A dietary shift towards reduced meat consumption is an efficient strategy for countering biodiversity loss and climate change in regions (developed and transition countries) where consumption is already at a very high level or is rapidly expanding (such as China). Biodiversity is being degraded and lost to a considerable extent, with 70 % of the world's deforestation a result of stripping in order to grow animal feed. Furthermore, about 14.5 % of the world's anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are calculated to be the result of (mainly industrial) livestock farming. The research reviewed here focuses on the feasibility of reducing meat consumption in developed and transition countries, as this would-among other positive effects-reduce the global loss of biodiversity, the need for unsustainable agricultural practices and GHG emissions. This article reviews the barriers, opportunities and steps that need to be taken in order to encourage the consumption of less meat, based on an interdisciplinary and multifactor approach. The evidence is gathered from a systematic metaanalysis of factors (including personal, sociocultural and external factors) that influence individual meat-eating behaviour. The most relevant factors that influence behaviour appear to be emotions and cognitive dissonance (between knowledge, conflicting values and actual behaviour) and sociocultural factors (e.g. social norms or social identity). For different factors and groups of people, different strategies are appropriate. For example, for men and older people deploying the health argument or arguing for flexitarianism (reduced meat consumption) may prove the most promising approaches, while providing emotional messages or promoting new social norms is recommended in order to address barriers such as cognitive dissonance.

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A 10-stage digital light beam deflector is described using Kerr cell polarisation switches and calcite birefringent prisms. Optimum design criteria are derived with respect to resolution and drive voltage. The final device had an overall transmission of 91~o and could be switched from one direction to another in 0.2 /~sec.

When using nitrobenzene Kerr cells and single element birefringent prisms in digital light deflectors one encounters the problem that the deflection pattern moves with a change of the operating temperature of the system. This paper describes how, by inverting the prism with the largest refracting angle, this effect can be eliminated while retaining the advantages offered by single element prisms. The operating temperature range is now of the order of 10 ~ C compared with approximately 0.07 ~ C for the conventional system.

Reduzierter Fleischkonsum in Industrieländern gilt als Kernstück einer großen gesellschaftlichen Transformation. Voraussetzungen dafür und Realisierungschancen haben Mitglieder der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Humanökologie im Rahmen einer sozialwissenschaftlichen Metastudie erforscht.