Date
February 5, 2000
Contact
Joyce Friedman
IDA
718/520-9032
In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley
CA 94941
IDA is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.
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NEW YORK - At a red meat gala, co-sponsored by The Cattlemen's Beef Board and dubbed "Big Red", a coalition of vegan activists from In Defense of Animals (IDA), Farm Sanctuary, The Viva Veggie Society and New York City Vegetarians will denounce the beef industry's cover-up of the "mad cow" threat and the infliction of tremendous cruelty upon animals from factory farm confinement to slaughterhouse death.
On Monday, February 5, starting at 7:00 PM outside Cipriani 42nd Street at 110 East 42nd (between Park/Lex), graphic undercover video footage of animals suffering in intensively confined factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses will be shown and free samples of veggie burgers will be distributed to the public, weather permitting, along with information about going vegetarian.
There will be a special appearance by Penelo Pea Pod (a 6-foot green pea) with a "Go Veggie" message as well as signs and banners stating, "The Cows Are
Mad As Hell," "Mad Cow: It's What's For Dinner," and "Your Dinner Led a Miserable Life- Go Vegan."
The beef industry is telling the American public to trust them, that the situation is under control, and that it can't happen here - exactly what the British government said before the "mad cow" crisis hit the UK. Yet the same practices that led to "mad cow disease" in the UK and Europe are happening here, according to an increasing number of news reports.
"Additionally," stated Joyce Friedman, IDA spokesperson, "cows experience extreme suffering at the hands of the beef industry which dehorns, otherwise mutilates without anesthesia and intensively confines these sentient beings, painfully drags to slaughter 'downed cows' who can no longer walk, and often slaughters animals who are still fully or partially conscious. Of course, all 10 billion animals confined and slaughtered for food in this country suffer tremendously - are treated as mere property and never have a good day - which is why we urge the public to adopt a vegan (complete vegetarian) diet, to benefit one's health, the animals, and the planet.
Undercover footage will be available; Graphic footage will be shown; Free vegan food will be distributed.