PETA Offers To Help Paisley Out Of Rubbish Rut With Bin Lorries Bearing Pro-Vegan Ads
For Immediate Release:
2 June 2011
Contact:
Sandra Smiley +44 (0)207 357 9229, ext 229, [email protected]
Just in time for World Environment Day (5 June), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to Shona MacDougall, director of environmental services for Renfrewshire Council, asking for permission to place ads on the sides of Paisley’s rubbish trucks reminding people that eating meat isn’t environmentally friendly. The ad features a “meaty” Earth next to the words, “Go Green: Bin Meat”. (A mock-up of the artwork is attached.)
PETA’s request comes in the wake of a survey conducted earlier this year by the Automobile Association which found that Paisley’s streets are some of the worst in the country for litter.
“With this ad, litterbugs and environmentalists alike in Paisley may be encouraged to adopt a healthy and humane vegan diet that won’t pollute their bodies or the planet”, says PETA special projects coordinator Abi Izzard. “The meat and dairy industries are among the leading causes of climate change, so if you really want to go green, the single most effective action you can take as an individual is to go vegan.”
In addition to doing good for the environment, Paisley residents would do animals a favour by tossing meat. Chickens, fish, cows and pigs feel pain and fear – just as we and the animals we share our homes with do – yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs or cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they’re still conscious, and piglets have their tails and the tips of their teeth cut off without being given any painkillers.
PETA’s letter to Shona MacDougall follows.
Shona MacDougall, Director of Environmental Services
Renfrewshire Council
Dear Ms MacDougall,
I am writing to you on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to request permission to place an eye-catching ad on the sides of Paisley’s bin lorries. The ad features a “meaty” Earth next to the words, “Go Green: Bin Meat”. According to a recent study by the Automobile Association, your fine city has had trouble with litterbugs leaving rubbish on the streets. With this ad, residents would get the message that the best way to keep the environment and their bodies healthy is to quit eating meat. If you agree, the first ad could even be launched to coincide with World Environment Day.
Many Paisley residents join the millions of people around the world who are concerned about the environment and are trying to decrease their carbon footprint. The United Nations has determined that raising animals for food is a leading cause of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including land degradation, water shortages, water pollution and the loss of biodiversity.
In addition to polluting the planet, the meat and dairy industries cause massive amounts of animal suffering. Chickens, fish, cows and pigs feel pain and fear, just as we and the animals we share our homes with do, yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs or cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they’re still conscious, piglets have their tails and the tips of their teeth cut off without being given any painkillers and mother cows have their calves stolen from them almost immediately after birth so that the milk meant for the calves can be sold.
Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vegans are far more likely to be in better overall health. The American Dietetic Association – the largest group of nutrition professionals in the US – reviewed hundreds of studies and concluded that compared to people who consume meat, vegetarians have lower rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
By agreeing to our proposal and putting PETA’s attention-grabbing ad on your rubbish trucks, you could help keep Paisley tidy, spare the lives of countless animals, help educate the public about the most effective way to “go green” and make everybody healthier. Please contact me so that we can discuss this proposal. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Abi Izzard
Special Projects Coordinator
PETA