Why Is the Colonel at a Crack House? May 12, 2008

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Chances are that you hate KFC just about as much as your final exams (actually, probably more).

Well, we have some brilliant new anti-KFC ads that we wanted to show everyone. They're amazing. What do you think of them?

Take a look at all three and comment back with which you think is the best of them all.

-Pulin

P.S.- Remember to check out the video contest!

Posted by Pulin

Fur-Free Formal 2008! May 12, 2008

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Yes, the end of the semester is upon us, and you know what that means... Spring dances!

Regardless of whether it's high school prom or a college formal, end-of-the-school-year dances are the place to see and be seen in your finest outfit.

So of course it doesn't make sense to allow a cruel and effin' ugly product like fur at one of these classy events, now does it? That's why the Zeta Xi chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority at Elmhurst College took a stand, by placing a "fur-free" policy on their spring formal!

As if that weren't enough, we also sent the sorority a "Compassionate Chapter" award from peta2, and enough anti-fur buttons for everyone in attendance! Being kind sure has its rewards, eh?


I think peta2's Dan Shannon said it best when he said "Every woman wants to look her best for the spring formal, but no one will come close to the sisters of Alpha Phi, whose compassion makes their beauty radiate even more. By declaring their biggest social affair of the year to be fur-free, these women are proving that you can have the 'look that kills' without killing animals."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Free Stuff Friday: Vegan Marshmallow Maker! May 9, 2008

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I was at a bonfire the other day and I was thinking about how I much I missed roasting marshmallows. Most marshmallows contain gelatin (aka - crushed up animal bones), which is disgusting!

Then I came to work and found out that we have a vegan marshmallow making kit to give away! I know there are others like me out there who are jonesing for some summertime marshmallow roasting action, and today is your lucky day!

Amy, who writes PETA's VegCooking Blog, tested the kit out and gave it rave reviews. She says the instructions are pretty simple, but you do need some special tools, namely a candy thermometer and a standing mixer. Check out the chocolate-marshmallow sandwich she made:


Want to make your own? One lucky person with a sweet tooth will win this kit from Angel Foods. Comment below with what you will do with the vegan marshmallows if you win!

This contest ends May 23, 2008 and the winner will be chosen and notified by May 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.

Good Luck!
-Ashleigh

Posted by Ashleigh

10% Wool May 8, 2008

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

Jeff Corriveau, the genius behind DeFlocked, has created a brand-new strip for all you lovely blog readers, called 10% Wool. So instead of DeFlocked on the blog, get ready for lots of 10% Wool! Excited? Yep, so am I!

DeFlocked is now running in the comic pages of newspapers across North America, so be sure to e-mail the editor of your local paper to ask him/her to start printing it.

And now, I leave you with the very first 10% Wool:

Click for a larger version
♥ Marta

Posted by Marta

Give It A Name May 8, 2008

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Here's a special guest blog from Martin with peta2 UK!

I am really excited about this news. peta2 UK will be at Give It a Name 08 at Earls Court this weekend! How could I not be jumping round the office? It means I get to see some of the best bands on the planet (who all support peta2) like Silverstein, Plain White T's, Billy Talent, Cobra Starship, Set Your Goals, Strike Anywhere, Anti-Flag, Mayday Parade and Meg and Dia. Check out the full line up:

If any of you guys are going then make sure you come by the peta2 UK table and say hi to me. If you're not going—why the hell not!!!

Peace

Martin

PS - To get a chance to table festivals and shows like this in the future, join the Street Team!

Posted by Marta

peta2 in South Africa! May 7, 2008

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We love our jobs. We in peta2 have the distinct honor of corresponding with student groups every day to help them raise awareness about animal rights locally. As such, it takes a lot to impress us... but it happened today.

That's because we received an incredible report from the Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights (ROAR), in SOUTH AFRICA (yes, that's how they spell "organization" in Africa).

Clearly somebody took the time to watch our "Tabling On Campus" video, since these students really know how to get people talking about animal rights!

And talk about being resourceful. We're always happy to send out free materials, like stickers, DVDs, and such, but given the costs to ship halfway around the world, this group was creative enough to download our stencils and make their own bags to give out!



The results speak for themselves:

• Their student group now consists of over 170 students!


• They see their "I Am Not a Nugget" bags being carried ALL over campus!


• They've held film screenings, and various other events on campus.
  
• They have started a clinic in their town to help animals who are forced to carry heavy loads around for their whole lives.

If they can do it halfway around the world, then YOU CAN DO IT HERE! Want to get started? Hit me up.

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Something To Think About... May 7, 2008

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We love creativity just as much as we love kind people. Combine that and you get rad results. For instance, check out this comic that Erb sent us.

And while we're discussing the amazing work of the peta2 Street Team, check out this video and this one, too.

Those are just some of the many awesome entries we've received for the video contest. You still have plenty of time to make your own video, so do it and enter to win. Remember that Moby will be helping to pick the winner, and the prize at stake is a chicken costume (among some other things).

