When It Comes to McDonald's, Determined 17-Year-Old Isn't Lovin' It
For Immediate Release:
November 1, 2011
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Sellersburg, Ind. -- For sticking up for all animals and
sticking it to McDonald's over its suppliers' abuse of chickens,
17-year-old Sellersburg resident, Silver Creek High School senior, and Prosser School
of Technology cosmetology student Cole Loney will receive a Star
Street Teamer Award from peta2, the world's largest youth animal
rights organization.
"Cole embodies all the qualities of a great activist: compassion
toward the most vulnerable members of society, tons of energy, and lots of
know-how," says peta2's division manager, Marta Holmberg. "He's
setting an example not only for his school and community but also for our more
than 74,000 other peta2 youth activists who want to help animals."
Loney has zeroed in on McDonald's because of the company's refusal to require its chicken suppliers to switch to a less cruel slaughter method that McDonald's European suppliers are already using. Currently, chickens killed for McDonald's in the U.S. suffer broken legs and wings from being roughly removed from crates and having their legs slammed into shackles. The birds can still feel pain when their throats are cut, and millions are scalded to death in defeathering tanks.
Loney has also organized protests at KFC, whose suppliers also use an outdated and cruel slaughter method, and he has worked in the community to raise awareness about the health, environmental, and animal-related benefits of going vegetarian. Loney's help was indispensible in circulating petitions for Flesh-Free Fridays during peta2's "Flesh Is for Zombies" campaign, and he organized a special tabling event to urge people to shop cruelty-free by buying products that aren't tested on animals.
Loney—who will receive a framed certificate and be featured on peta2's popular blog—is available for interviews.
For more information, please visit peta2.com.
