debate: Eat much less meat, says a new report. But is it health, the environment or agriculture that will govern new dietary guidelines? Thinks the debate about agriculture is one-sided Dahlgren is not a vegetarian, but refers to himself as a vegetarian enthusiast. “Eat more fruit and vegetables” is the message. She does not demand that everyone stop eating meat, as many people think. – The agricultural debate becomes “meat versus green”. Many people in agriculture, we believe, who are concerned about eating more greens, will want their work for life. It is quite the opposite. I want self-sufficiency in Norway, that the farmers in Norway should earn more by producing less. In order to achieve this, the regulations must be in place. – We must stop subsidizing the cheap and bad meat. The quality has to go up. We need to reduce the amount on the plates. It helps, if you vote for the right people, says Dahlgren. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – Which aspect weighs more heavily, health or climate? – Climate. Health is a private, personal matter. But when I choose what I eat, and it goes beyond the whole earth, then it is no longer a private matter. Thinks the food in Norway is too cheap The Norwegian dietary advice recommends that we limit ourselves to 500 grams of red meat a week. Those who have the least eat the most nutrient-poor food. And there is a lot of bad meat because it is priced low. Not least, the poor and highly processed goods are too easily available, Dahlgren asserts. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The joint Nordic expert group wanted earlier this year that for “health reasons we should not eat more than 350 grams a week” – preferably less with regard to the environment. – Isn’t that enough and good, then? – It is good. But the problem is that one quarter of Norwegian men eat twice as much, every week, as the current recommendation. 100 sausages a year is the average for Norwegians. We have a long way to go, notes Dahlgren. How often do you eat vegetarian? 🥦🥑🍽🥕 Every day. Of course it’s veggie! A couple of times a week, try to eat healthy. Never. Food without meat is not food. Show result – Do you believe that you can change the eating habits of Ola and Kari Burgersen? – I think I can help influence so that the authorities can change eating habits. Freedom of expression’s prize For almost five years, Dahlgren has argued for the green cause. Every single time there is “something that makes you afraid of the dark”. – It’s usually men, a little older, who I don’t think have a single brain cell. Who explains how agriculture and climate emissions work, and says everything I stand for is wrong. I only convey what the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, the health authorities and the EU stand for. People who disagree or are rude are one thing. Something else is threats. – Have you reported anything? – No. But I have considered it. I regret not having done it. There is something about the time spent, the energy – and that I have assessed it to mean that it cannot be taken 100 per cent seriously. Hanne-Lene was advised to move and to get a secret address. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Scares people from participating in the debate When the messages are “you must be careful” and the reason is that “we know where you and your family live”, the warning light lights up. Steinar Vadla Risa is a security expert. Photo: Clean Shot Photography, Eivind Nilsen – Of course you get worried about how far you can stretch it, what is really meant. It is sometimes very uncomfortable, says the man Anders Dahlgren. – I spoke to a security expert who thought I had to move and get a secret address, says Hanne-Lene. The security expert’s advice on threats and incitement Steinar Vadla Risa is responsible manager of Vadla Tryghetsbyrå and emphasizes that he has not been an adviser to Hanne-Lene Dahlgren, but only spoke “loosely” about this. – It is always sad when committed people are exposed to harassment and threats. Many will probably both stop speaking out, pay more attention and even move on. It is a development that is not good, he says. When such situations arise, Risa says that one of the options is to move, look after children/family better, and get a secret address. Another option is to front, show openness and tell the outside world what is happening. – I thought Hanne-Lene was tough for standing up and telling her version. More people would probably stop earlier when incitement and threats appear. Unfortunately, this is how everyday life has become for many people who mean something and face it. Being labeled in one direction or another makes more people choose to remain silent. – Should you report? – On a general basis, a report should be submitted because it is logged and the police have the opportunity to check “degree of seriousness” and whether “persons/environments/organisations” are known and have possibly used violence against others, Risa replies. The Dahlgrens had family advice. But moving was not considered. They discussed whether the vegetarian enthusiast should continue to speak out in the agricultural and climate debate. She continued. But she says she knows that this scares many others from participating in the debate. The Dahlgrens have not been intimidated. Hanne-Lene wants to inspire others, because she “sees her work has a big effect”. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – But I honestly thought that this matter of reaching the goal of meat reduction would be easier to fix. Do you want to eat less meat for the sake of the environment? Participate in the debate. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
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Hanne-Lene Dahlgren asks people to cut meat consumption – receives threats and incitement – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
