The Humane Society's New Undercover Investigation January 31, 2008

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The Humane Society of the United States just released a new investigation of a cattle slaughterhouse in California documenting sick and injured cows. This particular "supplier of the year" slaughterhouse actually supplies meat to the national school lunch program. That's right, the same "food" that's being served in school cafeterias across the country was once shocked with electric prods and beaten. Check out the video for yourself below.

It's not just cows that are being horribly abused to become someone's next meal either: PETA undercover investigations have shown horrific abuse of chickens, turkeys, and pigs (among other animals), too. The best way to stop this abuse is to go vegetarian. It's so easy, seriously—just make a few different choices when it's time to eat. Swap a flesh burger with a veggie burger at your next meal. It's as simple as that, really.

I know you've gotta want more vegetarian options in your school cafeteria (because the food that was once a living, breathing, abused animal just isn't cutting it, am I right?). Go here to see what you can do.

I hope you're having a pleasant day, you pleasant people, you.

♥ Marta

Students Vote to Keep KFC Off Campus! January 31, 2008

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After gathering over 500 petition signatures from their fellow students, the Power of One student animal rights group at Florida Gulf Coast University has successfully passed a bill in their student government stating KFC is NOT welcome on their campus, for reasons of cruelty to animals!

The true beauty of all this is that KFC never even released plans to move onto the campus in the first place. But by the students passing this amazing bill, they have sent a VERY strong signal to the CEOs of KFC that until they clean up their act, they had better stay FAR away from this campus! :) Not to mention, they educated thousands of college students about the abuse KFC suppliers inflict on animals in the process.

Make sure to check out all of the details on the "Student Spotlight" section of our site, written by the student group president, Regina, herself! While you're there, check out some of the other amazing activism reports from college students worldwide. You'll be inspired, I promise!

- Ryan!

P.S. - This activism also caught the attention of media outlets ALL across Florida. Check out a video from a local station by clicking on the newspaper clip below:



P.P.S. - To run a similar campaign on YOUR campus, email me to get started!

Los Angeles People, Help Dogs And Cats January 31, 2008

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The Los Angeles City Council has a meeting tomorrow morning (Friday, February 1st) to discuss a historic ordinance that would require virtually all dogs and cats in Los Angeles to be spayed or neutered. If you happen to live in L.A. and can help voice your support for mandatory spaying and neutering of all dogs and cats, please drop some encouragement your council member's way. You can find his or her phone number at http://www.lacity.org/council.htm. Just let the council member know that you support the spay-neuter ordinance, and you're hoping they will too. You can also attend the meeting to show your support.

If you don't live in L.A., you can still help raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering animals by checking out this page and forwarding the hilarious videos to everyone you know or streaming them on your MySpace page.

Learn more about peta2's Animal Birth Control (ABC) campaign at peta2.com

-Pulin

Technology Rules! January 30, 2008

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As some of you may have seen on CNN.com, new technology being developed could potentially spare millions of animals from needless and cruel experiments. It's about time!

It's all pretty scientific, but basically it's a new computer chip that has human cells in it, which means that we can run chemicals and other products through it, thus giving scientists the data they need without harming rabbits, rats, dogs, or other animals who are often tortured in laboratories.

Click the image for the full article.

For you science nerds out there, you can even watch video of this new technology in action HERE. As a warning though, if you can't tell the difference between an electron and a hole in the wall (like I can't), this may bore the pants off of you. :)

- Ryan!

P.S. - I mean no disrespect to the nerds reading this blog. Believe it or not, in 5th grade, I intentionally lied during my routine eye check-up, because I thought people with thick glasses looked cool. True story.

We Love What You Do, For Real January 29, 2008

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If I haven't said it enough before, we absolutely love seeing and hearing about all the things you're doing to help animals! Everything you do—from handing out stickers to your friends or putting a video on your page to organizing a "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" demonstration or wearing a "Cut Class, Not Frogs" shirt, sends the message that animals need to be treated better. That being said, here is something awesome that Ohio Street Teamer Katrina Taber did recently that I just had to share with you!

Katrina's description in her Street Team report was so good that I wanted to keep it as is, so enjoy this in Katrina's own words:

In my painting class at school, we were assigned a "container" project. In this project, the container (box, bowl, etc.) was not just supposed to be painted and pretty, nor was it supposed to be obviously a box. We were to put something inside the box, and make whatever additions to the box that we felt necessary. The project was also supposed to explain something about the artist, in this case, about me.

After thinking about what I could do for this project for a while, I decided that I was going to make something that would get people's attention, and as a vegan for the last year and a half, peta2 came to my mind. I decided that I was going to give the animals a voice and expose the cruel conditions that they must endure during the slaughtering process.

The size of my box seemed the perfect shape for a semi-truck, so I decided to make my box into a truck that was off to the slaughterhouse. On the outside of my box, I painted delightful scenes of a sunrise over hills, symbolizing the general public's romanticized view of what farms are really like. I also decided to write "Heavenly Sunshine Farms...We do 'em right!" on the back of the truck to emphasize this false view. The truck is painted a fierce blood red, and the top of the cargo (out of sight, had it been a real-size truck) read, "Open and you shall see the bloody truth."




Inside the truck was a different story...the reality. I glued some plastic farm animals inside, very crammed together. I also made blood dripping down the sides of the truck as well as spattered all over the poor animals.


My art teacher said to me as I turned it in, "This is a very clever message, Katrina!" In fact, she liked the message and the project so much that she displayed it in the main art showcase in the main hallway of my school, where everyone could see it. Needless to say, I received many compliments and comments on my project from my fellow students, to whom I passed out my peta2 stickers!

