Does President-Elect Obama Bring Hope for Animals? November 5, 2008
Posted by Ryan at November 5, 2008 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 8 ) | TrackBack
As anybody who lives on Earth knows by now, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was chosen as the next President of the United States last night. Many of you have been asking us at peta2 what our thoughts are on the election, so here's your answer!
President-Elect Barack Obama has said "I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other. And it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals." Because PETA is devoted to fighting animal abuse and recognizes the link between cruelty to animals and violence directed against human beings, the organization is very encouraged by this statement.
PETA is also pleased that Obama and his wife Michelle have announced that they will adopt a rescued dog for their daughters instead of patronizing a pet store or breeder. PETA opposes large-scale breeding facilities, known as "puppy mills," as well as private breeders who bring puppies and kittens into the world while nearly 4 millions cats and dogs must be euthanized at the nation's overcrowded animal shelters every year. PETA supports animal shelters and encourages all prospective companion animal guardians to visit their local animal shelter.
PETA was also encouraged to see that, unlike other Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in the past, Obama did not pander to the National Rifle Association and other pro-hunting organizations by heading into the woods and shooting defenseless animals.
PETA looks forward to working with President-Elect Obama and the new administration to help make change happen for the millions of animals who suffer unnecessarily in this country. What's next? If his stance on other animal issues is any indication, perhaps the next president will put a tofu chicken in every pot.
- Ryan!
peta2 and PETA shirts at Delia's and Forever 21! October 22, 2008
Posted by Ashleigh at October 22, 2008 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBackYou read the blog title right, ladies! Delia's and Forever 21 are now selling some of THE CUTEST SHIRTS EVER! Check out Forever 21's Club Soda, Not Seals, Friend or Food, and Delia's I'd Rather Go Naked!
Wearing these shirts helps spread the message that the Canadian seal hunt is horrific and unacceptable; that animals should not be used for food; and that wearing fur is cruel.
Comment below with your favorite and then get your cute animal-loving butts to the mall!
-Ashleigh
Adidas Scores, Big Time, for Australian Sheep! June 4, 2008
Posted by Ryan at June 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 22 ) | TrackBackWe are proud to announce yet another victory for Australian sheep! Adidas—the second-largest sporting-goods manufacturer in the world—has just taken steps to reduce the suffering of sheep in its supply chain.
Following nearly four months of discussions with PETA, Adidas has now decided to boycott all wool from mulesed lambs—including those mulesed using clips.
As you may already know, mulesing is a standard mutilation used by Australian woolgrowers, in which lambs have huge chunks of skin and flesh carved from their backsides with big, metal shears (like gardening shears). This is a crude attempt to "protect" sheep from maggot infestation, despite the fact that humane methods exist.
Could you imagine having part of your butt cut off with a giant pair of scissors? OUCH!
The decision really makes Australia's Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, look like a fool. It was just one week ago that he sent a letter to Adidas, thanking them for supporting Australian wool and trying to justify their cruel mulesing ways. Sucks to be him! :)
Anyways, if you haven't already had a chance to sign our petition against mulesing, make sure to sign it!
Let's keep the pressure on them, so that no more butts get cut!
- Ryan!
We Love Your Photos April 30, 2008
Posted by Pulin Modi at April 30, 2008 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBackYou people are amazing. Keep sending us your photos!
Have a nice day!
March Madness: Vote for the Evil Eight! March 28, 2008
Posted by Ryan at March 28, 2008 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 14 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
vivisection animals NCAA testing basketball big dance bracket
Just when you thought things couldn't get any crazier, the quest to find the cruelest college in the country has revved up a notch! All 16 of last week's contenders proved tough teams to beat, but only 8 could advance, and despite some powerful showings from Pittsburgh, KSU, Washington State, OSU, Purdue, Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and the University of Washington, only the nastiest can move forward ... so without further delay let's get down to narrowing the field even further as we prepare to put these vivisectors on the national stage in the Fatal Four next week!
