© 1999 VNN
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USA March 18, 1999 VNN3355 The Great American Meatout BY SANATANA DHARMA NETWORK USA, Mar 18 (VNN) — Welcome to Meatout! In March, thousands of caring folks in all 50 states and several other countries will welcome spring with educational events ranging from simple information tables and exhibits to elaborate receptions, cooking demonstrations, and festivals. They will ask visitors to "kick the meat habit, at least for a day, and explore a more wholesome, less violent diet." For the past 15 years, Meatout has enjoyed broad public support from educators, health providers, manufacturers and retailers of meatless foods, public interest advocates, writers, mass media, public officials, and famous entertainers. This year's headliners include Casey Kasem, James Cromwell, Peter Falk, Rue McClanahan, Cassandra 'Elvira' Peterson, Kevin Nealon, and Hayley Mills. 1-800-MEATOUT Box 30654, Bethesda MD 20824 What's Happening 2000 EVENTS TO MARK 15th OBSERVANCE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT Consumer and animal protection advocates in 2,000 communities in all 50 states and several Canadian provinces will welcome spring on March 20 with educational events promoting meatless eating. These will range from a Congressional Reception and colorful 'lifestivals' to public dinners, homeless 'feed-ins,' cooking demonstrations, classroom presentations, and information tables ('steakouts'). They will ask their friends and neighbors to "kick the meat habit, at least for a day, and to explore a more wholesome, less violent diet of grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits." In the nation's capital, more than 300 Members of Congress and staffers will join the annual Congressional Reception featuring delicious meatless foods, speakers, exhibits and videos, and musical entertainment. A slaughterhouse vigil, a homeless shelter 'feed-in,' an information table on the National Mall, and leafleting at Metro stops are planned as well. Boston activists will march through the city performing street theater scenes. Harvard Square will feature a week-long window display. Several information tables will be set up. Four New York City groups are sponsoring a Meatout fair featuring a vegan buffet, speakers, exhibits and videos, and musical entertainment. Similar events are planned in Brooklyn. Others will be distributing leaflets and vegan food samples at Grand Central Station and other locations. Long Island and Hudson Valley groups have scheduled public dinners with speakers and exhibits. A Staten Island professor is hosting an Internet course on vegetarianism with 500 participants. Philadelphia activists are holding a city-wide health promotion campaign. This includes arranging a food fair, asking local restaurants to offer special meatless meals, encouraging local businesses and organizations to promote healthy eating, printing a wellness and healthy eating directory, placing advertisements, and distributing news releases. North Carolina's Triangle area is hosting a 'lifestival,' a cooking demonstration for children, a homeless shelter feeding, a lecture, and several information tables. Activists in Virginia's Tidewater area are promoting meatless hot-dogs and burgers in fast food chains. Florida groups are planning public meals and information tables in a dozen communities. Meatout ads will be running on 20 movie screens. Chicago area activists are doing a homeless shelter 'feed-in' and other food and educational events. Six Texas cities, including El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio, are hosting public meals and information tables. Southern California activities include a 'lifestival' at Cal State (Fullerton), a homeless shelter 'feed-in' in Los Angeles, a dinner and lecture in San Diego, several other dinners and information tables, and a booth at the huge Natural Products Expo. To the north, educational activities are planned in Arcata, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Colorful 'lifestivals' featuring food samples, speakers, exhibits and videos, and musical entertainment will be held in Charlotte, Fullerton (CA), Moline (IL), New York City, and Philadelphia. Public dinners, homeless shelter 'feed-ins,' and other food events, frequently with speakers and exhibits, are scheduled in Alexandria (VA), Baltimore, Buffalo, Cherry Hill (NJ), Cincinnati, El Paso, Hartford, Irvine (CA), Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, Rockford (IL), San Diego, Sarasota, Springfield (MA), Tucson, and Youngstown. Barnes & Noble and Borders book stores in Binghamton (NY), Towson (MD), and other locations are planning vegetarian lectures, cook book displays and signings, information tables, and food samplings. Scores of health food retailers are hosting in-store displays. Workplace cafeterias and hospitals are offering meatless meals. Health care professionals are providing Meatout handouts to their patients. A number of people are treating coworkers