PETA TO ORANA JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTRE: DITCH MEAT

Group Offers Plan to Save Taxpayers Money and Save Animals’ Lives

For Immediate Release:
29 January 2014

Dubbo – PETA has sent a letter to Kimble Appleyard, general manager of the Orana Juvenile Justice Centre, urging her 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 jails in Arizona 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 an arm and a leg to treat and is a great way to promote compassion and non-violence among inmates.

“It doesn’t make sense to feed convicts some of the most expensive food on the market when they can get all the nutrition that they need from healthy, delicious vegetarian options. And this decision gives overburdened taxpayers a break at the same time”, 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 environment. A copy was sent along with the letter to Appleyard and an offer to supply more guides to the prison.

As an incentive, PETA has offered to pick up the tab for a professional chef to work with the corrections system in order to implement the new menu.

PETA’s letter to Orana Juvenile Justice Centre is available on request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.au.

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