Maybe I Can Turn Enough Heads to Make a Difference April 28, 2006
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peta2: What made you go vegetarian?
Ryan: It was actually on a bet from a friend that I couldn't do it for a week. Once the bet was over I just enjoyed the lifestyle so much, and learned so many things that I kept it up and eventually went vegan!
peta2: What's the best thing that's happened to you because you're a vegetarian?
Ryan: Learning about all the environmental damage animal exploitation causes, as well as the benefits of a vegan diet, and generally feeling that not only am I feeling physically healthier about my choices, but also as if I am doing something to better the earth in general.
peta2: Who would win in a fight, you or Colonel Sanders?
Ryan: I'd whup that 'ol Colonel over the head with a frying pan and make him think twice about opening another franchise!
No Idols gave us three copies of Low to give away to you vegan kids, so comment on this entry telling us why you should get one, and check 'em out at myspace.com/noidols.
-Noah
Cruelty-Free Bag For You to Win! April 27, 2006
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That being said, it's always great to see companies who don't use any skin on their products. One such company who is especially unique is Harvey's, the makers of original seat belt bag. Harvey's was started by a husband and wife of the same name. The story goes that Dana and Melanie Harvey had the idea to make the first seatbelt bag while installing seatbelts into their 1950 Buick. Since then, they've expanded from their garage to a 12,000 square-foot design studio in Santa Ana, California.
Being the wonderful people that they are, Harvey's has given us one of their Jr. Messenger Bags to give away, under one condition: that the person who wins must do something for animals to earn it.
Who said being compassionate doesn't pay off, huh? So, in order to win this fine seatbelt bag, you'll have to do some convincing. Comment this entry and tell us why you should get this lovely cruelty-free Harvey's bag. For example, show me a photo of what you did with the peta2 stickers we sent you, tell me a story about how you convinced your best friend to stop buying products that are tested on animals, or post a link to a video on YouTube of you and your rescued puppy or kitten (who doesn't love a cute puppy or kitten). No matter if we pick you as the winner or not, check out SealBeltBags.com to see all of the bags that Harvey's has to offer.
Elsewhere in the world, Chicago voted 49-0 to ban foie gras earlier this week. (If you have no idea what foie gras is, go here.) This is really really huge. Hopefully in our lifetime we will see foie gras banned all together.
-Noah
Bird Flu: Coming to A Town Near You April 25, 2006
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I'm flying to the UK in about 4 weeks for a much needed vacation, and this whole avian influenza thing has me freaked the hell out. I don't like that I'm even going to be in the same country as some scary bird disease. I just want to be able to get away for a few days and pretend like I'm living in the world of the oh-so-amazing British tv series Black Books and have some biscuits and tea and vegan skittles. Is that too much to ask?
Right, so back to the bird flu ... for the latest peta2 Street Team mission, we're asking you to write letters to the editor of local publications about the true cause of bird flu (as well as mad cow and a long list of other horrible viruses), factory farming. This letter from the New Ulm Journal is a perfect example.
Way to go Lauren! Remember to send us a copy of your letter to the editor if it is published; we'll send you a free t-shirt from PETACatalog.org for your hard work.
All of us at peta2 are sort of big video game nerds, so we put together a list of our all-time favorite animal-friendly games for you to vote on. You're probably wondering what makes Resident Evil 4 animal-friendly, eh? Well then, CLICK HERE to find out and to cast your vote for the best animal-friendly game ever - one lucky person will even win a copy of their fave game.
Now I'm off to play Starcraft. Yessssss. Protoss rule, zerg drool.
-Noah
Ryan is My Favorite Seacrest By Far April 24, 2006
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Ryan Seacrest, not to be confused with Indoor Track & Field legend Brain Secrest, became sensitized to animal rights after hosting an hour-long fur expose with Heather Mills McCartney on CNN while subbing for Larry King. The American Idol host headed up a PETA benefit at Las Vegas' swanky new Panorama Towers on Friday night, where he partied with Mickey Rourke, 'poker ace' Jennifer Tilly, former Nevada governor Bob Miller, Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrath and Dikembe Mutombo, and new Panorma resident Pamela Anderson.
Photo Credit: FilmMagic.com
The party - for which invitations stated "No Fur Allowed" - was held in developer Laurence Hallier's giant 3-story condo with a balcony overlooking the Strip, and featured a silent auction with proceeds going to PETA. Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio are among the other new tenants in the 32-story luxury condo building, which is slated to open this summer.
