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Crying over spilt milk



THE WASHINGTON TIMES



October 30, 2002, Wednesday, Final Edition



LETTERS; Pg. A18


The recent study by researchers at King's College and St. Thomas' Hospital in London showing that beer can help build strong bones [Beer is found to be good for bones, World, Oct. 20] proves what People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA] has been saying all along: Cow's milk isn't some magical elixir, and drinking it may do more harm than good.



Another recently released study suggests that moderate consumption of beer can help protect against heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and dementia.



Cow's milk, on the other hand, is loaded with fat and cholesterol and has been linked to prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even osteoporosis - the very disease milk is supposed to help prevent. A Harvard University study found that women who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods actually broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. Unlike drinking beer, eating dairy foods also hurts animals. Today's cows have been turned into milk machines, constantly kept pregnant so they'll keep pumping out more and more milk. The male calves born on dairy farms are taken away from their mothers just days after birth and chained inside cramped, dark crates to be killed for veal.



PETA urges everyone, beer-drinkers included, to drink responsibly. Where milk is concerned, there's no such thing. For more information, please visit PETA's Web site DumpDairy.com.



PAULA MOORE



Staff writer



People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals



Norfolk



Rich Lowry's column criticizing anti-milk activists is right on target [Milking an Issue, Commentary, Sunday], but the misnamed Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [PCRM] is even worse than he suspects.



Far from being a committee of physicians, the group can only claim that 5 percent of its members are doctors. PCRM's leader is not a nutrition expert, but a psychiatrist - and a non-practicing one at that. The American Medical Association saw through this charade years ago, calling the group's recommendations irresponsible and potentially dangerous to the health and welfare of Americans.



Calling PCRM and PETA close allies is an understatement. PETA has funded PCRM to the tune of $600,000 in the past three years alone. Even the animal rights movement's own watchdogs understand where PCRM is coming from. Last year, Animal People News declared that PETA and PCRM should be considered a single fundraising unit.



DAVID MARTOSKO



Director of research



Center for Consumer Freedom



Washington

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