Amazing, right? What have you been doing lately to help animals? Have you made vegetarian tacos for a friend? Or maybe you've posted a bulletin about our latest KFC supplier investigation. Whatever it is you're doing, we love it when you keep us in the loop! Let us know by commenting below, but don't forget to submit Street Team reports for all the things you do to help animals—though if you aren't a Street Teamer yet, you'll have to register first, of course (and FYI, I <3 Street Teamers, if that's extra incentive!).

♥ Marta

PS - Before I got my job at peta2, I was a Street Teamer myself! For those of you who don't know, the peta2 Street Team is where it's at! Once you sign up, we'll e-mail you with all the latest ways to help animals, and you can earn points for all the great things you do. You can save up those points to exchange for sweet things like t-shirts, hoodies, and other peta2 merch. Who wouldn't want to get in on that?
PPS - For those of you who are on the Street Team, check out the Street Team Goods page—we've added some new stuff!

Are You a Meat-Guzzler? January 28, 2008

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Big shocker—raising animals for food is terrible for many reasons, but if you haven't been keeping up with the news, did you know that going vegetarian does more for the environment than switching to a hybrid car? It's true.

I grew up in California, and when I was younger, I would drive from San Jose to LA with my family several times a year. We would pass a gigantic feed lot on the 5 that always seemed to stretch on forever—as far as the eye could see. And before you could even see the lot (and long after you passed it), you couldn't escape the smell. I felt like the horrendous stench (methane) was being burned into my nostrils and it would give me a headache each time we passed by.

I can't even imagine actually being stuck there, like so many cows are—and you also don't have to be a genius to know that something that smells that strong and that bad cannot be good for the environment. Take a look at this article ("Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler") from The New York Times—you can see the feed lot for yourself.

The article is awesome, so be sure to read the whole thing. Here's a little quote:

If price spikes don't change eating habits, perhaps the combination of deforestation, pollution, climate change, starvation, heart disease and animal cruelty will gradually encourage the simple daily act of eating more plants and fewer animals.

Mr. Rosegrant of the food policy research institute says he foresees "a stronger public relations campaign in the reduction of meat consumption—one like that around cigarettes—emphasizing personal health, compassion for animals, and doing good for the poor and the planet."

Raising animals for food is bad for the environment, plain and simple. Stop eating meat and you'll help the environment. It's win, win, people.

And in other newspaper, uh, news...did anyone see the USA Today article about how the animal rights movement is goin' strong? Check it out. And FYI, those are my girls rocking the Mars Candy Kills demonstration in the top photo in the article—amazing, right?

♥ Marta

PS - A big THANKS to Holly and Fitch, without whom this blog would not be possible.

An Anti-KFC Comic To Brighten Your Day January 28, 2008

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Thanks to Pop Culture Shock Therapy who actually has entire books of funny comics available.

If you have any animal rights related art, send it to us. And if you haven't already, check out some ways to get involved in the Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign.

-Pulin

Who Wants FREE Brand New Shirts!?! January 25, 2008

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Based on the great feedback we received about our new peta2 Greek letter t-shirt, we've decided to give some out to 5 lucky winners! Who wants 'em!?

Since this shirt is the perfect conversation starter about animal rights and peta2, to win one, just comment on this blog telling us how you would answer the question "So what do you love MOST about peta2?"

Ready...set...GO! Best of luck!

- Ryan!

P.S. - This contest ends on January 29, 2008, and winners will be chosen and notified by January 30, 2008.

Just so you know...by commenting here, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.

Also by commenting, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.

Arizona, You Have It Good! January 25, 2008

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If you read my last blog you know how much I love Texas and how many great vegetarian restaurants it has. Well I just spent the last week in Arizona and holy cow I had one of the best vegan bacon cheeseburgers ever at Lovin Spoonfuls in Tucson, AZ. If you live around the area you need to check that place out and support great vegan food.

We had the chance to hit up a Bane show this last week and talk to kids about the fur industry in China. It's pretty messed up how they use dogs and cats for fur, and here in the US we buy most of our fur from China. Here are some kids at the Bane show, showing their support for peta2 and their disgust of fur.

Well, while in Phoenix we got to hit up Greens a few times. If you don't know, Greens is one of the best vegetarian restaurants out there. I can't even express in words how good their vegan buffalo wings and vegan ranch taste.


We also went out to Rage Fest and talked to kids for the whole weekend. We had a few girls come up and help us out; it was amazing because they were a ton of help! If you ever see us at a show or want to get more involved make sure you drop us an e-mail.


Well I am heading back to the office now but make sure you come visit me on Taste of Chaos next month.

-Paul

PS - Make sure you join our Street Team, so if you do help us out at a show we can give you points that you can redeem for shirts and other cool stuff.

Joshua English Interview January 25, 2008

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Our friends with Welcome Home Records wanted us to check out one of their musicians who happens to be vegan and has been in the music scene for a long time with projects like Six Going On Seven. Since we're always down to work with upcoming artists and expose you guys and gals to new music, we got you this exclusive interview. Joshua English is this artist's name and writing good tunes is his game. I think some of you into some more mellow tunes will like it. Check out this interview and then take a look at the tour dates listed on Joshua's MySpace page. There are a bunch of shows all over the East coast and Mid-west.

What's your name?
Joshua English

How did you get started playing music?
In short, my mom was a music teacher and my uncle was a bass player in all sorts of bands growing up, still is actually! The definition of a working musician. He still plays 5-6 nights a week with various combinations of people, sort of 'roots rock/americana' if you had to define it. I looked up to him quite a bit as a kid and he turned me onto all sorts of great stuff in turn. My mom did as well, I suppose, but was more influential in the discipline category. I had to pick an instrument at age 5 (violin) and played it for about 12 yrs...a nice formal education for delving into lowbrow art in my teens.

