The marketing campaign was brilliant as usual from Peta. I bet the women who complained will at least have little voice in the back of their mind saying "I think I'll pass on the meat tonight"
I love the way Peta shakes things up like 1960's radicals. We need more of it. Peta is my new religion.

Posted by: Pamela Ernest | August 24, 2009 09:45 AM

all the self-centered whiners who had a problem with this billboard should check out some undercover videos of the horrors of farm factories..then they'll understand...then they'll turn veg like I did.

Posted by: anonymous | August 24, 2009 11:08 AM

So what does PETA expect to happen when people try a vegetarian diet and don't lose weight?

Despite what PETA may think, there are plenty of fat vegetarians and vegans.

Posted by: Angelina | August 24, 2009 11:51 AM

Bravo PETA! Brilliant...just brilliant!
I hope people will see this for what it is - a tool that empowers each individual to take their health in their own hands and stop making excuses. The original billboard wasn't offensive - offensive is my health care costs tripling because of obesity, our beautiful planet being destroyed because of factory farming, and millions of animals being tortured and killed - every hour! Being healthy, trim and compassionate - why wouldn't you be veg?

Posted by: Shelly | August 24, 2009 11:57 AM

Like the original, this billboard is absolutely brilliant! The only change I'd make is to scratch the word "vegetarian" for "vegan"! Yes the pledge refers to dairy as well & vegetarian really refers to a vegan diet when not used with a qualifier such as "lacto-ovo" or some such statement that implies it's ok to consume the maternal discharge of tortured animals, but most people viewing the billboard will only think it refers to abstaining from animal flesh rather than dairy & eggs, which are actually much more fattening than flesh. Often when people abstain only from flesh their consumption of cow breast milk increases. I knew a long time lacto-ovo vegetarian woman who actually died form obesity.

This issue is very close to my heart as I lost my father, who died of morbid obesity, when I was 18 & it set me down the road to my eventual veganism & activism.

Thanks for continuing to shake things up PETA!

Posted by: SLC David! | August 24, 2009 12:01 PM

You know what sickens me about this... I see controversial billboards every day of my life, no matter what you are always going to have the people who don't agree with what you're saying and the people who do. I wish I could have all of the McDonalds billboards taken down. I guess people just can't handle the truth...that their beloved McDonald is a killer.

Posted by: Kelsey | August 24, 2009 12:42 PM

I started a diet 4 weeks ago to lose weight and eat healthier. by default, I found myself only eating veg and cutting out meat. I decided to take the plunge and become a vegetarian for real. It is true, that veg people are thinner. I feel so much healthier.

Posted by: Kim | August 24, 2009 12:56 PM

I thought the billboard was awesome! Hey...it speaks the truth, and sometimes people just can't handle the truth.

But nevertheless, it was a nice billboard!

Posted by: Kathy | August 24, 2009 01:21 PM

Meat isn't responsible for obesity, people are. Junk food, overeating, globally a wrong diet can cause obesity. You're not just going to magically lose weight if you "go veg".

Posted by: roudamour | August 24, 2009 02:45 PM

OMG are you kidding ... You took it down??
Really ... I swear people really need to pull there heads out of there ...

Posted by: Star808 | August 24, 2009 03:11 PM

sure wish this said Vegan and not "Vegetarian" being vegetarian you are still contributing and supporting the murder of thousands of animals
plus diary is vile and puts on massive weight as well as gives zits...
this campaign is giving the wrong message,go VEGAN

Posted by: simara | August 24, 2009 04:01 PM

Love the billboard! I've been struggling to lose weight for over five years. I tried many diets but they simply don't work because when you go on a diet you don't usually make it a life long committment. One month ago I decided to become a vegan for life and I've already lost 10lbs and gained so much energy. I am still losing weight at a healthy rate and even my skin looks better. Do something for yourself and for the animals & go veg! It's a total natural high.

