Meatout 2008 – Action Around the World!

Meatout 2008 spoke and the world listened! This past March, a thousand communities in all 50 U.S. states and 27 other countries welcomed spring with colorful educational events, marking the 24th annual observance of the world’s largest annual grassroots diet education campaign.

Outreach activities ranged from information tables, exhibits and lectures to feed-ins, cooking demonstrations and elaborate festivals. Visitors pledged to “kick the meat habit on March 20th (first day of spring), and to explore a healthful, non-violent diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein-packed legumes.” Pledgers received a Free Veg Starter Guide and subscription to the popular Meatout Mondays e-newsletter. The observance had widespread support from celebrity entertainers, health authorities, public officials, and the media.

The U.S. Meatout events were especially strong this year. In the wake of the USDA’s largest ever recall of ground beef because it came from sick, abused cows, The Great American Meatout demanded a recall of ALL animal products , as they all come from sick and abused animals. Across the country, dozens of Meatout supporters hosted video screenings of HSUS's undercover footage leading to the recall and distributed special “Total Recall” handouts. Activists congregated in front of the USDA administration building for a powerful protest. View the report with photos.

Other communities were encouraged to “Kick the Meat Habit” for compassion and health with the slogan “It’s Good For Your Heart!”. Caring people distributed a total of 55,000 colorful Meatout handouts offering Free Veg Starter Guides and weekly recipes (great for Earth Day too - click here to order yours now). More than 2,500 Veg Starter Guides were distributed throughout the month of March alone.

Festivals featuring live bands, speakers, exhibits, video screenings, health screenings, food vendors, cooking demonstrations, vegan food samples and games were held across the U.S. Hundreds of visitors attended Meatout festivities in Atlanta, Charleston (WV), Dallas, Portland, and Ukiah (CA). An upcoming celebration in Lawrence (KS) expects hundreds of attendees, while the Seattle VegFest and Detroit Meatout Festival expect to draw thousands.

Feed-ins, an ever-popular outreach activity, took place in more than 100 cities. In the nation’s capital, FARM staff and volunteers hosted a feed-in at a massive peace rally, encouraging a non-violent diet with vegan food and information. Check out the report with photos. Compassion Over Killing attended the D.C. St. Patrick’s Day Parade, distributing mock meat samples and Veg Guides. The Boston Vegan Association gave away 100 free vegan brown bag lunches including Tofurky deli sandwiches, Tings, vegan candy bars and more.

Some communities got creative in educating others with unique, attention-grabbing events. Philadelphia activists got creative with a “die-in” and an exhibit of 10 huge displays and large screen monitors along public sidewalks. A group in West Palm Beach, FL organized an “Eat Green Brigade” for St. Patrick’s Day, asking people to go veg and distributing Tofurky samples.

Seventy-five universities and colleges participated with exhibits, info tables, video screenings, and/or a veg cafeteria line. These included Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico Law School, North Carolina, South Florida, Southern Indiana, Texas, Western Michigan, and many more. Youth outreach is gaining popularity with educational events taking place throughout 50 elementary, middle and high schools.

PETA activists jumped on board with KFC protests. Nearly a hundred humane societies, animal sanctuaries and yoga centers offered free Veg Starter Guides to visitors.

Food manufacturers and retailers supported this year’s observance. Dr. McDougall's Right Foods, Lumen Soyfoods, Moo-Cluck, Parma!, Primal Spirit Foods, Sunergia Soyfoods and Turtle Island (Tofurky) generously donated product samples (see banners below). Nearly 50 health food stores and restaurants displayed Meatout exhibits and featured special discounts.

Special Meatout Proclamations issued by mayors and governors urged citizens to explore a wholesome, non-violent diet of vegetables, fruits and grains. Proclamations were issued in the state of Illinois and major cities, including Baltimore, Houston, Memphis, Madison, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, West Palm Beach and Salem.

Letters to editors carried the Meatout message in 150 newspapers nationwide, while media interviews further raised public awareness. Five hundred bus ads were placed in Boston, Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Billboards in major major cities will continue to bring our message to millions of commuters.

International observances were a great success with participation from groups in 27 other countries! Numerous events took place in Australia, Canada, China, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines,Singapore, Spain, Uganda and throughout the UK, including Bermuda. France and Germany boast their own Meatout websites with dozens of posted events. Other participating countries included Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Netherlands, Norway, and South Africa.

Meatout 2008 received significant media coverage. Supreme Master TV followed this year’s observance. With interviews from Meatout coordinators and supporters around the world, they documented public response and activities in Bulgaria, Korea, South Africa, the U.S., and more.

Meatout 2008 is sponsored by:

 

 

Supporting Meatout Manufacturers donated their delicious products to demonstrate that great health can also have great taste! Special thanks our Supporting Manufacturers: