Viva! 8 York Court Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 Fax: 0117 924 4646 email: media@viva.org.uk	8 June 1999  Go Veggie with Paul McCartney and Viva! Sir Paul McCartney has put his weight behind a Viva! campaign to turn Britain veggie. A joint colourful, upbeat leaflet has been produced to coincide with 1999's National Vegetarian Week (June 14-20) encouraging people all over Britain to 'Go veggie with Paul McCartney and Viva!' Hundreds of thousands of copies will be distributed in the coming months, from one end of the UK to the other. "Going veggie saves animals and people, protects the environment and is one of the healthiest things you can do", says Paul McCartney, who has undertaken to carry on the battle for a more compassionate world. "Linda became the spokesperson on vegetarianism largely because she had the time available. I'd be off making music somewhere but in fact she was speaking for both of us - for all our family. I really worry that good people around the world might think that we've lost a powerful voice. Well, we have but my voice is there now and I'm trying to use it." The full-colour leaflet carries recipes by Linda McCartney, details of Viva!'s successful campaigns for animals and a fact section, which begins with the uncompromising statement: "The science is now overwhelming - vegetarians suffer less from a whole string of diseases and they live longer. It is an ideal diet for everyone." The facts are divided into five, colour-coded sections - health, nutrition,environment, developing world and the life and death of farm animals. All the health facts are taken from recognised sources and include some staggering information. Vegetarians' risk of dying from heart disease, cancer and strokes is up to 50 per cent less than meat eaters - in fact, they suffer less from several chronic diseases, according to the American Dietetic Association. "I've helped raise a family of four kids and they couldn't be healthier," says Paul McCartney. "My son James is a big surfer, fit and healthy, andhe's a vegan. There's now a whole heap of science to show that vegetarians and vegans are healthier and live longer." In a passionate appeal for a better, saner world, Paul is clear about what motivates him: "It's always been and will always be compassion for animals. That's it! It's respect for our fellow species. We're just another animal yet we think we're so clever, know so much, but what have we done? We're headed towards disaster and won't even acknowledge it. From the biggest tothe smallest we have beaten all the other animals into submission. Couldn't we be magnanimous in victory? Isn't it time to see if there's anything they can teach us before we obliterate the whole lot of them and ourselves as well." He says of factory farming: "We can't go on cramming creatures into battery cages, broiler sheds, pig pens and so on. Where's the compassion? For the sake of the animals, support Viva!." Following the death of his wife Linda, Sir Paul gave his first interview to Juliet Gellatley, Founder & Director of Viva! One of her most successful campaigns was to persuade all the major supermarkets drop 'exotic' meats such as kangaroo and ostrich. In May, he both nominated Ms Gellatley for - and personally presented to her - the Linda McCartney Award for AnimalWelfare, part of the Pride of Britain Awards. Speaking of their joint campaign, Ms Gellatley said. "People greatly respect Paul McCartney and will listen to his plea for change - Viva! has all the practical experience to offer support and information necessary to anyone wanting to change their diet. It's a great combination." Further information - Lesley Jeavons or Juliet Gellatley on 0117 944 1000.