Meatout 2004 Report

Highlights

On or around March 20th (the first day of spring), thousands of veggie enthusiasts, animal activists and consumer advocates arranged colorful Meatout events in all 50 states, a few US territories, and 23 other countries. The events ranged from information tables, exhibits, and lectures to cooking demonstrations, public dinners, elaborate "lifestivals," and a Congressional Reception. Organizers asked their neighbors to "kick the meat and explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits and whole grains."

• Hundreds of billboards and bus cards offered free Vegetarian Starter Kits in Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
• Proclamations urging citizens to explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits, and grains were issued by the governors of Louisiana, Nevada, Rhode Island, and West Virginia and mayors of a dozen major cities.
• Celebrities Casey Kasem, Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, James Cromwell, Jennie Garth, and Bill Maher were the headliners.
• 150 newspapers and radio stations carried interviews and letters to the editor.

Key Events

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  The Meatout staff and volunteers hosted the Annual Congressional Reception in Washington, DC, for 300 Congressional Members and staffers.
• The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, MA broke ground for the Sacred Cow Peace Memorial and screened The Witness.
• The Black Vegetarian Society of Georgia held a Vegetarian and Wholistic Health Fair.
• Health Seminars Unlimited in Huntsville held its 4th Annual North Alabama Meatout co-sponsored by Kroger's Grocery, Foods for Life & Channel 19.
• Tu Salud Newspaper in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico attracted more than 1,000 visitors to its 2nd annual Meatout with printed materials in English and Spanish.
• The Vegetarian Society of El Paso (TX) celebrated with a month-long Meatout and an all-you-can-eat vegan BBQ.
• The CARE Tour combined with Meatout for several California stops.
• Conscious Cuisine & Intuitive Touch (San Diego) held a dinner and performance at the Center for the Moving Arts.
• The Natural Products Expo in Anaheim brought a variety of food retailers and manufacturers to our colorful display.
• Meatout was announced and touted in the program book at the HSUS celebrity-studded Genesis Awards for media outlets promoting animal awareness and well-being.
• The Bay Area Vegetarians held several events including leafleting, AR101 workshop, a public dinner, and screening of Emotional Lives of Farm Animals.
• Viva!USA, Animal Place and the Animal Protection Institute joined together with veggie burgers and hot dogs outside their state capitol in Sacramento.
• NW In Defense of Animals & NW Veg Society in Portland treated an estimated 800 visitors to Gardenburgers, information, displays, and coupons.
• Vegetarians of Washington hosted their annual Veg Festival in Seattle, with over 300 volunteers and 100 exhibits. There were food samples, children's activities, cooking demos, authors, lectures, and books.
• Vancouver Island activists held four events, including a benefit concert.

Institutions

More than 100 universities and secondary schools encouraged students, faculty, and staff to give Meatout a try.

The universities included Alachua, Albany, American, Arizona State, Augustana, Austin, Bryn Mawr, Buffalo, Calgary, California State, Carroll Community, Central Connecticut, Central Florida, Colorado, Columbia City, Connecticut, DePaul, Eau Claire, El Paso, Florida State, Georgia, Greensboro, Harvard Law, Hawaii, Hunter, Illinois, Kellogg Community, Kendall, Los Angeles, Loyola, Maine, Marywood, McGill, Miami, Miami Springs, Milwaukee, Minnesota Morris, New York State, North Carolina State, North Harris, North Texas, Pittsburgh, Portland, Redlands, Rochester, Salisbury, San Bernadino, San Diego, Scranton, SIU, Spelman, Stockton, Temple, Tennessee State, Toledo, Unity, Vermont Law, Victoria, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, and Youngstown.

The secondary schools included Allen, Architecture, Baltimore, Bronx, Byron, Concord, First Colonial, Gainesville, Hunterdon Central Regional, KCVI, Largo, Maplewood, Miami Beach, Millcreek, Milliken, Milwaukee, Oneida, Orange, Ormond Beach, Poolesville, Purcellville, Rancho Bernardo, Rondout Valley, San Diego, San Juan, Somerville, South Lake Tahoe, Talmage, Virginia Beach, Westford, Winona, Yorba Linda.

Medical institutions, realizing the enormous health benefits of plant-based eating, joined this year's observance. Former rancher and feedlot operator Howard Lyman, vegetarian educator George Eisman, and vegan nutrition expert Michael Greger conducted lecture tours.

A variety of Buddhist, Christian, Hare Krishna, Hindu & Jewish institutions touted the moral benefits of plant-based diets.

Business Support

Meat- and dairy-alternative manufacturers raised the effectiveness of Meatout events through generous financial support and product donations. Our special thanks go to Gardenburger, Vegetarian Times, Turtle Island, Karma'Licious, Tofutti, Amy's Kitchen, Turtle Mountain, Road's End Organics, Sun Flour Baking, Lumen Foods.

More than 100 health food stores welcomed in Spring and customers with displays, discounts, info tables, and food samplings: Akins, Apple Valley, Axis, Better Life, Briar Patch, Brooksville, Candle Café, Down to Earth, Eternity, Food Works, For Life, Ginny's Vegan, Go Raw Café', Granby Village, Green Star, Healthy Alternative, Herbalicious, Heritage Store, Holy Cow, Honeytree, Just Natural, Katashe's, Krieger's, Lembas, Lori's, Maggie's, Midtown, Mountain View, Native, Native Patch, Natural Plus, Nature Boy, Nature's Bin, Nature's Delight, Nature's Food Patch, Nature's Path, Nature's Wagon, Nature's Way, New Morning, Northwest Vegetable Garden, Nutrition Cottage, Ocean Beach People's Organic, Open Harvest, Organic Place, Rainbow, Roanoke Co-op, Royal River, Savory, Singapore, Slice of Life, Soul, Squeaker's, Sticky Fingers, Sugarapple Natural, Sun Spot, Sunrise, SUNY Binghamton, Susan's, Sweet Melissa's, Syracuse Real, Tea and Chi, Thyme and Season Natural, Tidal Creek, Veggie Gourmet, Vitality, Web of Life, Well-in-Hands, Whole Wheatery, and Wisteria.

Other Countries

Two dozen other countries hosted 70 Meatout events! Canadians arranged two dozen events, including festivals, video vans, leafleting in animal costumes, and information tables. England launched a major "Eat Less Meat" campaign. Paris coordinated a massive Veggie Pride Day and street theater in front of a butcher shop, and a dozen events took place in Croatia.

There were information tables with food samples in four Israeli cities and six Kenyan districts. Nigerian activists fed the homeless. Italy hosted a Meatout/Milkout in historic Florence. A dozen Indian groups observed Meatout with information tables, lectures, student contests, marches, and bicycle rallies. Other participating countries included: Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Madagascar, Netherlands, Nepal, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Uganda, and Ukraine.