Written by PETA
Well, the new swine flu epidemic may already have killed more than 100 people in Mexico, and you don't have to ask us twice to point out what's responsible for all these outbreaks of animalborne diseases, one after another. Factory farming, of course.
We think that this billboard, which we're erecting in San Antonio, Texas, sums it up:
Cramming animals by the hundreds or thousands into gigantic, windowless sheds—in which the air is teeming with bacteria and the pigs' or chickens' throats are burned by the accumulated waste—is a recipe for spreading virulent diseases. Just last month, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote two articles about the spread of deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on pig farms.
No, Kristof isn't psychic. He's just paying attention—unlike the people at your local meat counter.
Bottom line: We can stop pigs from killing us if we simply stop killing them.
Written by Alisa Mullins
Back in November, we were taken aback to learn that Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard planned a citywide initiative to improve residents' sex lives by distributing free Viagra to elderly men suffering from impotence. We sent a letter to let him know that most men don't need to pop pills to get some afternoon delight: They simply need to adopt a purely vegetarian diet.
Here's the response from the Mexican government:
We believe that your recommendations are right in that that they promote balanced nutrition to prevent chronic degenerative diseases, thus improving the quality of life of people.
So, Viagra might be a temporary fix—if you don't count the side effects, which can range from very uncomfy and embarrassing nether regions to a full-blown heart attack—but adopting a vegetarian lifestyle is the best long-term medicine for long, lonely nights. A vegan diet can immediately start reducing your risk of the main causes of impotence: clogged arteries to your organs. Not to mention that a healthy, vegan diet also makes for a leaner physique and increases overall energy, which can make you more attractive, gentlemen!
Yes, I think it's true: Vegetarians so have better sex!
Written by Liz Graffeo
Does anyone remember our sexy "Go Veg, Texas" campaign? Of course you do! Well, this time around, we're traveling a bit south of the border and asking Mexico to do the same thing (minus the bikini).
If you haven't yet heard, Mexico has recently started the "Vamos por un millón de kilos'' campaign to encourage all residents to lose weight. Well, we know a thing or two about lookin' fine and stayin' slim without all the grease and cruelty that meat-based diets offer. Check out our letter to President Calderón and let us know what you think:
His Excellency Felipe CalderónPresident of the Republic of Mexico1 page via fax Dear President Calderón: On behalf of PETA, an international animal rights organization with more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide, I applaud your administration's "Vamos por un millón de kilos" campaign. May we add that the best way to help your citizens lose weight while improving their health would be to encourage them to choose a vegetarian diet? As you might know, consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products is linked to the major killers in the U.S. and Mexico—heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and strokes.Animal flesh, milk, and cheese are packed with fat, calories, and cholesterol. It's little wonder that as Mexicans move away from a traditional Mexican diet high in healthy vegetables, grains, fruit, and beans and toward the typical U.S. diet, which is laden with fatty animal flesh and devoid of fiber, they are also following their neighbors to the north in packing on the pounds and becoming sick and prematurely incapacitated. Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vegetarians are far less likely to be overweight than meat-eaters and far more likely to be in better overall health. They live longer and die less painful deaths. The American Dietetic Association—the largest group of nutrition professionals in the U.S.—reviewed hundreds of studies and concluded that vegetarians have lower rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer than people who eat meat. A healthy vegetarian diet provides all the nutrients that we need to thrive—without the saturated animal fats and cholesterol found in meat that cause weight gain and clogged arteries. In addition, every vegetarian saves hundreds of animals from the horrible cruelty of the meat industry, such as mutilation without any painkillers, intensive confinement, and violent slaughter. To help kick off the "Go Vegetarian, Mexico" campaign, two of PETA's beautiful Lettuce Ladies would like to join you for an event at the National Palace to hand out delicious vegetarian fare—like tasty faux-beef tacos and soy-cheese and mock-chicken quesadillas—along with copies of our "Vegetarian Starter Kit." (The kit can be viewed online at SeaVegetariano.com.) Please let me know when you would like to schedule this exciting event. Thank you for your consideration.Very truly yours, Ingrid E. NewkirkPresident
Written by Christine Doré
No matter what your stance is on the highly controversial U.S.-Mexican border fence project, everyone can agree that those who decide to come to the U.S. should be warned about the downside of our nation's meat and milk consumption habits. PETA is warning immigrants that there's much more to worry about than proper documentation.
We've written a letter to the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection asking to buy space at each of the nine southwest border sectors for our new ad. Those considering entry will then read this message: "If the border patrol doesn't get you, the chicken and burgers will. Go vegan" (or, in Spanish, "Si no te agarra la migra, te atraparan el pollo y las hamburguesas. Sé vegano").
By leaving behind a far healthier staple diet of vegetables and grains—like rice, beans, corn, peppers, and tortillas—Mexicans and other immigrants will likely find themselves fattening up on the fiberless, fatty, cholesterol-laden U.S. diet, which is linked to heart disease, various types of cancer, and strokes (our nation's three biggest killers) as well as impotence (internationally recognized killer of the mood).
PETA's placement of these colorful ads would certainly offset some of the tax dollars that fund the fence. It's a winning solution for the folks at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, immigrants, and farmed animals alike!
Written by Sean Conner
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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