Oh yeah, and if you're wondering what the construction hat/caution tape thing is all about (we sure were), it's because it was the building's grand opening. Also there's that whole double entendre with the ladies being so hott (note the two t's) that you have to take caution... or else your construction crew will go on strike and your beams will be all slanty because you have to hire second-class workers. Nobody likes slanty beams. NO ONE.
-Noah
Speaking of Earth Day April 22, 2006
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This is why the Sierra Club is full of shit.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2006/2006-04-17-09.asp
Sierra Club Director Resigns to Protest Hunting Prize
FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington, April 17, 2006 (ENS) - Sierra Club Director Paul Watson, one of the 15 National Directors of the Sierra Club, has resigned today from the National Board of the Sierra Club.
He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2003 for a three year term. His term ends May 17th, 2006.
Saying, "I won't fade quietly into the night," Watson tendered his resignation on April 17th, which is a month before his term expires to protest the use of Club resources to finance a sport hunting trip to encourage hunting.
Watson was not notified of a contest posted in January 2006. The contest is an essay competition entitled Why I Hunt?
The first prize is a $12,700 hunting trip to the Sportsman's Lodge in Alaska. Additional prizes totaling $3,000 will also be awarded.
"It appears to me that the Sierra Club should have better projects to spend $15,700 on than sending some nimrod to Alaska to shoot wildlife," said Watson. "Last year they turned down my request for a $5,000 grant to assist the rangers in the Galapagos National Park deal with poachers."
Watson last year protested the posting of pictures of Sierra Club leaders posing with their trophy kills on the Sierra Club website. Each year, the Club is spending over two hundred thousand dollars on hunter outreach programs despite the fact that less than 20% of the Sierra Club membership are hunters.
Link: http://www.sierraclub.org/huntingfishing/whoweare.asp
Watson, who has been a Sierra Club member since 1968, thinks the Club is forgetting its role as a conservation organization. "This is John Muir's Sierra Club," he said, "It is not supposed to be the Sahara Club. You can't love nature with a gun."
Watson will not be attending his final Board meeting in San Francisco on May 17-20th.
"I have no intention of attending a meeting of a hunting club," said Watson. "I wonder how many of the Sierra Club's 750,000 members know and approve of killing animals with their contributions?"
In Honor of Earth Day April 21, 2006
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According to a news item on ABC News earlier this week, two assistant professors of geophysics at the University of Chicago have completed a study of greenhouse gas production and its sources. Their conclusion, get ready ... eating meat is the worst thing you can do for the planet.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. For those of you who didn't already know this, here are some cold hard facts for ya.
Water usage:
More than 1/2 of water used in the United States is used to raise animals for food. A totally vegetarian diet requires 300 gallons of water per day. A carnivorous diet requires 4200 gallons of water per day.
Land:
Of all agricultural land in the United States, 87% used to raise animals for food. This is 45% the total land mass of the United States. A total vegetarian requires 1/6 acre of land to feed herself or himself each year. A carnivore requires 3 and 1/4 acres. Over 50 years, eating a strictly vegetarian diet frees up more than 154 acres of land.
Air:
Raising cows is a detriment to air quality, because cows produce massive amounts of methane. Cow methane comprises 5-10% total greenhouse gases.
Water pollution:
Animals raised for food produce more than 130 times the excrement of human beings. They do not generally have sewage systems; thus, much of that excrement winds up in our water. The number one source of water pollution is the raising of animals for food.
Energy:
Of all raw materials and fossil fuels used in the United States, more than 1/3 are used to raise animals for food.
Deforestation:
Rainforests are being destroyed by human beings at a rate of 125 million square miles per year. The top cause of deforestation is the raising of animals for food.
Topsoil:
We have already lost 3/4 of our topsoil in the United States. Of this loss, 85% directly linked to the raising of animals for food. Monocropping, overgrazing, and excessive use of toxic chemicals have destroyed our nations soil. It takes 500 years to create an inch of new topsoil.
Anyone who calls themselves an environmentalist but still eats meat needs to get fucked. Take a break from writing your zine about how to make your own clothes out of hemp and take a look at your own diet. Kthx.
-Noah
What Makes a Hero April 19, 2006
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Right, so the reason I bring this up is because there's one particular person who deserves a whole lotta credit, and her name is Jackey Martin. Recently, Jackey has been sort of an activism machine on Long Island; when PETA brought our "Whips and chains belong in the bedroom, not in the circus" demonstration to town, Jackey was there to help our dominatrix inform people that animals are routinely abused to force them to perform silly and degrading tricks. Most recently, Jackey has gotten all dissection removed from the curriculum at her school, Ward Melville High School. If any demented students say that they want to cut up dead animals, the teachers now make them watch "Classroom Cut-Ups" and see what really happens to animals killed for the dissection industry. This is such a huge accomplishment, possibly even the first time that any school in the U.S. has completely gotten rid of dissection. WMHS has been recognized as a School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, so that makes it even more awesome. In summary, Jackey rules at life.
So, if you want to be my hero, go here for info on how to "cut out dissection", and e-mail me if you want me to send you some "Cut Class, Not Frogs" stickers or anything else.
-Noah
Another Alk3/Against Me! Tour Update April 18, 2006
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It's Pulin. The past few days have been wonderful for me. We haven't had much driving between shows which means more time to catch up on eating and sleeping. Matt Skiba was kind enough to get us some vegan cheese steaks the other day in Philly so that made me smile. The Philly show was excellent. Huge, sold out venue to see Alkaline Trio and Against Me! Way to go, boys.
The NJ show was sold out too, and I saw a bunch of friends from high school which was fun. We stayed with my parents so that meant mom's Indian vegan home-cooking, plus I got in some time to watch movies, arm wrestle both my mom and dad (I won, of course), and eat Soy Delicious ice cream. Colin, an intern who has done a few tours with me, is not joking around when he says everyone in the whole wide world needs to eat some of that amazing vegan ice cream. So hop to it (no that wasn't a belated Easter Bunny joke).
Last night we had a really fun night in NYC. To start things off we had a great meal from Vegetarian's Paradise 2 before the show. After that we got to the venue and were pleased to have hundreds of people sign our Kentucky Fried Cruelty petition. Did you see the cute girl who made her own peta2 shirt? I totally saw her!
The volunteers for the evening were my friend Nick who has been helping with various protests and other activism for years and my new friend Nellie McKay who writes some damn fine tunes.
My brother Kal Penn also stopped by the show to check out the bands and to see what his younger (and better looking) sibling does on the road all this time. I think he was impressed with our success for the evening and happy that the swarms of kids were too concerned with watching the incredible show than to talk about how he's more famous than your mom (and dad). Warren from Against Me! was pretty stoked to meet one of his heroes, though.
I'm off to get some food in my tummy. For those of you academic types an analogy can be made as follows...
Gas:Automobile::Food:Pulin
Just When You Thought You'd Heard it All... April 14, 2006
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As if the Canadian seal hunt wasn't bad enough, now there's one more reason to "blame Canada". Earlier this week on CBC's "Sounds Like Canada" talk radio show, I heard one of the most disgusting things ever: host Shelagh Rogers did a 21-minute piece on seal flipper pie. You heard right, a pie ... made of seal flippers. Seriously, what person in their right mind would eat that? That's like eating your dog's paws. I can't believe that this woman actually went on for 21 minutes about how to prepare a seal's flipper.
Listen to the piece here (try not to vomit), then write, call, and fax to let CBC and Shelagh know that you're sickened by their broadcast:
Sounds Like Canada
CBC Radio
Box 4600
Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 4A2
Phone: 604-662-6608
Fax: 604-662-6025
soundslikecanada@cbc.ca
I still can't get over it, I mean... seal flipper pie! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Elsewhere in the world of radio, vegetarian pro surfer Anastasia Ashley appeared on the Adam Corolla show yesterday morning to talk about surfing, her upcoming calendar, and her new "Ocean Creatures: Too Beautiful to Kill" ad for peta2.
Check out the official Adam Corolla Show blog at adamradio.blogspot.com for more.
Speaking of ocean creatures, check out the latest Street Team mission if you haven't yet... you know those red stickers that say "Eating Animals" that seem to always end up on stop signs? Weird, huh? Well, we have similar red stickers that say "Fishing", and you can get one for free by going HERE and filling out the form with your name and mailing address. Once you receive your sticker, send us a photo showing how you used it to help STOP fishing and we'll give you peta2 Street Team points which you can exchange for t-shirts, CDs, buttons, stickers, and more. Pretty sweet, I know.
