Pictures, Pictures, Pictures! July 6, 2009

Posted by Ryan at July 6, 2009 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Either you like us more, or everyone's just taking more pictures (or both), because we've gotten tons of great Street Team reports recently!

Check out some of these examples from our Flickr album, and click on the pictures to learn more about each campaign!

DC is peta2 Country June 17, 2009

Posted by Ryan at June 17, 2009 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack

As you fortunate folks in our nation's capital may have heard, there's a new force in town. That's right—peta2 now has an activist coordinator in Washington DC!

Her name is Regina. You may remember her as the former Florida Gulf Coast University student who worked with her animal rights group to keep KFC off of their campus. Well, after years of shaking things up down south, she's joined the peta2 team in DC to help turn the town upside down!

To celebrate, we organized a "peta2 Cook-Off Kick-Off" with local activists and supporters at our new DC office. The main highlight of the event was when Regina demonstrated how fun and easy it is to cook delicious dishes from PETA's Vegan College Cookbook!

Everybody dined on tasty Mexi-Cram Dip, Silence of the Lambs Shepherd's Pie, and No-Bake Chocolate Cake. Chocolate cake from the microwave?! Whaaaaat? Check out the pictures from the event below!

This Month's Star College Group! May 4, 2009

Posted by Ryan at May 4, 2009 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Last month, we focused on the Texas-sized talent of student activists at UT - Austin.

For the month of May though, we're shining the spotlight on the superstars of the University of California, Los Angeles's Bruins for Animals!

What makes BFA stand out above the rest? Here's a brief list of their recent achievements:

• The group helped to organize and promote numerous on-campus speaking events, including an event that featured Rory Freedman, coauthor of the bestseller Skinny Bitch. The event drew more than 200 students and featured free vegan "chicken" salad wraps for all attendees.
• The organization worked with peta2 to gather more than 1,500 petition signatures from students in support of additional vegan options in campus dining halls.
• BFA hosted peta2's controversial "Liberation Project" exhibit, which draws parallels between previous moral tragedies—such as child labor and slavery—and the suffering that animals face today.
• They hosted peta2's Take Action Conference at UCLA, which featured a special acoustic performance of "Free Me" by Goldfinger lead singer John Feldmann.

Pretty remarkable, eh?

In recognition of all of their accomplishments, please join me in congratulating UCLA's Bruins for Animals on a kick-ass job fighting for animal rights, and wishing them many more years to come!

Students Fighting to Stop KFC From Coming to Campus! April 23, 2009

Posted by Ryan at April 23, 2009 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 12 ) | TrackBack

...and it just might happen.

After a sympathetic faculty member contacted PETA to say that a new KFC location might be opening at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, we knew that this wasn't going to happen without a fight!

Thankfully, the student body has jumped into action, gathering petition signatures against KFC and drawing attention to the fact that the company continues to allow chickens to have their beaks sliced off with hot blades and their throats slit while fully conscious. Clearly a chain with such blatant disregard for animals has no place on a college campus (or anywhere for that matter).

The whole situation is being covered by the student newspaper, The Advance-Titan, and the students are optimistic about their chances of stopping KFC in their tracks.

Make sure to show your support for banning KFC from the UWO campus by leaving a message below!

MSU, Circuses, and Iggy Pop...Oh My! April 16, 2009

Posted by Ryan at April 16, 2009 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

By now it's well documented that we at peta2 love the Libby-Award-winning student animal rights group at Michigan State University, Students Promoting Animal Rights (SPAR). They got the circus cancelled from performing on campus for the first time in over a decade, continuously push for additional vegan options in the dining halls, and are even working to expose cruelty inside of MSU's notorious animal testing laboratories.

In fact, they rock so hard, we thought it was about time we paid them a visit. That's why we worked with the group to arrange a highly-publicized speaking event on campus with PETA Vice President, Bruce Friedrich.

We spent the whole week handing out flyers, writing letters to promote the talk in the student newspaper, and chalking on the sidewalks all over campus. The result? The buzz surrounding the event was so was high that attendance was standing room only! More than 200 students, from all backgrounds and viewpoints, packed into the lecture hall to hear Bruce speak.