to a meatless lunch. More than one thousand teachers will use one of three Meatout Teacher Kits for classroom presentations. Several school systems in Vermont and other states have agreed to go meatless for a day. A number of universities, including Brandeis, Brown, Cal State, Penn State, Pitt, and SUNY, are offering lectures, information tables, and meatless meals. Several supportive national campaigns are under way. Rallies to promote taxation of meat will be held in Augusta (ME), Harrisburg, and Phoenix. Meatout messages are carried on 1500 buses and on NBC-TV spots in Washington, Baltimore, Dallas, and San Diego. A half dozen radio hosts are conducting special programming. Meatout proclamations have been issued by the governors of Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia. Also by the mayors of Charleston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Des Moines, Houston, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Providence, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tucson. The occasion is the 15th annual observance of the Great American Meatout, the world's largest and most colorful grassroots diet education campaign. The date on the first day of spring symbolizes rebirth and renewal. The purpose is to help consumers make the transition from a disease-laden, environmentally destructive meat-based diet to a healthful, nonviolent plant-based diet. This year's focus is on expanding the selection of meatless foods in mainstream supermarkets. The Great American Meatout draws massive support from consumer, environmental, and animal protection groups, public officials, health care providers, educators, mass media, entertainers, and meatless food manufacturers and retailers. Most are moved by their concern for public health and environmental quality. Others simply believe that consumers are entitled to a one-day response to the relentless barrage of meat industry propaganda. This year's celebrity headliners are Casey Kasem, Peter Falk, James Cromwell, Rue McClanahan, Cassandra 'Elvira' Peterson, and Hayley Mills. Manufacturers contributing meatless food samples include Amy's Kitchen, Boca Burger, Fantastic Foods, Gardenburger, Health Valley, Lightlife Foods, Mudpie Frozen Foods, Nasoya Foods, Northern Soy, Once Again Nut Butter, ShariAnn's Organics, Spice of Life, Worthington Foods, and Yves Veggie Cuisine. The timing of this observance could not have been more propitious. A coalition of 20 leading health advocacy organizations, including the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society, is urging the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to make fruits and vegetables the cornerstone of America's diet. A recent survey found that 75 percent of consumers would eat more vegetarian meals if they were widely available. People who eat out are increasingly asking for meatless entrees. Teens are flocking to meatless eating. Food manufacturers, supermarkets, and fast food chains are scrambling to meet the demand with veggie hot dogs, burgers, lunch 'meat,' and dairy-free ice cream. The Great American Meatout is coordinated nationally by FARM (Farm Animal Reform Movement), a national public-interest non-profit organization. Individual events are planned and conducted by local consumer, environment, and animal protection groups. PLEASE CALL 949-494-9937 FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL CONTACTS. 1-800-MEATOUT Box 30654, Bethesda MD 20824 What You Can Do The Basic Concept Meatout revolves around the simple request that Americans "kick the meat habit, at least for a day, and explore a more wholesome, less violent diet." Your Meatout event should provide the information that your friends and neighbors need to make this pledge. The simplest way to do this is by setting up an information table, or 'steakout,' which can be arranged in an hour or two (see other ideas). Just pick a place from our 'suggested locations' list, then order some outreach materials. You may want to register your event and develop an "action plan." This year's observance focuses on aggressive promotion of meatless foods in mainstream food markets. Accordingly, your 'Action Kit' contains a master of forms designed for this purpose. Add-Ons The most effective Meatout events are those that reach large numbers of people, either in person or through the media. The size, location, and novelty of your event all contribute to this impact. You can add impact to your event with: * Posters, photographs, or videos (1-800-MEATOUT) * Food samples (1-800-MEATOUT, courtesy of supportive manufactures) * Entertainers - Musicians and other entertainers are often willing to perform gratis at charity events, just to get the exposure. * Street theater - Costumed activists always draw a crowd, whether they are acting out slaughterhouse scenes, or simply handing out leaflets. Here are some ideas for Meatout events: Grocery stores - Post Meatout notices on store bulletin boards; distribute forms requesting meatless foods; collect