The construction of a fence along the southern border of the U.S. is controversial enough, but the PETA people - you know, those whacked out animal rights enthusiasts - want to use the fence as an opportunity to advertise. PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In other words, they are radically opposed to killing animals for food. Cool. But it doesn’t stop there.

PETA has managed to come up with a new spin on healthy eating. It’s no longer enough to tell people that killing animals and eating them is wrong. Now, the group wants to tell people it’s actually unhealthy to eat animals. In fact, according to PETA, they want to tell illegal immigrants crossing over into the U.S. that eating beans and rice is better for their bodies than eating burgers and and chicken, perhaps the healthiest of the meats in the U.S. Here it is in their own words:

The billboards, in English and Spanish, would offer the caution: “If the Border Patrol Doesn’t Get You, the Chicken and Burgers Will — Go Vegan.”

“We think that Mexicans and other immigrants should be warned if they cross into the U.S. they are putting their health at risk by leaving behind a healthier, staple diet of corn tortillas, beans, rice, fruits and vegetables,” said Lindsay Rajt, assistant manager of PETA’s vegan campaigns.

So beans and starch are more healthy than chicken? Granted, burgers might not be all that healthy if you eat them every day. The grease and fatty acids are surely bad. But I’m not sure that a steady diet of beans and rice, eaten every day, is much better. According to one website, overweight women who consume too much starch could be at risk of pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, eating chicken might reduce colon cancer risks.

PETAs advertising plan is just too funny. I can’t believe the Houston Chronicle is taking them seriously.