FOR RELEASE ON 11/4/09 CONTACT: Jen Riley, 301-530-1737

Millions of people across the U.S. will celebrate this Thanksgiving without a dead bird on their dinner table. They believe that killing innocent birds betrays the life-affirming spirit of the holiday.

In hotel ballrooms, community centers, church halls, and private homes they will feast on a wholesome, nonviolent assortment of grains, vegetables and fruits. The fare may include a Tofurky, lentil or nut roast, stuffed squash, corn chowder or chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or pecan pie and carrot cake. Visit www.GentleThanksgiving.org.

Here are the 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 President Obama.

The 300 million turkeys killed each year in the U.S. spend 16 weeks crammed in large sheds filled with toxic fumes. Their beaks and toes are trimmed to reduce damage from stress-induced aggression. They are then hung on a conveyer belt, beheaded by an electric saw, and dumped into scalding water to strip their feathers, sometimes still conscious.

People suffer the consequences too. Turkey flesh is laced with cholesterol, saturated fats, hormones, antibiotics, and deadly pathogens. Avoiding acute illness requires careful adherence to federal warning labels. Much of the 10 billion pounds of manure generated by the 7,300 turkey farms winds up in our drinking water.

Vegan eating is becoming increasingly popular. More than 30 million Americans have explored meat-free eating, and one in three teens thinks vegetarianism is ‘cool.’ Mainstream health advocacy groups are touting plant-based diets, and a large variety of alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs are available in every supermarket. Even Burger King offers veggie burgers to accommodate vegetarian patrons.

Those opting for a Gentle Thanksgiving have many choices. If pressed for time, they can buy a Tofurky and other wholesome ready-to-eat dishes in their local food markets or on line. For the cook, a large variety of delicious recipes is available at www.GentleThanksgiving.org/recipes

All this raises provocative questions. What do vegans eat on Thanksgiving? How do they handle family situations? How did the Thanksgiving turkey tradition get started? Why do two turkeys receive a presidential pardon? Why do 12% of turkeys never reach the slaughterhouse? Why do turkey carcasses carry government warning labels? What Gentle Thanksgiving events are taking place in my community?

Please call Jen at 301-530-1737 or respond to this e-mail to arrange an exciting and informative interview.