How did you get into animal rights and/or veganism?
Punk rock and music in general. I love a variety of music, but have always had a soft spot for a bit of message with the tune, ya know?! Story songs are great be it Tom Waits, Minor Threat, The Smiths, Bob Dylan—this list could go on forever. The link would be that the aforementioned people often injected their views into the music...that mattered to me at 13 and it matters to me today.

Do you think there's a connection between the underground music scene and animal rights beliefs?
I don't know, maybe. Sadly, I think music has spawned a variety of trends that people have ascribed to for a short time while it's cool, only to adopt a new persona when the old one isn't in fashion. I suppose that's all a part of growing up and finding out who you are though, so I shouldn't bring the hammer down too hard. For me, I linked the youth culture I was involved in (punk/hardcore) with the message/views that my heroes espoused in their songs. I was influenced by them, and compelled to dig deeper. It quickly became apparent that politics, the environment, society, vegetarianism and veganism are all linked. You send a message, and align yourself with an informed/progressive group by choosing a veggie/vegan diet.

You're on tour with Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music and Ben Nichols of Lucero, how did that get set up?
Chuck and I have been friends since our old bands (Hot Water Music/Six Going on Seven) toured together in the late 90's. We've both been playing solo for a bit now and have talked about doing a tour together again. Thankfully, it came together and here we are!

What's your favorite restaurant to hit up on tour?
I live in Portland, Oregon, where I grew up. As veggie bragging rights go, we've got 'em. We even have a vegan 'mini mall' with bakery/grocery store/etc. Sometimes it's hard to leave! That said, I love Buddah's Delight in Boston, Burritoville in NYC (vegan sour cream/chorizo/soy cheese) and a ton more that I'm forgetting. Ask me again in a few months!

What advice would you have to anyone interested in trying out veganism?
It's easier than you think. Many foods are already close to/easily made vegan. Tacos, burritos, soups, sandwiches, pizza without cheese, and that's not even getting into all the great soy, seitan, and tempeh products that companies make these days.

Who are your favorite musicians right now?
I love Prince (no, really). I still love Minor Threat. I suppose in the punk/hardcore vein I dig The Bronx and Gallows and that sort of thing (even though I sound nothing like them). My friend David plays under the name Paleo and is fantastic...lots of good stuff, too much for a short interview!

Where can people check out your music?
MySpace.com/JoshuaEnglish or JoshuaEnglish.com. Please come say hello! In the meantime, go veggie/vegan!


I'd like to thank Joshua for the interview and wish him luck on tour. If you're inspired to do more to help animals, check out our Take Charge page and to see more interviews check out the Out There section of peta2.com.

Thanks!

-Pulin

Would You Eat a Chicken's Period? January 24, 2008

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If I were to pose this question to fifty random people on the street, my guess is that the vast majority would say, "Of course not!" in disgust. And yet, these same people probably eat chickens' periods on a daily basis.

Not to get all menstrual on you, but a girl's period happens when an unfertilized egg and other tissue are discharged from her body, right? Well, when a hen lays an egg, it has either been fertilized, in which case a chicken will eventually come out of the shell, or it's unfertilized, and people apparently thought it would be a good idea to eat these eggs.

I used to eat eggs, too, but one day, I went to crack open an egg and found blood in it. That was enough to keep me from eating eggs only when they were mixed into other things (like cake, cookies, etc.), then a couple of months later I was making cookies and cracked open an egg only to find blood in that egg, too. It was pretty sickening, and then I made the realization that I found blood in the eggs because eggs are chickens' periods. Needless to say, I stopped eating eggs entirely after that.

I can't think of anything more gross than eating a period. Who wants scrambled chickens' periods? I'll take tofu scramble instead, thanks.

If you want to quit your egg habit, but aren't quite sure what to eat instead, here are some suggestions:

- Making cookies, cake, or some other baked good? You can use bananas or applesauce as a binder, or check out Ener-G Egg Replacer (Find it at a store near you here.).
- Or maybe you're looking to get all fancy on me and make something with eggs as a main ingredient? Try some vegan quiche, French toast, or chocolate mousse.

Seriously, look at how sad the egg industry is anyway:

And look at how delicious the egg-free, tofu-scramblin' industry is:


Comment below with what you like to eat instead of chickens' periods.

♥ Marta

PS - I was going to include a disgusting "chicken period" image that my friend Joel made in this blog, but I decided to spare you all from throwing up your last two meals. You're welcome.

Win a Fancy "I Am Not a Nugget" Tank! January 23, 2008

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Calling all you fashion-forward animal-loving ladies! We're giving away three of our fabulous "I Am Not a Nugget" tank tops!

Chickens make up more than 96% of all land animals raised for food, yet they are NOT protected under the Humane Slaughter Act—which means that many chickens have their throats slit while they are still conscious and some are scalded to death in defeathering tanks (Take a look at our new KFC investigation for more info.).

Well guess what? Chickens are not nuggets, and neither are you! So stand proud and declare "I Am Not a Nugget" with one of our sweet tank tops!

And while you're at it, send this letter to government officials asking them to protect chickens under the Humane Slaughter Act.

To win, comment below with your tank size (S, M, L) and why chickens are NOT nuggets.

The contest ends on February 6, 2008, and winners will be chosen and notified by February 13, 2008.

Just so you know . . . by commenting here, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.

Also by commenting, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.

-Ashleigh

Hey Sucka, Let's Bake! January 23, 2008

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Yahsu—that's Greek for hello!

Since the last time we wrote back in Chi-town, we've been in the Philly area having a hoot. We hit the streets talking to some folks at random events, which anybody can do. Go here for some helpful hints. The fur industry is still our target—by the way, have you heard about Donna Karan (you know, the lady behind DKNY) selling fur again? Lame.

Other than that, we got to take part in something that is kind of rare on the road...BAKING! Woot woot! Have you ever had baklava? Me neither. Our new friend Nancy helped us out and even gave us a sweet recipe (literally—see below!).

