Shameless!

[Shale]

Last night, during band rehersal at my high school, the drumline went into the cafeteria to practice. They had everything set up for Monday (the first day of school), and on each wall there was a GIGANTIC banner promoting milk. I guess the industry is launching a "Body by Milk" campaign. Each banner was about four feet tall and five feet wide, featuring a well-known athlete with a milk mustache. There were two ripped men in muscle shirts, and two women who looked fantastic in their ice-skating/tennis uniforms. They said, "Goal by Beckham, Body by Milk," or whatever pertained to the athlete. Under that, "Some studies suggest that teens who drink milk tend to be leaner" was written in huge letters.

I was speechless. It was such a blatant play on a serious issue with teenagers. It made me sick to think that I was going to have these massive lies thrust into my face five days a week.

If you want to print vague, unproven claims, do it in a SMALLER font. Even my friend, who makes it a point to get her "three servings" every day, was ridiculing the message. "Some," "suggest," and "tend" were our three favorite words. We're not all zombies. The sad thing is, there are so many people who won't even QUESTION what the milk pushers say.

I would love to know how much our school was paid to hang them up.

[Revvell]

I've read that in some schools now every lunch tray gets a carton of milk. That's pretty sad. :(

[D'vorah]

You didn't ask for advice, but I'm going to share my opinion in the matter. I'd love to see you gather some *legitimate* documents and data, look to VegSource and John McDougall for one (his work is research driven), John Robbins (he walked away from the Baskin and Robbins Ice cream fortunes) or other reliable research-backed sources. Take that data that demonstrates the unhealthy nature of milk, and approach your principal, and, if you're feeling REALLY bold, your school district. Let them know what you know about milk and cheese, let them know how you feel as a vegan about this propaganda.

There are several aspects you could address:

Mucus formation

Contributing to weaker, not stronger bones by adding more protein to your diet by causing additional washing out of calcium

Contributing to cardio vascular disease

Antibiotics, growth hormones and other drugs present in milk

Pus present in milk

Bacterial count allowed in the milk consumers purchas in this country

Etc, etc. I'd probably leave ethical issues to the last and focus on the certainty that milk isn't healthy

Good luck, and good for you for your passion.

D'vorah

[Sharon in Colorado]

I wonder if it would be wrong to make your own posters. Positive of course, about the benefits of fruits and vegetables.

Or maybe take some hard evidence to the principle or whoever's in charge and present it to them.

However, no doubt they are getting some kind of funding or free milk from the dairy industry which is why they probably put the posters up in the first place.

[Shale]

Revvell--we get free milk at our school, but we have to pay for water.

I think gathering evidence would be a GREAT idea. I know there are other vegans in my school, and if I could round up some support in addition to any legitimate research (no "suggests" or "tends"), I'm sure we could at least get them to take down the posters. "Propaganda" seems like a strong word--perfect. Maybe I'll do a research paper or make milk the topic of my mandatory science fair project. Everyone assumes vegans choose their diet for purely ethical reasons, so I agree that any arguments should focus first on health.

I love the idea of hanging fruit posters around school! There are so many opportunities to do it, too, since I'm usually around after school. The cafeteria has FINALLY offered a fruit plate, although it's less than glorious--some apple slices that are usually brown around the edges, and grapes that don't even taste like grapes. Of course it comes with yogurt, two slices of Kraft cheese, and a packet of string cheese. Everything is SO dairy oriented! They had a nutritionist in, and she kept preaching how essential dairy was to a healthy diet. Don't even get me started on health class.

[Juicyfruit]

Dairy! YUK!!

I totally understand how you must feel. I am constantly explaining to people why dairy isn't healthy.

Here are some good websites:

waisays.com
notmilk.com

[Sharon in Colorado]

Perhaps you could contact the fruit and vegetable board and see if they'll contirbute some posters to your school.

You might find this interesting:

http://www.pbhfoundation.org/pdfs/pulse/policy/programs/wellnesspolicybrochure666_1205Hires.pdf

Isn't it a shame that advising more fruit and vegetable consumption now needs to be mandated?

Also see www.thegardendiet.com there's a "Take Fruit Break" campaign page to promote fruits and vegetables to youth.