-Pulin

Posted by Pulin

Cool Mother's Day Card! May 6, 2008

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Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, and we've got the coolest, cutest card for you to print out and give to your mom. We are all about helping you get involved, but we realize that it's sometimes difficult unless your parents are supportive of your beliefs.

click to download

Drop us a line to StreetTeam@peta2.com with a photo of you and your mom holding the card and we'll give you 1000 Street Team points. If you don't have a camera to take a photo, just email the same address with what your mom thought of the card and we'll give you 500 Street Team points. Cool?

Go to it!

-Pulin

Posted by Pulin

New Investigation Reveals Egg Industry Abuse May 6, 2008

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I have to say, I've watched a lot of horrifying undercover investigations, but there's something about all of the egg industry footage that's just so unbelievably twisted.

Maybe it's because most people have trouble believing that egg-laying hens are treated cruelly. People think, well, hens lay eggs anyway, so what's wrong with buying eggs?

A new investigation by our friends at Mercy for Animals shows everyone just why the egg industry is so terrible. Workers at a supplier of NuCal—one of the largest egg companies in the U.S.—were documented ripping weakened birds out of tiny metal battery cages and throwing them violently into a "kill cart." Sick and injured birds were denied veterinary care and were left to die in filthy, crowded cages. Undercover investigators caught one worker twisting a sick bird's neck, throwing her on the ground, and leaving her to die. It's absolutely sickening. Watch the video for yourself.

You can help stop abuse like this. Please urge Triarc—the major restaurant company that owns Arby's and that will soon own Wendy's—to lessen the abuse of animals in the egg industry by only buying from farms that sell cage-free eggs. We know that Triarc purchases a vast majority of their eggs from factory farms and choosing the least cruel farms possible will eliminate some needless suffering.

Want to go one step further to help? Stop eating eggs altogether. If this investigation didn't convince you that hens in egg factory farms are treated bad enough, just know that egg-laying hens are still killed for food, too. Once their egg production drops, they are considered to be "spent" and are shipped off to slaughter to have their flesh made into things like chicken noodle soup.

And really, there are many amazing alternatives to eggs, so give it a shot. Try using banana or applesauce instead of eggs when you bake, or scramble up some tofu and veggies for your first meal of the day.

Let's help these hens!

♥ Marta

Posted by Marta

Who Went To The Bamboozle? May 6, 2008

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Whoa! The Bamboozle over the weekend was so incredible and tiring (in a good way) that I had to take yesterday off to recover. I was totally exhausted. If you went, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Our tent was the place to be with thousands of people signing our petition, bands stopping in to say hello, and lots of free stuff for everyone.

What was your favorite part if you went to The Bamboozle? And if you didn't go, how was your weekend?

Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend.

You all really love Matthew Lush, don't you?

We met so many amazing Street Teamers. It was bonkers.

My friend put on the head from our rabbit costume, took off his shirt, and ran on stage.

Thanks to everyone on the Street Team for stopping by, and make sure you check out the Fur Is Dead campaign page to keep up the campaign to get 100,000 Strong Against Fur!

-Pulin

Posted by Pulin

Kentucky Derby Horse Races to Death May 5, 2008

Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 8 ) | TrackBack

Did you guys hear about the death of Eight Belles, one of the horses raced in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday? After breaking both of her front ankles just after crossing the finish line, Eight Belles was euthanized on the track in front of thousands of onlookers. It's hard to believe that not everybody agrees that horse racing is a cruel and outdated form of "entertainment."

Betting on exploitation sure doesn't sound like entertainment to me. It sounds a lot like dog fighting, actually. And for those people who think all race horses end up in green pastures when they retire, think again. Many of them end up in a slaughterhouse.

PETA is calling on the racing industry to suspend the jockey and trainer; bar the owner from racing at the track; stop racing horses on hard tracks and switch to softer, synthetic surfaces to spare horses' bones and joints; permanently ban the use of whips; and, at the very least, stop using young horses who are so susceptible to these types of horrific injuries.

Want to help make racing horses' lives a little better? Join PETA in demanding that the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority institute sweeping reforms that would stop needless, preventable suffering and cruelty in the racing industry.

♥ Marta

Posted by Marta

peta2 <3's SoCal May 5, 2008

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Ohh, southern California, you never disappoint.

Last Tuesday, peta2 held its first on-campus speaking event (co-hosted by the student group Bruins for Animals), featuring Skinny Bitch author Rory Freedman. As has been the trend at peta2 events recently, it was standing room only. We crammed over 200 students into a UCLA lecture hall fit for 160, where they chowed down on vegan "chicken" salad wraps, straight out of the best-seller Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, and enjoyed a talk about the health and ethical benefits of veganism. Check it out!

Pretty awesome, right?!?

As if that weren't enough, we used our spare hours here and there to work with the AMAZING student groups at Cal State - Long Beach and the University of California - Irvine, to help them promote vegetarianism on campus.