Posted by: Caitlin | August 24, 2009 04:10 PM

I actually gained 55lbs during/after my pregnancy w/ my daughter... my dear friend and I spent a vegan week together ( she is a vegan) and I continued being a vegan after we parted.. I have lost all but 15 lbs... I feel physically and emotionally wonderful... MEAT=FAT A@*

Posted by: Amanda | August 24, 2009 04:16 PM

Take control over your body and the future of the planet by making an informed choice. Friends, beef is NOT what's for dinner.

Posted by: Field | August 24, 2009 05:45 PM

What all the responders are ignoring that there is, indeed, fat vegans and veg - the same way there are chubby people who work out and are healthy! I think that a meat free diet is much better for all concerned, but i'm not digging the connection that is being made between being "bad" and being "fat."

Thanks for listening w/ the billboard. Animal rights = human rights = Justice and Respect for all.

Posted by: Amanda | August 24, 2009 05:46 PM

Not me. After seeing the vile way PETA treats human female animals, I want nothing to do with PETA's policies or programs. I was hoping for an apology from PETA but instead there is nothing but smugness. I am MORE likely to eat meat now that I know what kind of people promote vegetarianism... jerks.

Posted by: Mary Baker | August 24, 2009 06:34 PM

Great Billboard! I see the obesity problem as a PUBLIC health problem that is equal to certain things like smoking in that it causes health problems that in the end raise EVERYONE'S insurance costs, among other things. It's a public issue that requires public attention just like PETA did. I'm so happy for all of the people who have lost weight and feel better after going vegetarian! Take a look at the Macrobiotic diet...

Posted by: KImberly Dowling | August 25, 2009 07:50 AM

did we not learn anything from Moby Dick

Posted by: pat ciochetto | August 25, 2009 10:46 AM

Thank you for changing the billboard. It is somewhat better. Thank you from all of the women who suffer from eating disorders. It is hard enough to get by day to day when we are bombarded by the 'ideal' figure. Having PETA flaunt that, even for a good cause, perpetuates the problem for the many women who suffer from these disorders. Although the billboard was about not eating meat, it was insensitive to that other group of people.

Posted by: Lynn | August 25, 2009 11:00 AM

Thank you for changing the "whale" billboard. I am a vegan and thought it was a little harsh - glad you found a way to get the message across in a nicer manner.
Thanks - Go Veg!

Posted by: Pam Iacone | August 25, 2009 11:11 AM

Pat-

Moby Dick understanding FAIL. The whole point of the book is that you can't take revenge on something like an animal, and not "save the whales" propaganda, though they both are good morales to live by.

Posted by: Edward | August 25, 2009 02:46 PM

vegetarian?gross dairy is disgusting-even YOU say so
why on earth do you promote it????weird..and also lame
dairy is just as unhealthy just as unethical just as immoral as eating meat
what is up PETA?? !
-aggravated
Mike

Posted by: Mike | August 25, 2009 04:10 PM

While there will always be some overweight vegetarians or vegans, on average vegheads are less likely to be overweight. To believe otherwise is to be ignorant of the facts, whether genuinely or wilfully so.

"A study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included 55,459 healthy middle-aged and older women who were surveyed about their eating habits, weight and other health and lifestyle factors. A small percentage identified themselves as vegan or vegetarian.

Overall, vegans had the lowest average body mass index (BMI) -- a measure of weight in relation to height -- followed by vegetarians, then meat-eaters. While 40 percent of meat-eaters were overweight or obese, only 25 to 29 percent of vegetarians and vegans were, Newby and her colleagues report."

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | August 25, 2009 11:36 PM

I think this idea of veg being healthier is a bit off the mark. There are plenty of meat eaters out there that are very healthy. It's all about moderation and variety. You always hear about eating a "well balanced" diet. If you are eating properly, you shouldn't need suppliments such as B-12 nor should you be gorging on meat all the time. I'm sure most of you have heard of the Food Pyramid (created by the USDA). Meats are included on this and as long as they are, I will continue to include a "balanced" amount of meat in my diet as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Posted by: GIJoe | August 26, 2009 11:33 AM

I went veg last year and would never go back to eating meat/harming animals. I look and feel 100% healthier plus like the billboard states, lost 20 pounds without even trying. :)

Posted by: Karen | August 26, 2009 05:51 PM