Table of Contents

1. Meatout Observance Smashes Past Records
2. AR2005 Discounted Registration Ends March 31
3. Letters to Editor Published in 200 Papers in 2005
4. Selected Links

Meatout Sets New Records

Activists came out in droves in observance of the 20th Anniversary of the Great American Meatout, setting a new record for participation. Records were also set for number of proclamations issued and number of billboards placed. All 50 states and 23 other countries were represented. Thanks for making this Meatout observance the best yet!

In addition to the traditional information tables, cooking demonstrations, lectures and festivals, Meatout 2005 saw the introduction of a new event: the Meatout Walk. Coordinators in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington, and Orlando (to name a few) raised thousands of dollars for FARM's campaigns. Several met their fundraising goal of $1000, earning pro-veg billboards in their areas.

Governors and mayors issued a record 38 proclamations this year, urging citizens to explore a wholesome diet of vegetables, fruits, and grains. Major cities include Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York City, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia round out the states.

Hundreds of billboards and bus cards are carrying the Meatout message in Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Eugene, Hartford, Los Angeles, New Haven, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa, Vancouver, and Washington (DC). Celebrity entertainers like Casey Kasem, Mary Tyler Moore, Joaquin Phoenix, Rue McClanahan, James Cromwell, and Bill Maher headlined this year's special observance.

AR2005 Discount Ends March 31

The early registration discount for the Animal Rights 2005 National Conference ends Thursday, March 31.

Please visit the registration page to take advantage of the discounted rate, even if you're not sure that you can attend. It's cheaper to register now and get a refund later, if need be, than to wait until the last minute.

The conference will be held on July 7-11 at the superb Westin LAX Hotel in Los Angeles. Special features include fabulous accommodation rates with free dog beds, cruelty-free personal care products, discounted vegan meals, discounted parking, free airport shuttle, and use of the hotel's Grand Ballroom and Video Theater, with exhibits in one hall.

The line-up of speakers signed up thus far includes Lorri Bauston, Michael Budkie, Theo Capaldo, Lawrence Carter-Long, Karen Davis, Karen Dawn, Michael Greger, Tippi Hedren, Alex Hershaft, Steve Hindi, Kevin Jonas, Pattrice Jones, Elliot Katz, Greg Lawson, Howard Lyman, Michael Mountain, lauren Ornelas, Ava Park, Martin Rowe, Jerry Vlasak, Paul Watson, and Persia White.

Please contact Jen for a free pack of 50 promotional cards to distribute to your movement colleagues.

200 Letters to Editor Published

Since the beginning of the year, FARM's letter-writing network has published letters to the editor promoting meat-free eating in nearly 200 different newspapers. The topics include Mad Cow disease, the USDA's Dietary Guidelines, heart disease, Meatout, global warming, and hormones in beef and milk. Here are selected excerpts:

"The callous reaction by USDA and the U.S. meat industry to the discovery of a third case of Canadian Mad Cow disease clearly places profits before health... Folks in the beef industry should seek a more secure and socially redeeming career. For the rest of us it's not too late for a New Year's resolution to replace beef in our diet with vegetables, fruits, and grains."

"The U.S. Dietary Guidelines released yesterday by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services continue a 25-year trend of recommending replacement of meat and other fatty foods in our diet with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains... How many more studies and official recommendations will it take before American consumers get the message. How many more needless deaths?"

"According to USDA’s Economic Research Service, meat lost 4% loss of the food market share since 1985... This attests to the effectiveness of national dietary education campaigns like the Great American Meatout, which was launched in that year."

"According to Cornell University Professor David Pimentel, production of animal-based foods accounts for 8% of the national consumption of fossil fuels — nearly as much as driving our cars. It requires nearly ten times as much fuel as production of plant-based foods... Despite our government's boycott of the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming, we can show our support for planetary survival each time we visit our supermarket."

"Last week's Congressional hearing on the use of steroids in major league baseball called public attention to an epidemic of substance abuse by more than 500,000 young American athletes... Tragically, these same growth hormones are administered to 90% of U.S. and Canadian beef cattle and 25% of dairy cows to promote weight gain and milk production... American consumers who are not into steroids will be well advised to stay away from beef and dairy products."

Letters to the editor are a most effective vehicle for broadcasting our message. They are the second most read section of the paper after the front page. We estimate that our Letters From FARM program reaches 5 million readers in middle America who have few other ways to get our message.

Please contact Jen to join our FARM Letters network.

Selected Links