Bikinied Beauties Want Residents to Know That Meat Is Killing the Planet

For Immediate Release:
July 8, 2009

Contact:
Amanda Fortino 757-622-7382

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Wearing nothing but strategically placed lettuce leaves, a pair of PETA Lettuce Ladies will hand out free Brick Road Pizza veggie burgers and coupons redeemable at Consumers Energy to the first 50 takers in downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday. The bikinied duo's point? That the best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to go vegetarian.

When:   Thursday, July 9, 12 noon–1 p.m.

Where:  Consumers Energy substation, corner of Market Avenue S.W. and Fulton Street W., Grand Rapids

The following are just a few of the recent findings about meat's devastating impact on the environment:

*  U.N. scientists have determined that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, SUVs, trucks, and planes in the world combined.

*  Researchers at the University of Chicago determined that switching to a vegan diet does more to counter climate change than switching from a standard car to a Toyota Prius does.

*  According to Environmental Defense, if every American replaced chicken with vegetarian foods just once per week, the carbon dioxide savings would be equivalent to taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.

"We want to turn Grand Rapids residents on to delicious, Earth-friendly vegetarian food and help take a bite out of their energy bills at the same time," says Lettuce Lady Amanda Fortino. "If meat is on the menu, so is a hefty serving of greenhouse gases."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.