I haven't had the chance to bake some goodies in quite some time, so this was a sweet learning experience.

With the ending result being phenomenal, we were all pretty freaking stoked.


That concludes our week of fun. Be on the look out for some sweet tales soon to come, oh and go veg—it's so damn easy.

-Cody, Paige, and Tall John

PS - Here's the baklava recipe if you're interested!

Syrup:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 lemon

1 package phyllo dough
2 cups canola oil
1 lb walnuts
1 tsp cinnamon

We suggest making the syrup first, a few hours or even a day before beginning the rest of the dessert. Mix the water and sugar together in a pan, bring to a boil and allow it to thicken. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Let it cool for a few hours or overnight.

If the walnuts are not already finely chopped do so in a food processor with the cinnamon (You can also use or mix pistachios.).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a cake pan about 13x9, take out half of the phyllo dough and spread to cover the bottom. Add the walnut mixture over top, then place the second layer of phyllo dough on top of the walnuts, covering it completely. Carefully, cut into 1 1/2 inch square pieces. Make sure you cut through to the bottom—this is the hardest part of this really simple recipe! Pour on the canola oil, saturating the entire pan. You don't have to use the entire 2 cups (use your best judgment). Put in the oven, starting with 25 min. At that point check to make sure it has turned a light brown color. Remove from the oven and re-cut the squares exactly as before. This will allow the syrup to sink in. Pour the syrup over the warm squares, allow to cool slightly, and enjoy this cruelty-free dessert!

Tell Donna Karan To Stop Selling Fur! January 23, 2008

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We'll keep this simple. Donna Karan, the chief designer behind the DKNY brand, is selling fur despite her promises to stop using it. I don't like the fur industry. I don't like people who break promises. Put that together, and I'm pretty irritated. I bet you would be, too.

Please contact Donna Karan and tell her to stop selling fur! And you can also give her office a call at 212-789-1839.

Get to it. We thank you, and of course, the animals appreciate you speaking up for them.

-Pulin

How A Lettuce Bikini Helped Turkeys January 22, 2008

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My friend and co-worker Nicole is pretty incredible. Here's a little guide to her recent trip to Philly.

Step 1. Figure out a catchy way to get people's attention (lettuce bikini).

Step 2. Figure out something everyone will want (vegan "turkey" sandwiches).

Step 3. Find someone who likes turkeys (Ben Franklin, who once suggested that turkeys should be the national bird).

Step 4. Have a "lettuce lady" feed "Ben Franklin" a sandwich.

Step 5. Tell thousands of more people about the way turkeys are abused by doing an interview for the evening news.

Step 6. Smile knowing that there are creative and fun ways to reach out to people about animal rights issues.

Remember to please join the peta2 Street Team so you can learn about all the ways you can help out where you live with cool activism ideas. That's what I love about working in this office. If everyone paid attention to something as simple as a leaflet, we'd have an easy job. But the fact is it's hard to get people's attention these days! So we'll do what it takes to shine the spotlight on the suffering animals endure and inform people about what we can all do to help stop it.

-Pulin

Everything is Bigger in Texas January 18, 2008

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I've been hanging out in Texas with my buddy Susan for the past week. Surprising as it might sound Texas is one of my favorite states. Not only is everyone so nice, they have some amazing food. We were in Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Dallas, and let me tell you we ate very well. Vegan food is delicious!

If you haven't yet, you should check out the site HappyCow.net. It has pretty much all the vegetarian friendly restaurants in the world. We use it everyday when we are out on the road and you would be surprised what you can find in the smallest towns. Here are a few pictures from our time in Texas—not to make you jealous, though I'm sure they will.

Don't you think the guy that owns this car needs to learn to show his Texas pride?



That's all for now—I'm off to Arizona!

-Paul

Hey Cool Folks! January 18, 2008

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We're back on the road and with a sweet hip-hop group called The Cool Kids.

On this tour, we're taking the time to tell folks about how un-cool fur is. Seriously, what's cool about no federal laws providing protection for the millions of animals—including chinchillas, foxes, minks, and raccoons—who suffer and die on fur farms? Animals on fur farms are kept in crowded, filthy wire cages, where they often develop neurotic behaviors and become sick or wounded, and fur farmers kill them by breaking their necks while they are sometimes still fully conscious or by using anal or genital electrocution. Horrible, I know.

How about I tell you about the road now? Well, we have a new friend out with us and he goes by Tall John. Say, hi Tall John!


We were just in Tinley Park, IL, for a skate fest and a bunch of kids were asking about our Trollsen Twins campaign, which you should definitely check out if you haven't yet!


Well, that was a novel...Come say hello and stay cool, but warm.

-Cody and Tall John

PS - Have you voted for the Fugliest Fur Hag of 2007 yet?!

KFC Supplier Exposed in New Undercover Video January 17, 2008

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In two press conferences this afternoon, we announced the findings of two separate investigations into Tyson Foods facilities in Georgia and Tennessee. In addition to the cuts and broken limbs suffered by live chickens at these slaughterhouses, the investigator documented the following:

• A worker pissed on a conveyor belt on which chickens are moved to be hung.
• A supervisor told our undercover investigator that it was acceptable to rip the heads off live birds who had been improperly shackled.
• A worker admitted that he broke a chicken's back by beating the bird against a rail.

Certainly, Tyson Foods should be ashamed and should take action to stop this abuse, but what about KFC? As always, Kentucky Fried Cruelty will probably try to avoid their part in these horrors. But, if you look at their own website, the company clearly states that, "as a major purchaser of food products, we have the opportunity, and responsibility, to influence the way animals supplied to us are treated. We take that responsibility very seriously..."

