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United Poultry Concerns Celebrates International Respect for Chickens Day, May 4

MACHIPONGO, Va., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International Respect for Chickens Day, May 4, celebrates the dignity, beauty and life of chickens and protests against the bleakness of their lives in farming operations. Launched by United Poultry Concerns in 2005, International Respect for Chickens Day traces to famed star of The Simpsons, Harry Shearer, who proclaimed Sunday, May 14, 2000 -- Mother's Day -- National Respect the Chicken Day to honor the devotion of mother hens to their chicks.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080429/DC20730 )

In Letters from an American Farmer, historian St. John de Crevecoeur wrote, in 1782, "I never see an egg brought to my table but I feel penetrated with the wonderful change it would have undergone but for my gluttony; it might have been a gentle, useful hen leading her chickens with a care and vigilance which speaks shame to many women. A cock perhaps, arrayed with the most majestic plumes, tender to his mate, bold, courageous, endowed with an astonishing instinct, with thoughts, with memory, and every distinguishing characteristic of the reason of man."

United Poultry Concerns urges people to do an ACTION for chickens on or around May 4 -- leafleting on a busy street corner, tabling, writing a letter to the editor, holding an office party or classroom celebration, showing the movie Chicken Run, or simply talking to people about the plight and delight of chickens.

In honor of the event,Minneapolis-based Chicken Run Rescue is holding its Third Annual Chicken Calendar Photo Contest to capture the beauty of chickens in a photograph (www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue/photos08/index.php?x=about). Other activities are being held in places that includeOrange County, Ca.,Tucson, Az.,Oak Park, Il.,Almo, Ky., andPhiladelphia, Pa. InWashington, DC, United Poultry Concerns has placed a colorful month-long ad in 220 Metrorail Cars showing a man expressing compassion for a rooster (http://www.upc-online.org/respect/index.html).

On Sunday afternoon, May 4, UPC will hold a demonstration for chickens near the American History Museum on the National Mall, and on Thursday afternoon, May 8, UPC will leaflet people on the Lafayette Park sidewalk across from the White House, urging everyone to "Show Compassion and Stick Up For Chickens!"

United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. On the Web at http://www.upc-online.org.

Contact Information

Karen Davis: Karen@upc-online.org

757-678-7875

SOURCE United Poultry Concerns