This week, would-be patrons of Stockwell’s Roosters Spot got a wake-up call from a larger-than-life chicken, courtesy of PETA. The animal protection group placed a striking visual appeal directly above the meaty eatery on South Lambeth Road, reminding everyone that birds are thinking, feeling individuals and urging viewers to go vegan. Additional messages will take over similar spots around London, which has more than 8,000 chicken shops that serve up millions of chicken parts each year.
The billboard is located at 161 South Lambeth Road, SW8 1XW, and is live for 1 week.
“Behind every chicken shop take-away was a gentle bird who endured a short, miserable life and a violent, agonising death just to satisfy someone’s fleeting craving for their flesh,” says PETA Vice President of Vegan Corporate Projects Dawn Carr. “PETA encourages Lambeth locals and all Londoners to leave animals in peace, not pieces, and please go vegan.”
Chickens can distinguish between more than 100 faces of their own species, have full-color vision, and experience rapid eye movement sleep, which means they dream just like we do. Yet those raised and killed for their flesh are crammed by the tens of thousands into filthy, windowless sheds. At the abattoir, they’re shackled upside down, their throats are slit, and they’re scalded in defeathering tanks – sometimes while still conscious.
In order to help businesses meet consumer demand for cruelty-free cuisine, PETA released its “Guide to Vegan Fried Chicken for Takeaway Businesses”, a free, in-depth digital magazine designed to help takeaway owners add winning animal-friendly, sustainable options. The guide highlights top brands offering vegan chicken, including THIS, Oumph!, and Quorn, along with the popular options offered at KFC, Nando’s, and Burger King.
Each person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year, dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint, and reduces their own risk of suffering from cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity. PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help those looking to make the switch.
