PETA TO DIRECTOR OF TASMANIA’S CORRECTIVE SERVICES: DITCH MEAT

Group Offers Hobart Prison a Plan to Improve Prisoners’ Health, Spare Animals’ Lives and Save Taxpayers Money

For Immediate Release:
28 January 2014

Hobart – PETA has sent a letter to Robert Williams, Director of Tasmania’s Corrective Services, which oversees Hobart Reception Prison, urging him to follow the lead of no-bull Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the US and stop feeding prisoners cows, pigs, chickens and other animals. Arpaio recently instituted the vegetarian programme in Maricopa County, Arizona, jails to save taxpayers money. Not only is a plant-based diet less expensive than a meat-based one, it also saves animals’ lives, protects prisoners from serious illnesses that can cost the state a small fortune to treat and is a great way to promote compassion and non-violence among inmates.

“It doesn’t make sense to feed prisoners and young offenders some of the most expensive food on the market when they can get all the nutrition that they need from healthy vegan options while saving taxpayer dollars”, says PETA Australia Director of Campaigns Jason Baker. “The fact is that vegans and vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters are, and they save animals’ lives, which can make a person more compassionate and less prone to violence.”

According to the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, children and adults who go vegetarian or vegan reduce their risk of cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes and obesity. People on the outside who want to give a plant-based diet a try can order PETA’s vegetarian/vegan starter kit for free at PETA.org.au. The guide includes easy-to-follow recipes, tips for making the transition and information about meat’s devastating effects on animals and the planet. A copy of the kit was sent along with the letter to Williams with an offer to supply additional ones to Tasmanian prisons.

As an incentive, PETA also offered to pick up the tab for a professional chef to work with the prison to implement the new menu.

PETA’s letter to Hobart Reception Prison is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.au.

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