Just like last week, I'll be highlighting what I consider to be the key matchup in this exciting tournament, and you can consult the cheat sheet to help determine who else to vote into the next round. Use the voting form or leave a comment to cast a vote for this week's Vilest Vivisectors in the Evil Eight!
Duke University vs. Texas A&M
Michael Platt, Duke Like 'em or hate 'em, Duke University always puts forward a strong team, and for the past decade, that's been largely due to the work of their MVP, Michael Platt, who drills metal screws into monkeys' skulls, pushes electrodes into their brains, and implants wire coils under their eyelids. A similar winning technique has been made popular by UConn's David Waitzman—another strong contender in this tournament, so if we're lucky, we may see a classic Big East/ACC showdown in the finals this year. The published results of Mr. Platt's cruel experiments include such timeless pieces of knowledge as the fact that one rhesus macaque monkey will often look in the same direction as another rhesus macaque monkey, so there's no question that Michael's earning his keep! To vote for Michael Platt, use the form or leave a comment below. |
Michelle Hook, Texas A&M Texas A&M might traditionally be the underdog in this matchup, but don't make the mistake of underestimating Michelle Hook of Texas A&M University's Department of Psychology. Her medium of choice is rats, and from the sounds of it, there's not much she hasn't done when it comes to slicing and dicing these animals. Michelle's preferred technique involves cutting up the animals' spinal cords, injecting them with chili pepper solution, pushing them into restraint tubes, and electroshocking their hind legs. Hook's world-beating conclusion speaks for itself: "These data suggest that peripheral inflammation, accompanying spinal cord injuries, might have an adverse effect on recovery." You heard it here first, folks: Giving electric shocks to torture victims might slow down their recovery time! To vote for Michelle Hook, use the form or leave a comment below. |
Use the dropdown menus to pick a winner!
- Ryan!
Time To Fight The Circus March 23, 2008
Posted by Pulin Modi at March 23, 2008 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBackHello! We have a fun and very effective idea for how to help animals who are abused for the circus. Are you up for it?
Basically, there are circuses like Ringling Bros out on the road right now, and these companies are pretty cruel to animals. Before they come to your town these traveling acts spend a lot of money on advertising what we consider is one of the cruelest shows on earth! Sometimes these shady people put free tickets or discount coupons at stores, gas stations, and schools with hope that people will come out to see their show. But we have a plan and need your help!
1) Keep your eye out for those free circus tickets or discount coupons around town.
2) Take them all. (As long as they don't say there's a limit of how many you take, just grab the whole stack.)
3) Mail the tickets to us (peta2, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510, USA) or email StreetTeam@peta2.com with a photo of them in your trash can!
4) You'll get 1000 Street Team points!
Let's work towards the day where no animals will be chained, beaten, and abused for the sake of entertainment. People need to be taught lessons of compassion, not cruelty, right?
Thanks for making a difference each and every day!
peta2 is Charging into the Midwest This Weekend! March 3, 2008
Posted by Ryan at March 3, 2008 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
animals Chicago conference depaul
Oh Chicago, it's been a long time. Too long!
That's right, the peta2 crew is headed from Norfolk to "The Windy City" for another exciting peta2 Take Action Conference! If you live within driving distance of Chicago (I'm lookin' at you, Missouri!), you'll definitely want to be there! If you haven't reserved your spot yet, you can still do so HERE.
Dan - "Animal Rights 101"
Ryan and Pulin - "Student Activism!"
Marta - "Helping Animals Online!"
Caleb - "How to Answer the Tough Questions"
Add in open discussion panels, free vegan lunch, a HUGE KFC protest, TONS of free stickers and other items to bring home, and you have the ingredients for an AMAZING event!
See you soon!
- Ryan!
P.S. - Already reserved your spot? Make sure to get on the message boards to talk with other people who will be there too!
Safeway Adopts New Industry-Leading Animal Welfare Policies February 11, 2008
Posted by Pulin Modi at February 11, 2008 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBackThis is big news because companies obviously have a lot of power over factory farms and slaughterhouses which exploit animals. While peta2 and the Street Team work to educate individuals on how vegetarianism and veganism are the best ways to help animals, it's important to stay realistic on how we can pressure the corporate world to reduce and eventually eliminate some of the worst cruelties out there. Straight from our press release, check it out.
