PETA Offers Sexy Pro-Vegan Ad on Houston Garbage Trucks to Help Clean Up City

Group's Money Would Help One of America's Dirtiest Cities Ditch Its Muddy Reputation

For Immediate Release:
September 27, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Houston, Texas -- Today, in response to the news that Houston was recently named one of the dirtiest cities in America by Travel + Leisure magazine, PETA sent a letter to Harry J. Hayes, director of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department, offering to pay the city to place an ad on Houston's garbage trucks that touts the environmental benefits of going vegan. The ad would feature a sexy bikini-clad "Lettuce Lady" and read, "Meat Trashes the Planet. Go Vegan." PETA points out that in addition to causing immense animal suffering, raising animals for food is one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems.

"Our proposal is a win-win solution: Houston will be better able to keep clean, and people will be encouraged to adopt a healthy and humane vegan diet that won't pollute the environment," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The meat and dairy industries are among the leading causes of environmental devastation, so the easiest way for Houston residents to clean up their act and the environment is to go vegan."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA's letter to Harry J. Hayes, director of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department, follows.

September 27, 2012

Harry J. Hayes, Director
Solid Waste Management Department

Dear Mr. Hayes,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 3 million members and supporters—including many thousands across Texas. Houstonians must be disappointed that your fine city was recently named one of the dirtiest cities in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure magazine. We'd like to help by giving your department's budget a boost by paying to place an ad on your garbage trucks. Our ad features a sexy "Lettuce Lady" and reads, "Meat Trashes the Planet. Go Vegan. Free Starter Recipes: PETA.org."

Running our ad would help cover some of the costs of your department's crucial public services, and every Houston resident who goes vegan after seeing it would help to make the city and planet cleaner. The U.N. has declared that animal agriculture is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." This includes air pollution, which played a big role in landing Houston on the dirtiest cities list. According to a new study by the University of California–Riverside, charbroiling one hamburger creates as much air pollution as an 18-wheeler truck driving 143 miles, so going vegan is one of the most effective steps Houstonians can take to start cleaning up their city.

In addition to trashing the planet, the meat and dairy industries cause untold amounts of animal suffering. Chickens, fish, cows, and pigs feel pain and fear, just as 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 still conscious, piglets have their tails and testicles cut off without being given any painkillers, and fish are left to suffocate on the decks of fishing boats or are cut open while still alive.

Getting PETA's awareness-raising ad placed on Houston's trash trucks is a win-win situation for the city, the planet, and animals. If you are agreeable to it, I'd like to set up a phone meeting with you and other decision makers in Houston who can make this happen. Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President