-Noah
Shootin' the Shit With Alkaline Trio April 13, 2006
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Alkaline Trio and Against Me! are in Norfolk today (and so is everyone's favorite Modi, Pulin). Before the show, the Alk3 boys came by the office for a tour and some soy cheese pizza, and it ruled. (All of the pups in the office are now huge fans of "Goddamnit".) Matt even took some PETAKids comic books for his nephew.
On top of all that, peta2 had a potluck today, and the weather in Norfolk is amazing. Oh yeah, and this...
You know you're ROFLing.
-Noah
Free CDs From Shiragirl! April 11, 2006
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peta2: Why did you go vegetarian?
Shira: I was in college living with 2 vegetarian girls who cooked delicious meals. Then I saw the author of Fast Food Nation speak and was really affected. I figured I'd try it for a month- and never went back! Filet Mignon was my favorite food but I don't miss it at all. My cholesterol went down and my health has never been better. I don't eat dairy either, cause I have a sensitive stomach. So I'm all about the vegan treats ;)
peta2: Do you think vegetarian guys are cuter?
Shira: Cuter than meat-eating boys, or cuter than vegetarian girls? ;)
peta2: What's your favorite blog?
Shira: I used to read Moby's every day. Lately I'm just browsing on myspace way too much, trying to cut down on my internet time! But it's a great way to keep in touch with the fans.
peta2: What advice do you have for girls who are thinking of starting a band?
Shira: DO IT! I'd say the biggest thing is believe in yourself, and surround yoruself with positive energy. All my life my parents told me I couldn't sing. Then one day I decided I could. I'm glad I did!
peta2: What's the best vegetarian meal you had on Warped Tour last summer?
Shira: All of them!!! Well I really love breakfast for lunch (mmm fake sausage) but the vegan pizza is always the best.
Shira was kind enough to send us a few copies of Shiragirl's "Not Sold in Stores" CD to give away. If you want one, just comment telling me why you should get one of 'em and cross your fingers. For more on Shiragirl and their upcoming tour, check out GrittyInPinkTour.com.
Speaking of giveaways, we've got a new interview with Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell on peta2 and a contest for an autographed copy of Season One on DVD. CLICK HERE to see what Kristen had to say about being vegetarian, and fill out that form to enter to win!
Oh yeah, and anyone who can tell me which band plays the Veronica Mars theme song, "We Used to Be Friends", won't win anything but will be a whole lot cooler in my book.
-Noah
Seal Hunters Are Baby Killers April 10, 2006
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So far, the Canadian seal hunt has claimed the life of nearly 100,000 baby seals this year, and a few hundred thousand more will be dead in the coming month. Anyone who thinks that this massacre is justifiable needs to go to the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the ice flows off Newfoundland and Labrador themselves and see, hear, and smell the death all around. You can hear these baby seals scream from hundreds of yards away as they are bludgeoned over the head. Assuming that most people won't actually ever witness it for themselves, maybe this image will help put it in perspective:
Thanks to Sam for the image.
Anyone who calls themselves "pro-life" but still wears fur is a dumbfuck, period. To be fair, anyone who is "pro-choice" but doesn't realize that seals and other animals deserve consideration of their most basic interests (you know, like not being clubbed to death) is a hypocrite as well.
-Noah
Tour Update! April 7, 2006
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The bands and crew are all fantastic people. There are veg. people with both bands and everyone is supportive regardless. We get that folk/punk flavor from Against Me! every night that you can't help but sing and dance to. It's a pleasure to get to know them off-stage as well. Then Alkaline Trio tears it up every night with tons of old songs, some acoustic ones, plus some newer, instant classics. It's good to be back out on the road with Matt, Derek, and Dan again after that summer tour they did with Rise Against. Did you know the lovely Heather who designs and sells all their merch is a real live vegan? She totally is a vegan cookie eating machine. Hook her up if she ever comes to your part of the world! Actually, all the boys and girls really enjoy the occasional vegan treats that find their way into everyone's bellies. Yummy!
Nashville tonight. See you there.
Heavy Blinkers and Pam April 6, 2006
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You can add Halifax's The Heavy Blinkers (whose members happen to all be either vegetarian or vegan) to list of people from the Great White North speaking out against the disgusting seal hunt.