Following six years of discussions with PETA about the abuse of animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses, supermarket giant Safeway has announced groundbreaking plans to improve the living and dying conditions for some of the animals who are killed for its stores. Safeway is North America's second-largest grocery chain, with 1,750 stores located throughout the U.S. and Canada. According to the company's new plan, which places it at the forefront of the grocery industry with regard to animal welfare, Safeway will do the following:
- Increase its purchase of chickens and turkeys killed by controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK)—the least cruel method of bird slaughter—and give purchasing preference to suppliers that use or switch to CAK
- Increase the amount of pig meat it purchases from suppliers that don't use gestation crates—restrictive metal enclosures that confine pregnant pigs—by 5 percent over each of the next three years and give purchasing preference to suppliers that don't use gestation crates
- Double the amount of cage-free eggs it sells to more than 6 percent by 2010 and give purchasing preference to producers of cage-free eggs
Safeway's new plan also follows PETA's submission of a shareholder resolution—which PETA has now withdrawn—and independent discussions with The Humane Society of the United States on the issue of cage-free eggs.
"While we wish that shoppers would stick to the delicious vegetarian options that Safeway has available, the company should be commended for at least improving the lives and deaths of some of the animals who are killed for its stores," says PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich.
Since 2000, PETA has used high-profile campaigns and negotiations to reduce the suffering of animals who are raised and killed for food. In 2007, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Wendy's, and other companies made improvements similar to those that Safeway is now making.
To all the kind folks out there who help pressure companies to take animal welfare seriously, we thank you.
Natalie Portman - Leather-free Beauty November 7, 2007
Posted by Patricia at November 7, 2007 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 16 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
vegetarian leather animals actor Natalie Portman gossip
Oh, that Natalie Portman. To say she's got a lot going for her is an understatement. She's smart, she's a talented actor, and a budding director now too. She's a muse for leading designers, donates her time to various charities, and oh, yeah, she's gorgeous. It definitely doesn't suck to be her.
I like to think that another reason she's so successful is her compassion for animals. She's never kept her love of animals or her vegetarianism a secret and I like that about her. I like that she talks about why she doesn't eat animals (and it's not because she's worried about her figure...as if she'd ever need to). I also like her sense of style—girl can dress. And she's always wearing the cutest shoes, which just so happen to be animal free!
Natalie recently told reporters that she has special outfits made for her to wear when filming because she won't wear leather. "I'm an animal lover and I've been a vegetarian for 17 years," says Portman. "I won't wear leather in my own life and I won't wear it for a movie either. They have to make me clothes from fake leather."
Brains, talent, compassion, and beauty all wrapped into one glorious little package. If I didn't love her so much I would have to hate her.
XOX
Patricia
P.S. What's your fave Natalie Portman flick? Let me know by posting a comment below.
Ingrid Newkirk to K-Fed: "Don't Forget About the Dogs!" October 5, 2007
Posted by Patricia at October 5, 2007 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
dog London Ingrid Newkirk celebs LA Kevin Federline Britney Spears SPCA animals custody children K-Fed
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I'm sure you've all seen the numerous shots of Britney carting her latest "purchase", London, around with her as if he were a living handbag. Since it appears she hasn't been taking very good care of her children (or herself based on...well, her appearance, her car accidents, numerous compromising photos, oh, there's just too much to mention), and since the LA chapter of the SPCA has already investigated her for failing to provide veterinary care for London after he was stepped on and suffered a broken leg, we think it's in his best interest to get the heck out of there too. And since the court feels Kevin's better suited to care for their children, we've asked he pursue custody of the animals as well.
No word yet from K-Fed but we're really hoping he decides to rescue them cause I can't imagine what life is like for them at Britney's house. I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess as to what's going on over there.
xox
Patricia
