It was a typical demonstration as members of PETA gathered at the corner of Queen and Richmond streets handing out flyers, DVDs and pamphlets to raise awareness to their cause and ... oh yeah ... there were a couple of women showering on the sidewalk.
PETA campaigner Lauren Stroyeck organized the demonstration, which featured volunteers Virginia Fort and Chloe Kodrun showering in nothing put thongs and pasties behind a banner that read, "Clean Your Conscience: Go Vegan! 1 lb. of Meat = 6 Months of Showers," proving to be a unique way to get the message out.
The PETA members are from Norfolk, Va. and are starting a trip through the east coast of Canada with their campaign in Charlottetown and will eventually end up in Ottawa sometime next week.
Stroyeck said she came up with the campaign and decided to do something out of the ordinary to draw attention to the message that the water used to prepare one pound of meat is equal to the amount of showers an average person takes in six months.
"Facts and figures are usually not enough to engage people but two women showering on the sidewalk will get some attention," Stroyeck said.
According to a pamphlet from PETA, a 2006 United Nations report found the meat industry is responsible for more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, planes and ships in the world combined.
The pamphlet also said a vegetarian uses 300 gallons of water per day, while a meat-eater uses more than 4,000 in their diet.
It is more effective and simple to go vegan than to buy a hybrid car to save the environment, Stroyeck said.
"It's so easy to replace a hamburger with a veggie burger."
As for the legal ramifications, the group was careful in planning such a potentially controversial demonstration, Stroyeck said.
"It's legal. We researched the location and contacted the police before we came here."
The display got a lot of attention and many people stopped to get information about the message without incident for the most part, Stroyeck said.
"Most people are very supportive of what we do."
The group has done the shower demonstration through the U.S. but the stop in Charlottetown was the first time they have done it in Canada.
PETA protestors shower for cause
PETA volunteers from Norfolk, Va., Chloe Kodrun, left, and Virginia Fort enjoy a shower on the corner of Queen and Richmond Streets Wednesday to promote going vegan to save the environment. Transcontinental Media photo
- Published on June 16th, 2010
- Published on July 8th, 2010
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Al MacLeod
Public shower meant to demonstrate meat industry wastes water
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Comments
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- DKB
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:32:09
Hey girls, there's a BBQ at my place on the weekend.....bring the shower and I'll Q ya up some dandelions.
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- larry
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:32:07
Check out this video PETA made: http://meat.org
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- Giggidy!
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:32:07
They have my complete undivided attention! 6 showers of meat equals one pound of months.
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- DKB
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:31:56
Hey girls, there's a BBQ at my place on the weekend.....bring the shower and I'll Q ya up some dandelions.
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- larry
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:31:53
Check out this video PETA made: http://meat.org
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- Giggidy!
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:31:53
They have my complete undivided attention! 6 showers of meat equals one pound of months.
