EBAA's Eight-Day Shopping Spree at Lunardi's: Let's pluck 'em dry!

Tony Lucia, the General Manager of Lunardi's Supermarket, proclaims: "Lunardi's considers the proper treatment of animals to be of critical concern…we share the same concern and compassion for proper animal treatment as most Americans." So, why won't Lunardi's give an inch on its company egg policy?

Unlike its main competitors, Andronico's Market and Whole Foods Market, Lunardi's thinks cramming chickens in cages for their entire lives is "proper animal treatment". Sadly, Lunardi's is out of step with reality and the concerns of its own shoppers.

Bay Area consumers and store employees agree that Lunardi's must ban the sale of battery-cage eggs (online http://www.cal-eggs.com/).

Join East Bay Animal Advocates for an eight-day advocacy campaign at the beginning of September's National Chicken Month. From September 4 to September 11, make an important phone call or fax a letter to a selected Lunardi's store location:

September 4: Danville Store
Telephone: 925-855-8920
Fax: 925-855-8928

September 5: Walnut Creek Store
Telephone: 925-939-6477
Fax: 925-939-7361

September 6: San Bruno Store
Telephone: 650-952-2851
Fax: 650-952-2105

September 7: Los Gatos Store
Telephone: 408-358-1731
Fax: 408-358-6232

September 8: Belmont Store
Telephone: 650-591-5768
Fax: 650-591-1868

September 10: San Jose Store
Telephone: 408-265-9101
Fax: 408-265-9115

September 11: Burlingame Store
Telephone: 650-697-5306
Fax: 650-697-8743

Don't forget to join us for a letter-writing party on Tuesday, September 4 at 7 PM at Pizza Plaza (6211 Shattuck Avenue in Oakland). Plus, we will be holding a special public demonstration at Lunardi's Burlingame store (1825 El Camino Real) on Sunday, September 9 at 12:30 PM. To participate, email volunteer@eastbayanimaladvocates.org.

Online at LunardisAbuse.com.

Your customers have a simple request, Mr. Lunardi.

During EBAA's public outreach at Lunardi's Supermarket yesterday, shoppers, store employees and Walnut Creek-ers alike were overwhelmingly supportive of the simple request to Lunardi's.

With September's National Chicken Month right around the corner, EBAA's efforts to persuade the Bay Area grocery chain to ban the sale of battery-cage eggs will continue to grow. On Thursday at 9 AM, logon to our MySpace page for important information on our Eight-Day Shopping Spree at Lunardi's (September 4 – September 11).

If you have free time today, give Lunardi’s General Manager, Tony Lucia, a friendly, persuasive phone call for the chickens at (650) 588-7507.

What do Michael Vick & Lunardi's Supermarket have in common?

Both Michael Vick & Lunardi's Supermarket think cruelty to animals is a money-making enterprise.

Join East Bay Animal Advocates this Sunday, August 26 at 4 PM to speak out against Lunardi's continued support of chicken cruelty. At the grocery chain's Walnut Creek store, EBAA will urge Lunardi's Supermarket to ban the sale of eggs from chickens confined to cages for their entire lives. The store address is 1600 Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek. To participate, email volunteer@eastbayanimaladvocates.org.

Online at LunardisAbuse.com

Cruel agribusiness practices must be halted

Today, Fedele Bauccio, the CEO of Palo Alto's Bon Appetit Management Company, wrote an interesting opinion piece for The San Jose Mercury News about intensive animal agriculture. Read an excerpt:

"According to a recent survey, animal welfare is one of the top three issues of concern to restaurant-goers, which may be a little unexpected for those of us who think of bacon as the fifth food group. Yet in a nation where two-thirds of the population has pets, it should be no surprise that Americans have a special place in their hearts for animals. With all of the recent media attention surrounding cage-free eggs and crate-free pork, it's clear that our consideration for animal welfare is expanding to those animals used on farms - a trend that should cause those of us in the food industry to take notice."

You can read the full article online by clicking here. Don't forget to express your opinions on this topic by writing a letter to the editor to letters@mercurynews.com.

Chickens fall to deaths from truck on Bay Area highway

Accidents involving the live-haul of poultry to slaughterhouses is an all-too-common occurrence in Northern California. The San Francisco Chronicle reported this morning:

"VALLEJO -- Several chickens fell off a truck today and on to Highway 37, leaving a mess of feathers for the California Highway Patrol officers who had to clean up the dead birds. The chickens fell off the truck around 8 a.m. somewhere between Sears Point and Mare Island, according to the CHP. Responding officers did not recover any live birds or the crate in which the birds were reportedly traveling. The truck apparently did not stop, and it's not clear whether the driver even knew he lost the chickens, a CHP officer said."

Click here to submit comments.

To write a letter to the editor, email: letters@sfchronicle.com.

EBAA joins fight in Oregon against Foster Farms

Foster Farms, the infamous poultry company, is looking to build a 1.5 million chicken industrial operation in a farming community in rural Canby, OR. Industrial factory farms are takingadvantage of the privileges afforded to family farmers. One rural community has been turned on its head as the family farmers and rural residents who live there have learned that an out-of-state corporation has all the rights and they have none. There are over200 property owners that will impacted by the proposed operation. Voice your concerns for chickens and the community of Canby. Stop Foster Farms on Oak Grove Road in Canby.

California Ballot Campaign Takes Flight to De-intensify Animal Ag

East Bay Animal Advocates, along with a dynamic coalition of animal protection groups, seeks enthusiastic, committed volunteers to join an extremely exciting campaign to protect animals abused in California agriculture. Click here to read a CNN Money news story about the upcoming campaign. Starting in October, volunteers are needed to gather signatures for this important ballot initiative. To participate, send a quick email to volunteer@eastbayanimaladvocates.org.

When Will Lunardi's Go Wireless? Upcoming actions + easy activism tips

1. The Contra Costa Times covered Saturday's human battery cage demonstration at the Lunardi's Supermarket in Danville. Click here to view the article. This is the perfect time for letters to the editor about battery cage cruelty. Email the Contra Costa Times at letters@cctimes.com.

2. Mark your datebook: There will be a "Eight-Day Lunardi's Shopping Spree" in early Septembers in honor of National Chicken Month.

3. Easy activism tip: Add Lunardi's headquarter office phone number to your cell phone [650-588-7507]. Call, call and call again!

Online at www.LunardisAbuse.com.

Don't miss the EBAA Funding & Letter Writing Evening at Pizza Plaza

Enjoy delicious vegan pizza and support local animal protection efforts the first Tuesday of every month at Pizza Plaza, the BayArea's only meat-free pizzeria. From 5 PM to 11 PM, Pizza Plazawill donate ten-percent of your bill to EBAA. For dine-in or take-out orders, visit Pizza Plaza at 6211 Shattuck Avenue in Oakland. For delivery orders, call (510) 420-1433. From 7 - 8 PM, join us in encouraging Longs Drugs, Nation's, and Lunardi's Supermarket to adopt animal-friendly corporate policies while sending supportletters to political prisoners.