People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to Liberal MP, George Christensen following his move to launch a counter campaign to Meat Free Week, titled Free Meat Week.
In the letter, campaign coordinator for PETA Australia, Claire Fryer says that a core reason that many people across Australia are participating in Meat Free Week is to improve their cardiovascular health, and suggests that “Happy Heart Attack Week” would be a more appropriate name for his counter campaign.
"'Happy Heart Attack Week' is a fitting moniker… since heart disease is often caused by diets that are high in animal products,” writes Fryer.
“…Coronary heart disease is, as I'm sure you're aware, the leading cause of death in Australia, claiming a life every 24 minutes.”
Christensen said that he ‘ran out of meat’ at a free parliamentary barbecue that he hosted in Canberra yesterday where he served up lamb, pork and beef.
“When Aussie farmers and graziers are doing it so tough, a drive to convert people to vegetarianism is just un-Australian,” Christensen told Stock Journal.
“…I am running a counter-campaign called 'Free Meat Week' and encouraging families around the country to support their mates in the bush by purchasing good Aussie meat and put on a free barbecue for their mates at home.
“We will allow bread and sauce and even make a special concession on onion, but definitely no Greens.”
Fryer suggests that Christensen may have never gotten past a “childhood aversion to vegetables,” pointing out that his comments relating to the campaign’s alleged “un-Australian” angle are somewhat contradictory.
“You have said that your barbecue will include no greens. But what of the farmers who raise crops rather than animals for food? Are they undeserving of support simply because you haven't gotten past your childhood aversion to vegetables?
“You've called Meat Free Week "un-Australian," but a 2010 Newspoll survey found that 99 per cent of Australians are opposed to cruelty to animals. It seems to us that anyone who is so strongly against a healthier, more financially stable, greener and more compassionate Australia might want to re-examine the definition of patriotism,” wrote Fryer.
In addition to the letter, PETA send Christensen a vegetarian/ vegan starter kit.