Animal rights charity PETA says Scotland's vegan-friendly capital should have a permanent memorial plaque at the site of an historic abattoir
A commemorative plaque should be placed at the Edinburgh site of a newly uncovered 19th century slaughterhouse in memory of the cows who suffered and died there, a charity has said.
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written to the City of Edinburgh Council calling for the move following the archaeological discovery of the historic abbattoir beneath a former nightclub near the Grassmarket.
The site on the city’s King’s Stables Road is currently being redeveloped and archaeologists were given the right to excavate before new flats and student accommodation were constructed.
It is known that horse and cattle markets were held in the area from the 15th century to the start of the 20th century. Archaeologists found the remains of the 19th century slaughterhouse and a well.
PETA has now sent a letter asking the council leader Adam McVey for approval of a permanent commemorative plaque, which would be placed at the site to mark the historical significance of the area.
The plaque would read: "In memory of all the cows who suffered and died in an abattoir on this very spot: try vegan."
In the letter, PETA points out that the memorial would be especially fitting for Edinburgh, which has been recognised as the UK's most vegan-friendly city because of its numerous vegan-friendly restaurants.
"PETA's plaque would memorialise the animals who died years ago at the site on King's Stables Road and remind passers-by that killing animals for their flesh is a practice that belongs firmly in the past," says PETA director Elisa Allen.
"Edinburgh's restaurants offer everything from vegan haggis to veggie burgers, so there's no better place in Scotland to give vegan eating a try."
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat" – notes that vegan eating spares sensitive animals a terrifying death in today's abattoirs, where workers shoot cows in the head with a bolt gun, hang them up by one leg, and cut their throats, often while they're still conscious.
Vegans are also less prone to suffering from cancer, obesity, and diabetes than meat-eaters are, and they have a smaller carbon footprint.