I'd love to see them spin their way out of this one. Tyson Foods is one of KFC's biggest suppliers, so why is KFC selling buckets of chickens' flesh from birds who may be coated with some dude's piss or who have had their heads ripped off while still alive? Doesn't seem like any standard of "responsibility" if you ask me! What do you think?

Please watch the video and contact both Tyson Foods and KFC by sending a letter today!

And be sure to spread the word to your friends and family.

-Pulin

P.S.- The Facebook Challenge is going great. We're at 100 donors right now, but need your help to reach our goal of 500. We could win the $50,000 grand prize and that's a lot of money that could help fund more investigations like this one. If you help us out right now we might even win the $1000 bonus for having the highest number of people who donate in a single day!

Pink Pipes Up for NYC Carriage Horses January 17, 2008

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You may recall that our dear friend Pink launched a billboard in Times Square earlier this month asking New York City residents and visitors to say no to horse-drawn carriage rides. It's kinda like the old "Say NO to drugs" campaign, except that people may actually say no to horse-drawn carriage rides—when they learn about the cruelty involved.

After seeing carriage horses inhaling exhaust, which veterinarians have shown causes them to develop lung disease of the sort that heavy smokers can expect (And when's the last time you saw a horse smoking?!), and dodging traffic on crowded, noisy NYC streets, Pink jumped at the chance to spread the word about what these animals endure in the name of entertainment. Actually, she already does it on her own, but this new campaign is, shall we say, a bit more official.

Never one to hold her tongue (just one of the many reasons we love her), Pink makes sure everyone knows exactly what she thinks of carriage rides. "Every time I see a horse-drawn carriage in a concrete jungle, I point and yell 'ANIMAL CRUELTY' at the top of my lungs to try to make the driver and occupants as uncomfortable as possible. And I'm blessed with an unusually loud vocal box," she says.

"It honestly hurts my heart when I think of what those horses must be feeling, as far as anxiety and fear, and how unnatural and wrong it is for these animals to have blinders on, trodding up and down on concrete, while taxis blare and people scream. It's absolutely unnatural and ignorant of us to continue this outdated tradition. What about this is romantic?" Our thoughts exactly!

This week, Pink's been visiting the Big Apple to further champion the plight of carriage horses. Yesterday she held a press conference to point out the many problems and cruelties inherent in the carriage horse industry. She also posed for photos in front of her billboard with New York City Council Member Tony Avella, who introduced legislation to ban horse-drawn carriages in the city. Pink even took her message to late night TV and educated Conan O'Brien's viewers last night.

Now it's your turn: Just say "No" to horse-drawn carriages. Join Pink and Council Member Avella in the fight to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC by signing this petition to Mayor Bloomberg today.

xox

Patricia

Deflocked Coming Atcha! January 17, 2008

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This week's installment of Deflocked, by Jeff Corriveau, made me laugh out loud with the Hulk mention. You'll see what I mean. What's not funny, however, is how sheep whose wool is made into sweaters, scarves, and other garments are treated. See for yourself here.

Click for a larger version
To check out past installments, click here.



♥ Marta

Tabling > Everything Else January 15, 2008

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Good morning, ladies and germs! Ryan here, bringing you your weekly dose of college tomfoolery and shenanigans!

This week, we'll focus on that issue that everybody's talking about! Politics? Nope! Britney Spears? God no! Why, it's tabling of course!

Yes, it's the classic way to educate others about new ideas, such as animal rights and vegetarianism. It's true! What was old is new again! Everybody's doing it! It feels so good! (Peer pressure, anybody?)

To get you started, make sure to check out this amazing new video about "How to Table on Campus!", featuring yours truly, and guest starring Rachel "Dance Dance Revolution" Owen!



As mentioned in the video, we send out all kinds of FREE materials (leaflets, stickers, DVDs, etc.) to help your tabling events be a huge success! How cool is that?!

So let us know when you want to set up a table at your school, and we'll help you make it happen! After all, what are friends for?

- Ryan!

P.S. - Comment below with your thoughts on Rachel's amazing dancing skills in the video! She reads every one of them, I swear!

My Boyfriend's Tombstone January 15, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 52 ) | TrackBack

One of the best things about working for PETA is that something surprises me on a daily basis. Like the time I walked into the restroom and saw a giant carrot washing her hands. Or the time I got to dress up as a giant Nugget.

The latest thing to surprise me was receiving an email from Pulin with a pic of my boyfriend's tombstone. Yep, you heard me right...my boyfriend's tombstone.

Here's the back story: PETA purchased the gravesite next to Colonel Sanders' in a cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. We then put up a tombstone with Matt's name inscribed on it along with a poem.

What they didn't know was that the first letter of each line of the poem spelled out "KFC Tortures Birds"! That is until we painted it red...



Then the jig was up. We had to take the tombstone down, but not before PETA got a bunch of press about the grave, bringing attention to the cruel way KFC treats its chickens. All in all it was just another day at PETA.

xoxo-Lara

P.S. Matt is alive and well.

'I Am An Animal,' The Documentary Is Out On DVD! January 15, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Many of you saw the HBO documentary about PETA (you know, peta2's mom) and our president Ingrid Newkirk in the last couple of months. Come on, I know you did because we got tons of emails and posts on the message boards saying that you sat down with your friends and family and found the whole story very inspiring. Exactly what we were hoping to hear you say! Videos are a very powerful way to each people with our message and we're really proud of this one. What was your favorite part? I can't pick just one favorite for me, it was all so great.

So the DVD is finally out for anyone who didn't get to see it. I know, not everyone has HBO. I mean, if you are like me, you might barely have a working television at all. Anyway, I can't tell you how excited I was to see I Am An Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA. The HBO crew and our staff did such a fantastic job. Creeps who make money by killing animals really hated it so you know that means it's good news for our side of the fight in the struggle for animal rights. I'd really love to hear more feedback if you have something to say about it once you see the film.