Meat-eaters don't stand a chance. :)


Want to get people talking on your campus? Contact me to get started!

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Free Stuff Friday: My Sweet Vegan Cookbook! May 2, 2008

Posted by Ashleigh | Permalink | Comments ( 147 ) | TrackBack

Hannah Kaminsky is a girl I would have loved to have gone to high school with. Why? Because during her senior year she created seventy-seven original recipes, tested them all, and photographed the finished product to make one amazing cookbook: My Sweet Vegan.

Not only would I have been honored to call such an ambitious girl a friend, but I would have loved trying out all the amazing recipes that made it into the book!

I want to share a Q&A with Hannah so you can learn more about this sweet vegan . . .

When did you start baking?

I would occasionally help my mom in the kitchen when I was much younger... she would measure everything out and work the oven, while I handled the mixing duties. However, my solo baking adventures began around the age of fourteen, when I became vegan.

What was it that made you decide to go vegan?

I began experimenting with vegetarianism when I was a freshman in high school, but before I knew it, I was enmeshed in the issues of animal rights. I decided that no matter how hard it might be to make the transition, I wanted to do all I could to help the cause. To my great surprise, I had no trouble at all going vegan! Not once have I ever regretted that decision, either.

What is your favorite recipe?

While it's really hard to pick favorites, one that I find myself making over and over again is the Root Beer Float Cupcakes. Most people are just curious about how they will taste, but once they trial a bite they get hooked on the flavor and can't get enough of them! Beyond these cupcakes, the Green Tea Tiramisu is one of my personal favorite indulgences.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Oh man, tough one... When manipulated properly, both can be incredible flavors that go well with just about everything else. Seriously, don't make me choose! Can't we all just be friends and bake a marble cake instead?

Pies or cakes?

Cake, definitely. I love pie just as much as any other baked goods, but the extra step of making a crust can sometimes be a real pain. But . . . if we're talking about a graham cracker crust, then that's a different story altogether.

Cupcakes or cookies?

Honestly, after making so many thousands (probably millions, even) of cupcakes, I am starting to get a bit tired of them. Cookies take my vote right now, but of course that could change with little persuasion.

Any advice for the novice vegan baker?

I know that this has been said countless times before, but the best advice I can give is to be unafraid and try things out. Don't know how to replace the eggs? Who cares! Look around your kitchen, find things of similar textures, nutritional profiles, chemical properties, anything, and just give it a shot. No one has a definite answer as to what makes great vegan baking, just like regular baking, so never close your mind to the many possibilities that exist in terms of ingredients and methods. Most importantly though, make note of your mistakes so that you can improve upon them and start cranking out awesome baked goods!

What's next for you?

I just started attending UMass Amherst, so a few more years of school lie ahead. However, whenever I'm lucky enough to get a ride home for the weekend, I go straight into the kitchen to work on my second dessert cookbook! There are so many exciting things brewing right now, I just can't wait to see where it all leads.

Wouldn't you want her to go to high school with you too? I want her to work for PETA and be my friend and teach me how to use my oven! But until that happens I am going to devour My Sweet Vegan and start baking! One lucky boy or girl will win this beautiful cookbook and join me in the adventures of vegan baking! To win, comment below with whether you like cake or pie better. I ALWAYS choose cake. What's better than frosting?

This contest ends May 16, 2008 and the winner will be chosen and notified by May 23, 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.

Good Luck!

-Ashleigh

Posted by Ashleigh

Glue Traps At Target and Do It Best May 2, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack

Many major companies (like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Safeway) have stopped selling glue traps because of the suffering that they cause to animals. Sadly, other corporations insist on stocking glue traps despite repeated letters and phone calls from PETA staff trying to convince them otherwise. Now we need your help!

Click here to take action.

Also, please contact Do It Best by calling them at 260-748-5300, and tell them to stop selling glue traps. Let us know how it goes, ok?

Thanks for your help with this.

-Pulin

P.S.- mystery link

Posted by Pulin

Are You Artsy? May 1, 2008

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I am the worst artist ever. Ever. Seriously—my stick figures barely even resemble stick figures. My best friend growing up was an amazing artist, and seeing her artwork always made me wish that I had even an ounce of artistic talent. Anyway, I'm getting off track.

I know for a fact that tons of you have more talent than you even know what to do with. That puts you in a very lucky position, since you're able to combine your talent with your passion for helping animals!

We absolutely love seeing all of the amazing pieces you guys come up with, so please, please always send your artwork our way, so we can ooh and ahh over it and then share it on our deviantART page for everyone else to ooh and ahh over, too. Check out the page if you haven't already—there's some great, thought-provoking pieces on there.

And look what Street Teamer Alli-Beth Mason sent our way recently:

Cool, right? Now go on and make me jealous!

♥ Marta

PS - Happy May Day!

Posted by Marta