Will Philadelphia Tax Meat to Assist Save Animals and the Planet?

For Rapid Launch:
Might 19, 2022

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

Philadelphia – In mild of a new survey exhibiting that greater than a 3rd of People—together with a whopping 62% of Gen Z contributors—assist a ten% sin tax on meat to scale back its consumption, PETA despatched a letter this morning to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, calling on him to introduce such a tax within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love. Kenney’s workplace beforehand championed an identical tax on unhealthy soda resulting from its hyperlink to weight problems, diabetes, and cardiovascular situations, so PETA is asking him to do the identical with meat, as its consumption is linked to those self same well being situations, billions of animals a yr are killed for his or her flesh, and the business is a big contributor to the local weather disaster. To drive house the message, the group additionally plans to put up sky-high appeals to Kenney throughout the town.

“The answer to the local weather disaster is staring all of us proper within the face, and that’s ending the consumption of animal-derived meals,” says PETA Government Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is asking on Mayor Kenney to take the necessary step of constructing Philadelphia greener, more healthy, and extra humane by taxing animal flesh.”

PETA—whose motto reads, partially, that “animals are usually not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For extra data, please go to PETA.org or comply with the group on Twitter, Fb, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Kenney follows.

Might 19, 2022

The Honorable Jim Kenney

Mayor of Philadelphia

Expensive Mayor Kenney:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of Folks for the Moral Remedy of Animals U.S.—PETA entities have greater than 9 million members and supporters globally, together with over 7,000 in Philadelphia—to ask that you simply implement a citywide tax on meat to curb the looming local weather disaster and public well being menace that consuming meat contributes to. By doing so, the Metropolis of Brotherly Love can show that it cares about animals and the atmosphere in addition to its residents and guests.

Public assist for a tax on meat is at an all-time excessive. Though the value of animal flesh has elevated, a current ballot discovered that greater than a 3rd of People would assist a ten% meat tax to slash consumption. And Gen Z confirmed curiosity in further authorities measures to lower meat consuming, with 62% supporting a meat tax.

Based on the United Nations, a worldwide shift towards vegan consuming is important to fight the worst results of the local weather disaster as a result of elevating and killing animals for meals is a big contributor to greenhouse gasoline emissions in addition to water and air air pollution. Pennsylvania taxes the sale of cigarettes, alcohol, and gasoline resulting from their opposed well being and environmental penalties. A lot of Pennsylvania’s prime killers—together with coronary heart illness and most cancers—could also be prevented by maintaining a healthy diet vegan meals as a substitute of animal-based ones. Your workplace championed the tax on soda in Philadelphia, and it’s time to do the identical for meat.

If Philadelphia enacts a meat tax, PETA U.S. could be glad to assist its residents be taught extra about wholesome vegan choices. We’ll provide free vegan starter kits that may very well be positioned in Metropolis Corridor, put up workplaces, libraries, colleges, and different public buildings across the metropolis.

I hope to listen to that Philadelphia will take this necessary step towards decreasing its local weather footprint. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Danielle Katz

Senior Director