I am for sure going to buy a copy to watch again and show it to my parents and bro and friends. Maybe you want to do the same? It's an interesting documentary complete with stories of the organization's early days, amazing protests around the globe, and some insight into the work we do to help dogs suffering in our local community. (And at the very least, it's good to watch because you can spot my face on a poster in the background of one of the scenes. Personally, I think it's worth buying for that reason alone. Ha!)

So the DVD looks like this and you can buy it at the PETA Catalog online. If you can show it to people in one of your classes, I'd love you for it and most likely give you points for the Street Team, too.

-Pulin

Experimenting on Cats and Monkeys? January 14, 2008

Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Whenever PETA has a new investigation come out about animals in labs, I brace myself because I know how upsetting the video will be. The investigation into the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is no different. Check out some of the horrible experiments that were documented:

- Drilling holes in animals' skulls in order to expose their brains
- Attaching chambers and silicone disks to animals' skulls
- Subjecting them to daily water deprivation
- Immobilizing animals in restraint chairs and inserting electrodes directly into their brains
- Forcibly keeping animals' eyes open for hours while they watch patterns on screens

Not only that, the investigation also documented that after tests were completed, all cats and some monkeys were killed by experimenters and had their brains removed for further examination.

Ugh. I shudder thinking that defenseless animals are subjected to such things—when safe, accurate, human-based alternatives, such as non-invasive neuroimaging and microelectrode implants are available. It's hard for me to understand why anyone would fund cruel experiments when humane alternatives exist—but that's exactly what The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (ACWIS) is doing. The ACWIS is responsible for securing funding for the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Check out the undercover investigation for yourself below, and then write to the ACWIS, asking them to make the compassionate decision to stop funding these cruel experiments.

Be sure to pass the investigation along to your friends, too. Thanks!

♥ Marta

Debate 2008: The Road to the Greenhouse! January 11, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack

Can't seem to get into watching the debates? I feel you. I would rather poke myself in the eye.

I wasn't always this jaded about politics though. Once upon a time, I was in college at American University studying politics like my life depended on it. I couldn't get enough. I would stay up into the wee hours discussing whether Nader ruined Gore's chances, or if the election was rigged (on numerous occasions).

Then something happened. I lost my faith in the political process. It was kinda like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington without the happy ending.

Years later, and just when I thought it was hopeless that I would ever get back into politics; PETA comes up with a brilliant video called Debate 2008: Road to the Greenhouse.

Now this is a debate I can get into! It combines two of my greatest loves in life: puppets and veggies. This debate might not get on CSPAN, but it definitely made it to onto my MySpace page!

With characters like Broccoli Obama, Celery Clinton, and Fruity Giuliani debating over whether meat causes impotence—how couldn't I get back into the game?

You won't be able to resist either. Check it out for yourself.

Find more PETA videos at PETATV.com

xoxo- Lara

Free Shirts for Little People January 11, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Hello to everyone, especially my tiny friends in the US. We want to give you some free shirts (I'll be honest, it's only for the US because these are free for you and we don't want to spend tons of money on shipping). And what are these shirts?

One is a long sleeve t-shirt youth medium (that's 10-12) and says peta.org on the front and "Beef: It's What's Rotting In Your Colon" on the back. The other is a crew neck sweatshirt also youth medium (10-12) which has a bunch of paw prints on the front for different animals who signed a petition that says "We, the undersigned, deplore and oppose the use of animals in laboratory experiments." Both are white shirts.

These things are seriously small and to prove my point about how tiny these shirts are, I've included a photo of some of my friends modeling them.

So now here's the deal. If you know these will fit you (or a little cousin or someone) and you want the shirts (we'll send you one of each for free while our supplies last), just email us at peta2@peta2.com with the following information:

Your first and last name:
Full mailing address (no PO boxes):
Your phone number (just in case we have a question):

That's it. And for those of you looking for either the latest designs from peta2 or sizes that actually do fit you, check our online store or the peta2 Cafe Press store.Since I guess this is technically a contest, you can read our privacy policy and contest terms and conditions if it makes you happy.

Ok last thing. We still need your help to try to win that $50,000 that Facebook is offering up so if you haven't yet donated to the Stop Kentucky Fried Cruelty cause, check it out. Our goal is to have 500 people donate to it.

-Pulin

Who Loves Vegan Buffalo Wings??? January 9, 2008

Posted by Ryan | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBack

I know I do! That's why I'm thrilled to see that Foodswings (quite possibly the greatest vegan restaurant ever) is hosting what I understand to the first ever Vegan Buffalo Drumstick Eating Contest!

If you are fortunate enough to live within a 3,000 mile radius of Brooklyn, NY (which should be most everybody reading this), make sure to check out the specifics HERE.

Image courtesy of Foodswings

As a side-note, this is not the first time that vegan food eating contests have taken place at this remarkable establishment. In fact, while I was on the Taste of Chaos tour last spring, my buddies and I had a vegan whipped cream eating contest right there in the restaurant! Yes, life is tough.



Hey, speaking of awesome things, did you check out this sweet new peta2 frat/sorority logo shirt we have on Cafe Press?



"Savva Lotta Animals"! Get it? Come on, that's comedy gold!

Just imagine it. Between your new trophy from the vegan Buffalo wing contest and a swanky new peta2 t-shirt, you could pretty much be the coolest kid on the block (assuming none of the peta2 staff lives on your street)!

- Ryan!

Save Animals With Your Voicemail January 9, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 101 ) | TrackBack

What do members of Alkaline Trio, Incubus, Simple Plan, Shadows Fall, Good Charlotte, Clipse, and even the infamous Pharrell all have in common? Well, these musicians have all recorded voicemail messages for you to put on your phone because they care about animals.

Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio

So here's what you need to do:

1) Check out our peta2 band voicemail page. Seriously, there's stuff on there from Alkaline Trio, Incubus, Simple Plan, Shadows Fall, Good Charlotte, Pharrell, and Clipse.

2) Put your phone up to your computer speakers and make one of the messages your voicemail.

3) Email us at StreetTeam@peta2.com to let us know which message you used!

4) Become the envy of all your friends because you'll have a cool message and be helping animals.

5) Wait a couple weeks and you'll have 1000 Street Team points in your account!

Chuck from Simple Plan

Imagine the look on your friends' faces when they call you to chit chat about some homework assignment and instead hear Pharrell telling them to check out peta2.com or Ben Kenney of Incubus encouraging them to consider vegetarianism! Brilliant!

If you don't really like what we've got on the voicemail page, just come up with your own script encouraging people to visit peta2.com (it can be as funny, serious, or creative as you want!), and we'll still hook you up with points when you email us to say how it went.

Cool deal, amigos?

Rock!

-Pulin

Breaking News: Denny's Ends Its Partnership with Ringling Bros. Circus January 8, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBack

It's barely into the new year and we already have a campaign victory to announce. After months of letters, e-mails, calls, and demonstrations, we are happy to announce that Denny's has ended its partnership with notorious animal abuser Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Congratulations to all of you who took part in this campaign. Thousands of you contacted the company. Your activism makes all the difference in letting companies know that animal abuse is not tolerated by caring consumers.

This victory is huge for elephants, tigers, and other animals who are being dragged around the country in cramped boxcars and forced to perform silly and often painful tricks under the threat of beatings and punishment.

With this announcement, Denny's joins other compassionate companies like MasterCard, Visa, Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Lucky Brand Jeans who all ended their Ringling sponsorships after learning of the abuse inherent in circuses that use animals.

You can thank Denny's for making the compassionate decision to end their Ringling sponsorship by emailing them here.

Feeling inspired and ready to take on another company that supports Ringling's animal abuse? Act now to please urge AAA to end their current Ringling promotions.

Nice work team! This year is going to be incredible!

-Pulin

We Love When You're Creative January 7, 2008

Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

It never ceases to amaze me how dedicated you all are to helping animals. And when creativity is added to that dedication, well—I can't help but be impressed. We receive a lot of submissions on our "Post Your Photos" page of various things Street Teamers are doing to help animals, and I just wanted to share some of that awesomeness and mention that you should definitely send any animal rights photos our way to put on our Flickr page—whether you're demonstrating outside KFC, wearing an animal rights shirt, or creating a Lite Brite masterpiece, we want to see your pictures.

Now check this out, and let the creativity sparks fly!

Lauren's Anti-Dissection Banner


Sarah and Carley's Lite Brite PETA


Miss Sam's peta2 Snowman
I'm getting started on a mashed potato peta2 sculpture, stat. Okay, maybe not—but wouldn't that be amazing?

♥ Marta

You Can Help Us Win $50,000 to Fight KFC January 6, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Hello! If you know about Facebook, you might also know about the Causes application they have which allows you to donate money to an organization right through their site. We need your help to meet our goal of 500 donors who give at least $10 each toward our fight for chickens killed for KFC!

Here's what we're asking:

1) Join our newly created Kentucky Fried Cruelty cause on Facebook.

2) Donate at least $10. It's simple and secure.

3) Invite all your friends to join and donate, too!

Right now we just started, but we'll update you on our blog over the next couple of weeks to show our progress. This is a limited-time opportunity that ends in only a few weeks!

Thanks so much. You know we don't normally ask for donations through peta2, but if your $10 can help us be entered to win the $50,000 grand prize through the Causes Giving Challenge on Facebook, that's pretty awesome, isn't it? (That's in addition to all the money we'd earn from the donations you give!)

That much money can help a ton of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouse and lets us create the stickers, leaflets, posters, and other materials we need to educate people around the world about Kentucky Fried Cruelty's abuses. Think of all the times you've seen a story about KFC's cruelty on the news or used our stuff and you can imagine how much support this campaign takes. We'd love your help to add some more resources to help prevent birds from being scalded alive and having broken legs and wings!

Thanks again and please email me if you have any questions!

-Pulin

Win a Tofu Robot! January 4, 2008

Posted by Ashleigh | Permalink | Comments ( 22 ) | TrackBack

What do you get when you combine two of my favorite things? Tofu Robots!

I don't know if all of you have been exposed to these wondrous creations (the late Casey Calvert was the one who turned me on to them), but they are awesome! He loved their block heads and "stupid" faces, and I have to say that I agree.

Aren't they so cool looking? And guess what? We're giving one away! To win, leave a comment telling me what kind of robot you would make out of your favorite vegan food items. Mine would be a Tofutti Cutie robot! Oh, and pictures will probably help you with the whole winning thing . . .

And don't forget to watch our tribute video for Casey and hear what he had to say about these lovely toys. I wish he could see what you all come up with to win this contest . . .

The contest ends on January 18, 2008, and winners will be chosen and notified by January 25, 2008.

Just so you know...by commenting here, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.

Also by commenting, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.

And before I forget, have you guys checked out The Cool Kids yet? They are pretty sweet, and peta2 will be out on tour with them for a few shows, so go to their MySpace for more info and go check out the show if they play near you—you won't regret it!

Good Luck!

-Ashleigh

Pink's Billboard Launched in Times Square January 4, 2008

Posted by Nicole | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Pink is awesome—agreed!? Wanna know just how awesome? Well to make sure everyone in NYC knows her position on horse-drawn carriages, she went all out. In fact, the girl went to such great lengths as to put her face on a billboard that's undoubtedly going to garner a ton of attention...which is precisely the point, m'dears!