Bandmember Jason MacIsaac recently appeared on Canada's CTV to talk about his thoughts on Pam Anderson denouncing the murder of baby seals on the Junos, and why he opposes the hunt. Here's a letter Jason wrote to Pam:
First off, I would like to apologize on behalf of all maritimers for the callous and mean-spirited reception that you received at the hands of the Juno audience and our politicians. I am a vegan and a staunch supporter of you and your work and it took moxy and a helluva lot of class for you to not throw your shoe at them. I hesitate to say that I am a local celebrity, but I am in a band called the heavy blinkers and I guess that I am high profile enough that I was asked to be on the nightly news to discuss the seal hunt and your comments at the Junos. I want you to know that I was stoic in my defence of you. I told the media that you were a hero and that you did not deserve to be vilified that way that you have. If more people had the courage and conviction that you possess, the world would not be in the sad state that it is in. I went on to speak on the topic of Morrissey blacklisting Canada from his tour dates and discussed all the myths, half-truths and lies that the seal hunting industry has been disseminating. 70% of Canadians appose the seal hunt and I don't want you to be discouraged by my city's thoughtlessness. You are having a profoundly positive impact on the movement and you will be recorded in the annals of history as a crusader of animal rights and equality. My wife was one of the organizers of the seal protest outside the red carpet and she echoes my feelings wholeheartedly. Even my father (meat eater, ex-hunter) called me to offer his support on the topic. If you knew my dad, you would know that you are an extremely effective activist. I applaud you.
If you haven't already, go here and sign Pam Anderson's petition against the seal hunt. Also, be sure to send The Heavy Blinkers some love at myspace.com/theheavyblinkers.
Our good friend Dan Piraro, the brilliant mind behind Bizarro, has a new book in stores nationwide. It's a retrospective of his whole career, with cartoons, fine art, sketchbook stuff, a big autobiographical essay, lots of back stories and extra junk. It also has a big chapter on Dan's animal rights views and the cartoons he has done about that subject. Check out Bizarro.com for more info! Also, Dan will be on the road with his comedy show to help promote the book for a bit. Go here and click "tickets and info" to see if he's playing near you.
Links of the day:
Fur scum Star Jones gets a football to the face
Deer gets his revenge on hunter ... awesome!
-Noah
peta2 Slogan Contest: Comment This Entry April 5, 2006
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"Question Authority" has been sort of the official slogan of peta2 for a few years now. It's the title of the very first piece of literature peta2 made and the first (and in my opinion best) e-card we made. We sold and gave away a few thousand t-shirts with the slogan back in '04 and even made two different stencils with the short-but-sweet tagline.
What's all this reminiscing about you ask? Well, we've decided to retire "Question Authority", and we need your help coming up with a new original replacement. Here are the ideas we have so far:
peta2: Chicks Dig Us
peta2: Ethics Are Crucial
peta2: Be The Change
peta2: It's Kind Of A Big Deal
peta2: Liberation
So rack your brain for something super catchy (and preferrably something with a message) and leave us a comment showing what ya got. The top three idea-givers will get free "Question Authority" stencils, a CD or two from some of the bands we work with, and some other miscellany.
Links of the day:
The Schumacher family are horrible human beings
Nice article on Sheboygan KFC protest
The award for dumbest teacher alive goes to...
If we had a PETAKids cutest vegetarian contest he would win
-Noah
Phillies Own You April 3, 2006
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Here's one more reason to love the Phillies:
This year, Phillies fans who are health-conscious, adventurous and/or vegetarian will have a new option at Citizens Bank Park: veggie hot dogs.The stadium joins a dozen other Major League Baseball venues in a national trend to offer veggie dogs on concession stand menus. And if you haven't tried a vegetarian hot dog since the original bright-orange "Tofu Pups," you may be pleasantly surprised at how well the park's selection, Yves' Smart Dogs, holds up against the meat-based variety - especially once you add your traditional condiments.
Jimmy Rollins + veggie dogs = Phillies own.
Speaking of veg-friendly baseball goodness, I picked Cassandra Strawser as the winner of our "Make Baseball Better" for writing to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and asking them to add new vegan options this year. She gets two free tickets to see the Rays play Boston. Oh the Devil Rays... I miss Tampa.
Listen up! Ingrid is going to be interviewed on Atlanta's WRFG this Wednesday, April 5, at 6:00pm EST. Those of you not in ATL can listen to the streaming broadcast at WRFG.org.
I love these pictures to death.
Fuck some fur wearers, that's what I always say.
-Noah
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