Of course, it's not just peta2 that's taking notice of the student group's high-profile campaigns. Their campaign to permanently ban circuses with animals from campus has just gained a celebrity endorsement from none other than Michigan native and rock icon Iggy Pop!


Photo Credit: RainCityStudios/CC

In Iggy's passionate plea to the university, he reminds the administrators that "Circus trainers beat, shock, and whip animals such as tigers, bear, and elephants to make them perform tricks, which to the animals are confusing and meaningless." You can read Iggy's full letter by clicking here.

If you haven't already, take a second to join Iggy in asking the MSU Board of Trustees to ban circuses from campus by signing the petition.

Also, make sure to leave your positive feedback for these superstar students below.

College Students Are Busy, Busy, Busy! April 7, 2009

Posted by Ryan at April 7, 2009 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

With the spring semester coming close to an end, it looks like college students, groups, and activists around the world are rapidly trying to squeeze in as much awesomeness as possible before the clock strikes "finals".

We've been flooded with tons of emails and reports from students, who are all doing amazing work to raise awareness about animal rights on campus. I just wanted to share a few examples with you though, incase they inspire you to organize similar events at your school!

1) The Theta Phi Alpha sorority at York College of Pennsylvania decided to make their spring formal event fur-free, to show that students can get a look that "kills" without harming any animals!

2) The student animal rights club at Brock University (in Canada) decided to organize a concert for animal rights on campus, featuring live bands and FREE vegan pizzas, chili rolls, spring rolls, and nachos for all attendees!

3) Students at Marquette University (in Milwaukee, WI) gathered more than 1,200 petition signatures from people on campus against dissection in the classroom! As a result, there is now a bill in the student government aiming to provide all students with scientific non-animal alternatives.

4) The student group at the University of South Florida worked with peta2 to gather more than 3,000 petition signatures from students, in support of additional vegan options on campus. As a result, the school has now added vegetarian bacon, sausage, chicken, and much more to the cafeteria menus!

So which one inspires you the most? I don't want to rush you or anything, but I know a group of sorority girls that are anxiously awaiting your response ...

Taking Brazil By a Storm! January 13, 2009

Posted by Ryan at January 13, 2009 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

We regularly receive reports from stellar student and local groups about their exciting protests, and campaign victories for animals. Sometimes though, the reports are so outstanding that we have to share them with everyone!

Such was the case recently with a new group in Brazil called Ativeg. Their founder, Daniel, protested for 8 hours straight (with no access to food, water, or a bathroom), to show people what happens to animals killed for food.

The group is also focusing on producing advertisements, with the goal of getting them published in Brazilian media outlets. They have many to choose from, but this one has to be my favorite. You don't have to speak fluent Portuguese to get the message...


Of course, you also don't need to be in Brazil to do equally awesome activism in your area. All you need to do is contact us, so that we can hook you up with free materials to get you started!

Leave your kudos for Daniel and his spectacular group below!

Standing Up For The Little Guys! November 19, 2008

Posted by Rachel-O at November 19, 2008 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Here in peta2, there's almost nothing better than getting sent newspaper clippings and online articles featuring our amazing Street Teamers and all of the great things they're doing for animals. So when we got the first clipping from a Street Teamer named Jacob Jarvis, we were really excited — and then we got a second one!

Jacob's only 14, and already he's been pretty busy spreading the word about animal rights in his school, his neighborhood, and to just about anyone who will listen. So I thought I'd ask him a few questions to help inspire some of you who might just be getting started! Check it out!

What made you interested in taking a stand for animals?

Well, I've always been an animal lover, and my mom and I have always had pets around. My entire life I've tried to stick up for animals, you know, save a frog from the middle of the road, put up signs for a found kitty. But the major shove was in 8th grade. My science teacher (who shall remain nameless) told us we would be dissecting. I was utterly disgusted! The night before the dissection, I was researching alternatives that I could recommend to him. Well, I found this great website called peta2 and from that moment on, I was in love!

