PETA, Kazakhstan, and Lettuce Bikinis

The title says it all, really, but here’s a little editorial: Last week, two of PETA’s lettuce ladies braved the freezing cold (or scorching heat? I’m not that great with Central Asian weather patterns) of eastern Kazakhstan to encourage the people of Almaty to mark the New Year by switching from dishes like besparmak (horse meat and noodles) and zhambas (baked sheep’s head) to humane meatless alternatives. Kazakhstan has been much in the news lately, following the release of the Borat movie, and the event was a huge success, garnering international press coverage for an important issue and totally blowing a few minds in Almaty, Kazakhstan.