November 4, 2009

Attention: [A] [B], [C]

Dear [A]:

Consider these "Top 10" reasons to skip the turkey on Thanksgiving:

10 - Your body will appreciate a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol and hormones.
9 - You won’t sweat the environment and food resources devastation guilt trip.
8 - You won’t spend a sleepless night wondering how the turkey lived and died.
7 - Your kids can tell their friends about their cool Tofurky.
6 - Fruits and vegetables don’t have to carry government warning labels.
5 - More room for yummy “sides” like sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
4 - You won’t have to call the Poultry Hotline to keep your family alive.
3 - You are what you eat… choose to be a lean veg-eating machine.
2 - You won’t fall asleep during the football game.
1 - You get to pardon a turkey, just like the President.

Then consider the provocative, entertaining interview that our speakers can offer your audience about the bizarre tradition of giving thanks for life, health, and happiness with the carcass of a dead bird as the central offering at the dinner table.

In hotel ballrooms, community centers, and private homes, thousands of American families will observe a vegan Thanksgiving this year, with a wholesome, non-violent feast of grains, vegetables, and fruits. The bill of fare may include a lentil or nut roast, stuffed squash, corn chowder or chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or pecan pie and carrot cake. Visit GentleThanksgiving.org to find out more.

Gentle Thanksgiving hosts have many food choices. If pressed for time, they can buy a Tofurky and other wholesome ready-to-eat dishes in their local food markets or online. For more elaborate meals and side dishes, a large variety of delicious recipes the GentleThanksgiving recipe page.

All this raises intriguing questions beyond what vegans eat: How did the Thanksgiving turkey tradition get started? Why do two turkeys receive a presidential pardon? What's wrong with killing turkeys? Why do 12% of turkeys never reach the slaughterhouse? Why do turkey carcasses carry government warning labels? How does raising turkeys pollute our water supply?

And we have a number of informed, entertaining guests with the answers, including:

• Karen Davis, PhD – founder of a turkey sanctuary and author of Instead of Turkey
• Howard Lyman - cattle rancher turned vegan activist and author of Mad Cowboy
• Michael Greger, MD – lecturer and expert on the looming bird flu epidemic
• Alex Hershaft, PhD - founder of Gentle Thanksgiving and Great American Meatout

Check out guest bios here. Call me at 301-530-1737 or respond to this e-mail to arrange an exciting, informative interview. Your audience will be glad you did.

Sincerely, Jen Riley - Media Relations