For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2013
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Seattle -- Students at Albert Einstein Elementary could have celebrated the scientist's birthday on March 14 with a healthy meat-free (and cost-free) meal donated by PETA in honor of Einstein's vegetarian legacy—but school administrators have rejected the group's offer.
"At a time when school budgets and childhood obesity are hot topics, we're surprised that Einstein Elementary rejected an offer that would've saved the school money and introduced kids to healthy eating," says PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews. "It would have been the perfect way to honor Einstein's vegetarian legacy."
PETA had offered to foot the bill for the day's meals and to supply the school with free copies of its colorful, kid-friendly Einstein leaflet, which quotes the icon's vegetarian philosophy: "So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It almost seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore." And he was right—meat causes animals to suffer immensely and is also full of saturated fats and cholesterol, which are linked to health problems such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Meat is even linked to Alzheimer's disease, and the mercury in fish can cause learning problems and memory loss. Vegetarian meals are humane and offer low-fat, nutrient-packed brain food that can help students' growing minds reach their full potential.
For more information, visit PETA.org.
Melissa Pointer
Principal
Albert Einstein Elementary
Dear Ms. Pointer,
Greetings from PETA. This year, we're working to highlight the vegetarian legacy of your school's namesake, Albert Einstein. Given the obesity epidemic and young people's natural affinity for animals, we hope you'll consider working with us on this unique one-day promotion. Since your school promotes Mr. Einstein's legacy through education, would you serve only vegan foods on his birthday, March 14? It would be a simple way to honor Einstein and teach kids about healthier eating options. We'd be happy to work with your cafeteria and even sponsor the lunch.
As you can see in this PETA leaflet, Einstein once stated, "So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It almost seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore." And he was right—meat not only causes animals to suffer immensely but also is full of saturated fats and cholesterol, which are linked to health problems such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Meat is even linked to Alzheimer's disease, and the mercury in fish can cause learning problems and memory loss. Plant-based foods, on the other hand, contain powerful nutrients to help students' growing minds reach their full potential.
Please let me know how we might work with you to make this happen. Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards,
Dan Mathews
Senior Vice President
PETA