Meatout 2007 Events - Worldwide Success!
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Throughout March, activists around the world took part in the 23rd annual observance of Meatout, celebrating with this year’s theme,
"Stop Global Warming!" Thanks to dedicated Meatout event coordinators, more than a thousand communities in all 50 states and 26 other countries welcomed spring with colorful educational events ranging from information tables, exhibits, and lectures to cooking demonstrations, receptions, and elaborate festivals. Participants asked their friends, family, and neighbors to “Kick the Meat Habit” and to explore a healthy, compassionate diet.

Energizing "lifestivals" took place in major cities across the U.S. In Atlanta, the Black Vegetarian Society of Georgia coordinated a Veg Food & Wholistic Health Fair. Baltimore hosted the Meatout Animal Aid Concert sponsored by Bob Pyle and the Baltimore Animal Rights Coalition. The Boston Vegetarian Society hosted a vegan buffet dinner complete with guest speakers in downtown Boston. In Brainerd, MN, local activist Theresa Flinck and the Brainerd Area Friends of Animals invited community members to fun food festivities. The Black Vegetarian Society of New York hosted a Meatout bash in Brooklyn. In Dallas, the Black Vegetarian Society of Texas and Vegetarian Network of Dallas invited guests to a day of veg food samples, door prizes, health screenings, cooking demos, films, guest speakers, and more. VegMichigan hosted a Meatout bash in Detroit. More than 1,200 visitors stopped by for cooking demos, food samples, exhibitors, literature, videos, and speakers, including Michael Greger, MD. Indianapolis hosted more than 300 people enjoyed a gigantic veg buffet complete with exciting raffles and other festivities, thanks to the Indy Veg Society and CHACE (Connecting Hoosiers for Animal Concerns & Education). The Vegetarian Society of East Tennessee expects 300 visitors for their annual Meatout event this April in Knoxville. Activist Barton Lewin coordinated a Meatout educational celebration in New York City, with a panel of experts discussing the benefits of a plant-based diet. The Vegetarians of Washington celebrated with thousands for the VegFest in Seattle. Attendees were treated to a day of veggie fun, with more than 500 different food samples, cooking demos by chefs from all over the country, presentations from doctors and dieticians, and tons of literature. In St. Louis, hundreds gathered with the St. Louis Vegetarian Society for dinner, speakers, and exhibitors. PAR (People for Animal Rights of CNY) in Syracuse participated in a Health Fair Extravaganza to distribute materials about the link between global warming and meat consumption.

Other communities got creative in educating others with unique, attention-grabbing events. Loyal FARM activist, Dezeray Rubinchik and more than 20 other Philadelphia activists distributed a thousand leaflets near their massive “Make The Connection” exhibit in the extremely busy Market East train station. They then distributed another 1,200 handouts at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Ronnie Steinau and the Animal Protection and Rescue League created a “Veggie Float” to participate in the San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Dressed as “Lettuce Girls” and animals, the riders held signs and distributed leaflets to attendees.

In the nation’s capital, FARM and volunteers held the annual Congressional Meatout Reception, welcoming 250 congressional staffers to a vegan feast, speakers, videos, and literature. Check out the Congressional Reception Report. Exciting activities continued on Capitol Hill throughout Meatout week. Activists joined a global warming demonstration to raise awareness about the link between animal agriculture and global warming. The Vegetarian Society of D.C. set up an information table in front of the National Mall.

More than 65 universities and colleges throughout the U.S. represented Meatout 2007. These included Alabama, American, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Texas, Northwestern, Ohio, Rhode Island, Sarah Lawrence, Texas Law School, Vermont Law School, Xavier, and many more. The environmental club at Black Hawk College spent two days distributing tasty vegan goodies and literature. Students for a Vegetarian Ethic (SAVE) at Cleveland State University asked fellow students to sign the Meatout Pledge while offering food samples. At Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, Robin Henderson and the FoxP.A.W. group hosted Meatout festivities with veg vendors, food samples, pamphlets, and a pig mascot. Students who signed the Veg Pledge, got to keep a picture of themselves next to the mascot. Meatout organizers at Penn State were confronted with a rebuttal event by the Pennsylvania Beef Council. Read this news article to see our response. Savannah College students offered a two-week “Vegetarian Challenge." University of Central Florida students paraded around campus with visual displays.

Youth outreach was at an all-time high with both teachers and students hosting Meatout events in 50 elementary and high schools across the nation. In Brooklyn, Tiffany Lo and the Paws Out for Humanity student group at Midwood High School educated peers with an info table designed to provide support, collect pledges, and answer questions. Meatout co-sponsors, Mercy for Animals visited schools throughout Chicago and Cleveland to raise awareness. Vicky Coiner, a school nurse at Barron Elementary in Hampton, VA offered information and food samples. The American Vegan Society set up at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, DE. Sharleen Leahey in Somerville, NJ introduced students at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School to delicious meat-alternatives. Click here to read a local write-up.