Hardcore animal activist, Pink, understands the horrible cruelty and danger that goes into horse-drawn carriages. Horses are forced to pull lazy-asses around a loud, busy, and overly crowded city. Sure, millions of New Yorkers and tourists who visit the Big Apple every year love this environment (Hell, I love it too!) but it's no place for a horse. They just don't belong there and New York City Council Member Tony Avella agrees. In a ground-breaking move, Avella has introduced legislation that would ban horse-drawn carriages in the city. Pink was quick to get involved and is encouraging others to do the same.

In case you're not familiar with the dreadful abuses that occur in this outdated industry, check out the Blinders movie trailer here. The horses used for carriage rides are inhaling exhaust, dodging cars, and forced to work all day even during weather extremes. Not to mention the fact that the list of traffic disasters in which people have been injured and horses have died, just continues to grow.

Now join Pink by saying horse-drawn carriages need to be banned in NYC! You might not be famous enough to flash your pearly whites on a billboard in Times Square, but you most definitely can help by signing the petition today!

Cheers, m'dears-
nicole

DeFlocked and Trollsen Twins January 3, 2008

Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

It's been a while since I've shared DeFlocked, by Jeff Corriveau, with you, and I knew I just had to share this installment, being that it's about the Trollsen Twins and all. Enjoy!

Click for a larger version
To check out past installments, click here.



♥ Marta

A Look Back At 2007 January 2, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack

Thanks to your support and hard work, we were very successful last year. Here's a video compilation to show you just how much we were able to get done, and please remember none of this would be possible without your help!

If you aren't already, please sign up for the Street Team to get more active. And it's not too late to make a resolution to give it your all to help animals. peta2 is definitely one of the most exciting things we have going here at PETA, so we look forward to working with all of you in the new year!

-Pulin

Star Street Teamer: Siobhan Swords January 1, 2008

Posted by Rachel-O | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Siobhan Swords: With a wicked name like that, how can this not be the greatest person alive? Well, when it comes to animal rights, she is pretty brilliant. With a strong dedication to stamping out cruelty in her local area, Siobhan works both day and night for animals in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England. Not only has she helped out peta2 UK by tabling and by joining KFC protests, she has also worked with groups in her area to stop local restaurants from serving foie gras and to organize a cruelty-free festival. Siobhan is active in promoting a cruelty-free lifestyle in college too! Check out the video below to see what she has to say.

Feeling inspired? Join the peta2 Street Team here and get active for animals.

Star Street Teamer: Brian Lockhard January 1, 2008

Posted by Rachel-O | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Brian is an amazing advocate for animals! He tables at local shows to talk to people about our KFC and "I Am Not a Nugget" campaigns, loves cooking vegan food, and always has a great time while helping those without a voice.

Name: Brian Lockard
Age: 16
Hometown: Southlake, Texas

What made you decide to become active for animals?
A little over two years ago, I went to an Alkaline Trio/Against Me! concert. While I was waiting outside, someone who worked for peta2 talked to me about KFC and vegetarianism. I read up on it and started getting involved with peta2. I watched the videos and read literature and realized that meat sucks and there is no excuse to eat it. First, I dropped meat, and then I gradually dropped everything else. It was the best decision ever!

Brian with some of the peta2 crewHow long have you been vegetarian/vegan?
I was vegetarian for about a year and then made the change to going vegan, which was surprisingly easy. I thought being vegan would be a lot harder than being vegetarian, but I was completely wrong.


Is your family supportive of your animal rights beliefs?
My mom is very supportive—I have even gotten her not to eat meat as often as she used to and not to buy any fur products. My dad supports me as well. He loves the fact that I am standing up for something that I believe in, even if the majority of people I live around do not agree with me.

Do you live with any companion animals?
I have a Shetland sheepdog named Dixie. She is probably one of the raddest dogs you will ever encounter, even though she is neurotic and is never still.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I go to shows, play basketball and the drums, cook, and go to local protests. I also love tabling with peta2 when they are in town. Other than all that, I enjoy just being with my family and friends. I will also go out of my way to talk to whomever I can about animal rights.

What's your favorite peta2 band?
My favorite peta2 band is definitely Alkaline Trio. I have loved those guys since the first time I heard them and have listened to them religiously since. It was also at their show that I was first introduced to peta2 and the animal rights world.

You've tabled for peta2 quite a few times—tell us what the experience is like.
Tabling with peta2 is one of my favorite things to do. Not only is it fun to open people's eyes to animal rights, all the people I have met along the way have been way cool too. Every time I table at shows with peta2 I always learn new things and have a great time. It is also really cool when bands come to the tent to see what's going on and sign autographs. I recommend that every Street Teamer give tabling a shot. Whether it is with peta2 or your friends, you are sure to have a rad time. The sense of accomplishment and the fun times that come with tabling is great. Get out there and give it a shot!

What is your favorite peta2 campaign, and why?
My favorite peta2 campaign is definitely the "I Am Not a Nugget" campaign. It is ridiculous that chickens are not protected under the Humane Slaughter Act. Seeing that there are 9 billion chickens killed each year, to me it would only make sense that they were included in the Humane Slaughter Act. That is a campaign that I am strongly involved in.

How many Oreos do you think you could eat in one sitting?
I have eaten about half a box before. But that was after a bowl of So Delicious soy ice cream. I bet if I hadn't eaten that bowl I could have done a little more damage.

What's your message to the rest of the peta2 Street Team?
Get involved! The abuse that animals face in today's society is absurd, and it is up to us to speak up for them! Not only is going out and trying to improve the lives of animals a very noble cause, it is fun and self-rewarding as well. It is also extremely easy. You can do things as simple as putting banners or videos on your MySpace/Facebook to things as big as organizing protests and going out to table shows (notice I said "big" and not "complicated"). Other ways of spreading the word include wearing an animal rights T-shirt or just talking to someone about it.

Want to be peta2's next Star Street Teamer? Sign up now and tell us why we should feature you!