Will Viral Video’s Bowling Alley Score Funds From PETA?
‘Spare Animals’ Ad Replacing Gutter Top With Gaping Mouths Could Help Keep Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater Soaring
Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382
After “Right Up Our Alley”—a drone video of Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater, made for a project documenting the impact of the pandemic on various Minnesota businesses—went viral, PETA sent owner Erica Gilbert a letter this morning offering to help keep the balls rolling by paying to run a pro-vegan ad above the now-famous pin decks.
PETA points out that the 1918 pandemic as well as the current one—along with avian flu, swine flu, and SARS—have been linked to animal markets and factory farms and that eating animals is also linked to deadly health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.
“Going vegan is like bowling a 300,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “And since saving animals is right up PETA’s alley, we’re happy to roll this promotion of healthy and humane vegan meals to the famous Bryant Lake bowling alley.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” and which opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview—also praises the bowling alley’s vegan options (including veggie hash and vegan chili) and encourages it to add additional animal-friendly fare, like dairy-free pizza and vegan hot dogs.
For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Gilbert follows.
March 15, 2021
Erica Gilbert
Owner
Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater
Dear Ms. Gilbert:
I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide in response to the viral drone footage of your bowling alley taken as part of a project documenting businesses around Minnesota that have been affected by the pandemic. We have an offer that could score you some funding: We’d like to pay to place this eye-catching ad that reads, “Spare Animals. Get Your Health out of the Gutter! Go Vegan. PETA,” above your now-famous pin deck.
As you may know, the novel coronavirus originated at a live-animal market where animals are crammed together and sold for human consumption. Pathogens flourish on filthy factory farms and in slaughterhouses and animal markets worldwide, making such places perfect breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria and deadly viruses. In addition to the high risk of contamination from pathogens— including E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella—meat contains no fiber and is packed with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 62%, their chance of being hospitalized for a heart attack by 33%, their risk of suffering from heart disease by 29%, and their risk of developing cancer by 18%. A vegan diet is also linked to a decrease in the risk of suffering from obesity, since vegans are about 18% thinner and 10 to 20 pounds lighter, on average, than their meat-eating counterparts.
Consuming meat, eggs, and dairy has long been known to be unhealthy and unnecessary, and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is just one more reason why our society needs to aim higher. We appreciate that you serve vegan foods—such as veggie hash, black bean patties, and vegan chili—and hope you’ll add additional favorites such as dairy-free cheese pizza, vegan hot dogs, and Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders. I look forward to hearing from you to get the ball rolling on this win-win offer. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
President