Religious groups spread the message of compassion within their communities. Compassion for Creatures hosted an information table, broadcasts of “Meet Your Meat,” and samples of animal-friendly foods at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington in VA. Pat Manning organized Meatout at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Farmingdale, ME. The fellowship room was full of guests eagerly visiting display tables, munching on vegan food, participating in drawings for prizes, and talking with a wholistic medical doctor. Peace Abbey Multi-Faith Retreat Center in Sherborn, MA offered a veg cooking class, food samples, videos, handouts, and more. UUFETA (Universalist Unitarians for Ethical Treatment of Animals) hosted Meatout in Sunnyvale, CA.

Throughout March, nearly 60 Humane Societies and sanctuaries set up displays and offered visitors free Veg Starter Kits. Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, FL went above and beyond, offering visitors samples of cruelty-free cuisine, literature, and more. A hundred people stopped by for Gardenburger Riblets, SoyBoy Ravioli, and Tofurky; youngsters enjoyed vegan gummy bears and participated in a soy pudding eating contest.

Retailers jumped on board, with 70 participating health food stores and restaurants highlighting Meatout displays, veg products, and more throughout the month. In Bowling Green, OH, Squeaker's Vegetarian Café & Health Food Store celebrated with organic vegan food samples, live entertainment including a “Jam Fest,” and a dancing cow & chicken. Chicago’s famous all-veg fast food outlet, Veggie Bite, hosted an exciting festival with speakers, live entertainment, and much more. Healthy Alternative in Dayton, OH featured food, pamphlets, and giveaways. Arnold’s Way Vegetarian Café in Lansdale, PA wowed customers with a full day of Meatout fun. Wild Oats Market in Memphis donated $200 worth of meat-alternatives and space for a cooking demo for local groups to host a Meatout event. Food Awareness and the Memphis Area Animal Rights Activists (MAARA) coordinated activities and decorated the store with posters and copies of the official Meatout Proclamation signed by the Memphis Mayor! Web of Life Natural Foods Market in Westlake, OH highlighted a display and offered meat-alternative samples at their vegan deli.

Libraries provided a great outreach location for activists seeking to set up exhibits, host video screenings, and more. The Vegetarian Society of Richmond in VA hosted a screening for 40 attendees of Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth.” Throughout the entire month of March, For Animals set up an exhibit and offered handouts, stickers, and coupons at the local library in Traverse City, MI.

Overall outreach for Meatout 2007 was a major success! Activists distributed a total of 50,000 colorful Meatout postcards offering free Veg Starter Kits and colorful weekly Meatout Mondays e-newsletter (great for Earth Day too - click here to order yours now). Hundreds of bus cards are carrying the Meatout message in major cities. Billboards are in the works - click here to donate. Letters to editors carried the Meatout message in 180 newspapers nationwide, while media interviews further raised public awareness. Requests for Veg Kits from FARM more than tripled during March, with 2,300 Veg Kits mailed to inquirers.

National burger chain, Johnny Rockets offered a free Boca burger special throughout the month of March. All-Yours greeting card company designed special Meatout greeting cards. Celebrity headliners included Alicia Silverstone, Casey Kasem, Joaquin Phoenix, James Cromwell, Mary Tyler-Moore, Ed Asner, Jennie Garth, and Bill Maher.

Proclamations issued by mayors and governors urged citizens to explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits, and grains. Meatout proclamations were issued in Connecticut, Illinois, and New Hampshire. Mayors in Cincinnati, El Paso, Honolulu, Houston, Memphis, Pittsburgh, and West Palm Beach also participated.

International representation made Meatout 2007 a worldwide success with participation from groups in 26 other countries. Meatout websites were launched in German and French, with nearly two dozen event listings on each site. French group, Mangez Végétarien set up info tables on busy streets and displayed footage of factory farms and slaughterhouses in Paris, Lyon, and Nice. Activists in Canada helped spread the word. The Montreal Vegetarian Tasters held a Meatout discussion with 200+ members. Wild At Heart Canada hosted a delicious public vegan buffet and movie showing in Toronto. Windsor's Animal Action Group coordinated a vegan dinner with guest speakers. Students at Wilfrid Lurier University in Waterloo, ON hosted a Meatout booth, food, entertainment, and leafleting in the middle of campus for an all-day event.

Animal Friends Croatia (AFC) held a Meatout activities in Zagreb with food samples and literature to encourage plant-based eating. AnimaNaturalis hosted events throughout Latin American to represent Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, México, Perú, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Nearly 20 events took place throughout India including, info tables, leafleting, rallies, demos and festivals. Activist Arnoud Koenen posted Meatout posters in various cities throughout the Netherlands. Other participating countries include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, and UK.


What's Next? Earth Day is April 22nd! Let others know about the environmental impacts of eating meat. Click here to find out how to get active.

Special Thanks to Meatout 2007 Co-Sponsors:

 

 

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