PETA Urges Obama to Give Kids Vegetarian School Lunches
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Well, President Obama this week said he was "open to any idea, whether it comes from a Democrat or a Republican or a vegetarian." So, here comes People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals with its idea: Put the National School Lunch Program on a veggie diet. "Vegetarians just may hold the solution to so many of the problems plaguing America today," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk in a letter to the White House. "Teaching our children the benefits of vegetarian meals would save animals, help stop climate change, and help keep kids at a healthy weight as well as help them avoid our nation's biggest and most costly killers—cancer, heart disease, and obesity. If promoting a vegetarian diet isn't already part of the proposed stimulus package, it should be."
Here's the letter:
February 12, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Dear Mr. President,On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters, thank you for saying that your administration is open to any idea, whether from "a Democrat or a Republican or a vegetarian." May I suggest an idea that would indisputably bolster the economy, reduce work days lost, improve the health of our nation's children, reduce medical costs, and spare millions of animals from needless suffering? Please direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to end purchases of meat, eggs, and dairy products for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and replace them with healthy vegetarian foods like fruits, vegetables, veggie burgers, faux-chicken patties, and more.
As you know, obesity and its associated health problems have reached a crisis level that is now affecting our nation's young people. America's children are already overweight, and as they get older, their health-care costs will increasingly soak up money that could otherwise be invested in new American technology and businesses. As these children enter the workforce, the economy will suffer another blow as they take more sick days. Fortunately, the long- and short-term human and economic effects of the epidemic could be largely reversed by giving plant-based meals to children now in order to instill healthy eating habits in them.
As you know, vegetarian foods have no cholesterol and lots of fiber; meat, eggs, and dairy products contain a lot of cholesterol and have no fiber. No wonder that meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada are among the many health organizations that are reporting that vegetarians have "lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; ... lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer."
In addition to harming Americans' health, the meat industry is a leading cause of environmental degradation and pollution, is energy intensive, and causes enormous animal suffering through debeaking, dehorning, castration, and other painful procedures, which are carried out without any painkillers. Conditions of intensive confinement, inhumane transport, and poorly regulated slaughterhouses also cause animals great stress and fear.
Because of the lobbying efforts of the meat and dairy industries, NSLP meals are heavy in saturated fat- and cholesterol-laden animal products. We ask you to direct the USDA to reverse its policy of propping up these politically powerful industries at the expense of our economy, our health, our children's health, and animals.
A bright, healthy future for our economy and our children can begin with a nutritious, delicious vegetarian lunch in the school cafeteria. We would be happy to discuss this proposal further or to advise you on this issue. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
PETA's letter to President Obama follows and can also be found on PETA's blog.
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Tags: PETA | Obama administration
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Reader Comments
right on to comments posters!
grezt comments here, here's mine: I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years, and my belief is that 99% of the economic problems are a direct result of animal agriculture, and oil run vehicles, factories and machinery. Electric technology for cars, vehicles, and the like was already here at the turn of the 20th century, is still here today, and the mass worldwide pollution is a result of flagrant disregard for appropriate technology in favor of wealth producing oil for a handfull of people and corporations!
And what is the result? The world is a place of misery currently for all people and living beings due to the addiction of oil and meat..............sad, sad, world.........the only solution is to change the legal system making it illegal to buy, sell, or eat meat, and illegal to raise animals for slaughtering. I sincerely believe unless this is done by governments worldwide, we will continue to see degradation of teh enviornment and enourmous health problems amongst the population. It's time for change at top levels of government!
Say what you will about Peta
But the truth is that PETA goes above and beyond to bring into the public eye what most people would never dream goes on behind the scenes. They have brought an end to many animal related atrocities. They are not trying to dictate others' lives, but urging others to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. The fact that you would rather bash PETA and ignore the cruel treatment of animals does not mean that the cruelty doesn't continue, it just means that you don't care enough to try and change it. So stop trying to justify it with some lame comment about grass eating tree huggers! And I certainly don't understand how feeding children vegetables would hurt them. If schools would serve more fresh vegetables it might actually be the only healthy thing some of the kids eat all day. Too many parents are caught up with "quick and easy meals" and not healthy stuff. And yes, I am a full time working mother before anyone goes off on THAT tangent.
PS- for the lady who grew up raising cattle-- common practice doesn't mean uncruel, and as for the alec baldwin comment---- uhhhhh..... where do calves come from genius????
Total agreement
I love the idea of vegetarian lunches in schools. My son (7 years old) is a vegetarian, but there are very, very few vegetarian options in the school lunchroom. So every day for school I pack a cold lunch for him. I find it a little unfair that he doesn't have a hot meal option because he chooses to eat healthy. It's almost like punishing him for making good choices. Even if the schools didn't go TOTALLY vegetarian, there should at least be healthy options. The lunch menu at the elementary schools where I live are terrible. THANKS FOR SPEAKING OUT PETA!!!!
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