Lettuce Ladies Pump Gas and Hand Out Sandwiches
by Christine Stuart | May 13, 2008 12:27 PM
Posted to Environment
If you accepted a tofurkey, lettuce, and vegenaise sandwich from Colleen Higgins and Ashley Byrne of Peta Tuesday morning you received two free gallons of gas.
Why?
“Because going vegan is the single most effective action they can take,” Byrne said, standing on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Broad Street in Hartford wearing nothing more than strategically placed lettuce leaves.
She said the United Nations reported that the meat industry is responsible for more green house gas emissions than all transportation combined.
A vegan for more than 12-years, Byrne attributed her beauty, which did not go unnoticed by the passing cars and gas station customers, to her vegan lifestyle. She said it’s been amazing for her health, weight and energy levels.
Dominic, one of the partners in the gas station who refused to give his last name, said he stopped by to thank the girls for giving him a boost in business. “We’re not making much money right now,” he said. And at $4.05 per gallon for regular, it’s hard to get customers to walk into the convenience store to spend more money. “It’s hard after the $4 per gallon sticker shock,” he said.
Byrne who lives in Washington D.C. and Higgins who lives in Norfolk, Virginia, where Peta is headquartered, said because they live a vegan lifestyle they were able to off-set the emissions from their drive. Higgins said if every family replaced one chicken dinner a week with a vegan alternative, it would off-set the carbon emissions of 500,000 cars on the roadway.
Byrne said eating just a single pound of meat is the environmental equivalent of driving more than 40 miles.
According to a Peta press release, researchers at the University of Chicago determined that switching to a vegan diet is more effective at countering global warming than switching from a standard car to a Toyota Prius.
The girls’ next stop is Providence, Rhode Island where they will hand out another 50 tofurkey sandwiches and pump another 100 gallons of gas.
Comments (8)
Posted by: Ali | May 13, 2008 1:27 PM
I was there this morning at the Shell Gas Station on Capitol Ave in Hartford CT, I have to say I was disgusted and sick to my stomach to see these naked women pumping gas and all the men are standing there watching free stripper show. These young ladies have no shame or no clue all smiling hey look at me I'm naked would you like a sandwiches. Great role model for our younger generation, Go green Go vegan and go Naked. Is this how we should treat women now in today society? Shame Shame Shame on PETA
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 13, 2008 5:54 PM
These women are the biggest threat to Hartford that "Ali" could find in that area? Less then two months ago police killed a man the next block down (the corner of Broad and Russ), but that wasn't too bad for the kids to see. How many people would have simply driven past the gas station if these ladies were not wearing what they were wearing. People should turn on the TV and see what is actual on, these women where wearing more clothes then are wore in your common music video. Children in this area are used to sitting on the floor during holidays because of gun shots and yellow tape is a normal thing to see around the block. Maybe "Ali" should step out of the car and walk around a little and then say if these women, who are trying to help the planet, are really a threat to our children.
Posted by: pbarber | May 13, 2008 6:59 PM
I've gotta disagree with Ali. These ladies got their point across in a tasteful, yet thought provoking way. The unorthodox manner in which PETA has decided to approach and present the issue to the public resonates well with the exact demographic that usually doesn't think twice about these sort of issues. I doubt any of those people are going to give up their t-bone steaks or drumsticks for a few condiments and a veggie burger, but kudos to PETA for having a little fun.
Posted by: Edward_H | May 13, 2008 7:52 PM
Is PETA really using 2 women like pieces of meat to promote a meatless lifestyle?
Posted by: Doug | May 14, 2008 8:28 AM
Ed... hilarious comment!
Posted by: Kerri | May 14, 2008 8:34 AM
I agree with the message, but am not a fan of PETA's tactics. Has anyone ever adopted a veg*n diet because a woman dressed in lettuce sold it to him? I mean, really, like long run?
Posted by: Anon | May 14, 2008 11:35 AM
These chicks are not hot. I wouldn't go vegan based on their looks. Maybe vegetarian because its healthier, but vegan? No thanks -- ugly chicks.
Posted by: kevin | May 16, 2008 7:32 PM
I love how folks criticize the tactics of PETA that use sexuality like this, when every damn day we get bombarded with much worse sexual exploitation. Where are the critics then? Besides, PETA uses many more tactics than this. Check out YouTube. Personally, I think if you're going to use sexuality at all, it may as well be for the wellbeing of the whole planet. Get over your meat obsession, America!