Source: www.hafsite.org
USA, April 19, 2010: [HPI note: this note follows the HPI article on the same theme published two days ago. This time, details on how to act are included.]
The Hindu American Foundation needs you to speak up about healthy meals in public schools. In conjunction with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Federation of Jain Associations in North American (JAINA), HAF is running a 48 hour campaign for you to express your support for H.R. 4870 Healthy School Meals Act of 2010. H.R. 4870 aims to improve children’s eating patterns by introducing plant-based foods to public schools, increasing the availability and affordability of these foods, and providing incentives for schools to provide daily plant-based options.
Click here and sign the petition letter by Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 5:30 pm EST. Your letter, which you may personalize if you wish, will be sent directly to your Member of Congress when you enter your zip code.
After that, there are two more things you can do to help.
1. Participate in PCRM’s School Lunch Lobbyist Day. Call your Congressmen on Wednesday, April 21, between 9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST. Don’t have your representative’s phone number? Just enter your zip code in the upper left hand corner of the page here. Nervous about what to say? No worries — for detailed talking points and a script from PCRM, click here.
2. Get your children to hand write a letter to your Congressmen. Teach them an important lesson in advocacy — that our voice is only heard when we speak up.
Your action is important. Those of South Asian descent are known to have a higher prevalence of diabetes and coronary disease, two life-threatening diseases that can be avoided by leading a healthy lifestyle of a balanced diet and exercise. If we manage our children’s health today, they won’t be left to manage their disease tomorrow. Many Hindu Americans practice vegetarianism to varying degrees. Healthy vegetarian options in our public schools is better not only for our children, but all children.