What are some things you've done at school for animals?

Believe it or not, the best things I've done have been really simple. It was the last day, and I went around with my classes with a little clipboard and some flyers. I stood up in each class before the bell rang and told all the students about KFC and how they treat their animals. My science teacher (yes, that same one) got mad at me and threatened to suspend me for the first week of the next year. After his class was over, I stuck a Kentucky Fried Cruelty sign on his door and ran!

Why is dissection an important issue to you? How did you fight dissection at school?

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am a science geek. I adore it, I'm not gonna lie. But dissection is just wrong. When my science teacher (yep, still the same one) told us about the dissection, I protested immediately. I made little signs and passed them out during school, trying not to get in trouble. He never did give in, and was going to force me to participate but I just couldn't do it, so I took a zero on the assignment.
*peta2 doesn't want you to have to sacrifice your grades to stand up for animals, and you shouldn't have to! You should always work for an alternative, and if it doesn't seem to be working, email us at peta2@peta2.com so we can help!*

What's your message to the rest of the peta2 Street Team?

Not everyone out there has time to go out and organize a demo, but you can do other things. Wear a button or a sticker or carry around some leaflets. It really doesn't matter as long as you get the word out. Oh, and beware, some people don't share our views so you shouldn't try and force your views on them.

Tell us about your favorite peta2 campaign:

Boycott KFC is very near and dear to my heart. It is something that I can fight on a local level and still feel like I accomplished something.

Jacob is awesome! And he's totally right. peta2 is all about simple — from posting a video on your MySpace, to forwarding our e-News, there are so many small things that YOU can do that make a huge difference.

One of them of course is speaking up for the little guys! Cut Out Dissection month just wrapped up, so keep sending in your reports of how it went! And if you're a little behind in the times, it's okay, there's still lots more work to be done! Check out peta2.com to get started!

Stay Loud!

-Rachel

Dude, I Swear I Saw a Giant Chicken on Campus... September 17, 2008

Posted by Ryan at September 17, 2008 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack

These were the kinds of conversations students were having at Syracuse University on their way to class this week.

That's because the student animal rights group (SARO), was out in force (with some assistance from peta2 volunteers), to gather signatures to kick KFC off their campus!

You see, there is a KFC located right in their dining hall, and obviously students don't want that. That's why the student group was able to gather over 1,200 signatures on their petition to ban KFC from campus—in the first day! They even got a mention in The Daily Orange student newspaper.


Pretty amazing, right?

Want to organize a similar campaign on your campus? It doesn't matter whether you want to improve the vegan options on campus, obtain alternatives to dissection, or anything else, we're here to help!

Look how much fun it can be!


- Ryan!

My First Animal Rights Protest (and Fun Pictures Too!) August 12, 2008

Posted by Ryan at August 12, 2008 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack

You know, people often ask me "How did you get started in all of this?" and "What was the first step?"

Well, for me it began with a circus protest. Since I had signed up for the peta2 Street Team a few months earlier, I received an email in the fall of 2004 stating that the UniverSoul Circus was coming to town, and bringing their horrific record of animal abuse with them. I promptly emailed peta2, and requested posters and leaflets to hand out to attendees. I also gathered a few of my friends together, to hopefully show people the seedy underside of "The Big Top".

It wasn't the most highly attended demonstration in history (in fact, it might have been one of the lowest), but from that point forward I knew that organizing a demonstration really was as simple as can be. Needless to say, once I had one protest under my belt, I searched for opportunities to speak out again.

Since I had recently started a student group at my school, and I knew that those notorious uber-douches Ringling Bros. were coming to town, I got on Facebook and started organizing.


The feeling of success that comes with organizing these events really is incredible. Like a bus with no brakes, there was no stopping my friends and me. It didn't matter which animal abuser we were targeting:

KFC...


Dogfighters...


Heck, we even had a little fun when speaking out against the fur industry (yes, that's me on the far left)...


The point is that protesting industries that abuse animals is not only super-easy, but it can also be really fun! All you have to do is take that first step. Trust me, you'll never look back.

- Ryan!