signatures for store managers. Retailer specials - Ask food stores, restaurants, and book stores to offer special deals on meatless foods, meals, and cook books. Cooking demonstration - SautŽ or steam your way into the hearts of your community by showing how to prepare some of your favorite dishes. Use a church or community center kitchen. Public dinners - Hold a potluck or catered dinner in a park, community center, or church. Reception for public officials - You can't fight city hall, but you can feed them. The annual Congressional Reception attracts 300 staffers. Delivery of meatless meals to local celebrities - Radio DJs or TV newscasters, for example. Meatless meal for the homeless - Contact your local shelter and offer to cook and serve a meal. Speakers/entertainers - Arrange a concert or a lecture on a pertinent current topic. Lifestival - A super event made up of several of the elements detailed above. (Nearly) Effortless Events Meatless lunch for co-workers - Stop at a supermarket on the way to work and pick up some 'smart dogs,' 'phoney baloney,' or other meat analogs and present an attractive lunch for your co-workers, along with a sign and a bunch of leaflets. Restaurant cards - Leave cards requesting more meatless choices at restaurants or markets. Calls to radio stations - Call in to your favorite radio talk show. Letters to the editor - Let FARM send a letter in your name to the editor(s) of your newspaper(s). Proclamations - Let FARM request a proclamation in your name from your mayor or governor. Suggested Locations * Downtown plazas or other heavy traffic areas. * Shopping centers or malls are good for promoting meatless foods in supermarkets. * Public parks are great for a picnic or festival! * Libraries may also allow you to use a display case for exhibits. * Churches and community centers are good for dinners, receptions, cooking demonstrations. * Schools and workplace cafeterias may honor the event with a special menu. * University centers may also provide a room for a lecture or video screening. * Health food stores are a great place to feature food samples. Register Your Event Be sure to register your event by phone or email, even if your plans are not final. This will allow us to send you the 'Outreach Kit' with a media guide and sample news releases and the 'Handout Kit' containing samples of available handouts. Your registration also will help us to direct media and activists in your area to your event and to promote Meatout nationally. How to Reach Meatout: Phone: 1-800-MEATOUT Email: farm@farmusa.org Address: Box 30654, Bethesda, MD 20824 Develop an Action Plan NOTE: This plan will work best for folks who get started in early February. Others will need to take shortcuts. * Immediately: Register your intent to participate (800-MEATOUT or farm@farmusa.org), even if your plans are not finalized. * ASAP: Reach out to the community. Call FARM for names of local activists, contact local vegetarian and animal groups, and post notices. Seek support from environmental, health, hunger, and religious (SDA, Krishna, and Jain) groups. * STEP 1: Formulate a detailed plan. Recruit speakers and performers. Get permission or permits from responsible authorities. (Police permits are required for stationary events on public property, but police notification in any case makes for good PR.) * STEP 2: Launch promotion of your event, including news releases, calendar notices, letters to editors, ads, flyers, and posters. Use the 'Outreach Kit' for guidance and the enclosed clip art to decorate your materials. * STEP 3: Notify FARM of your final plans. Review the 'Handout Kit.' Order food samples from manufacturers. Order or start preparing exhibits and handouts. * STEP 4: Finalize all arrangements. Launch major media blitz. Check the Meatout website (www.meatout.org) for any new developments. * STEP 5: Conduct your event(s). Entertain visitors and media. Take pictures. Smile a lot. * STEP 6: Send a brief report of your event(s) to FARM, including photographs and originals of any news clippings. Get some rest. Rejoice in your achievement. Congratulations! 1-800-MEATOUT Box 30654, Bethesda MD 20824 *********************** The Sanatana Dharma Network (SDN) is a free electronic information service linking together several hundred organizations and web sites dedicated to Yoga, Vedic spirituality and Hinduism. If you have news, articles or information that you would like forwarded to the Hindu organizations and web sites on the rapidly growing Sanatana Dharma Network e-mail list, please send it to: fmorale1@students.wisc.edu Om Shanti, Frank Morales - Director of SDN http://www.sit.wisc.edu/ fmorale1/index.htm SDN The Sanatana Dharma Network does not necessarily endorse this message. We have simply forwarded it to you. If you wish to respond to the message, please respond to the original source, not to SDN. Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/usa/US9903/US18-3355.html
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