peta2 Daily Blog

One Minute Mission: Don't be a Heartbreaker!

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:11:19 -0500

How can being cute help animals? Easy!

Every year, countless (literally—the government doesn't even count the number of mice and rats killed in animal tests, considering them too unimportant and expendable) mice and rats, who are the most common victims in animal testing, are blinded, poisoned, and killed for things like lipstick, hairspray, and soap.

Pointless? Yep. But you can help by always buying cruelty free products and by telling all of your friends that animal testing breaks hearts!

This Valentine's Day, use these "unfairly cute" images to help raise awareness against animal testing ... and earn points while you're at it!

On February 14th, set your Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace status to "Don't be a Heartbreaker this Valentine's Day! http://bit.ly/aWhzy3" and send us a screenshot for 500 points.
Set one of the photos above to your MySpace or Facebook photo and send us a screenshot or link for another 1,000 points!

Thanks for speaking up for the little guys!

Stay loud!
-Rachel

It's Worst-Dressed Time!

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:00:06 -0500

It's time for peta'2s Worst-Dressed poll!

Since there are still a few celebs from the stone age skulking around, draped in the furs and skins of others, we feel it's only fitting they should be called out for their cruel, not to mention hideous, fashion choices.

This year we're doing things a bit differently. Each day two heartless hags will go head-to-head and you will vote for the celeb you think wore it worse. Then at the end of the week the worst-dressed celeb will be revealed.

Today's match up is a mother and daughter duo who are wearing a boatload of animals. Think you know who the terrible two-some are? Head over to the poll to see if you're right, and vote. Be sure to check back each day to see who's in the next match up. And don't forget to vote!

xox
-Patricia

Tell TW Foods in Mass. to Drop Cruel Foie Gras Now!

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:05:29 -0500

Did you know that TW Foods—a restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts—is selling foie gras?

all-creatures.org / CC

Foie gras literally means "fatty liver"—and birds killed for this "delicacy of despair" are kept in tiny wire cages, only coming out 3 to 4 times a day to have pipes repeatedly shoved down their throats. Up to 4 pounds of grain and fat are pumped into their stomachs to enlarge their livers to the point at which they often become diseased and sometimes even rupture. Yep, people actually eat this.

PETA has contacted TW Foods and asked it to take foie gras off of its menu, but it has refused. Ducks and geese need your help! Let TW hear your voice—tell TW Foods to remove foie gras from its menu now.

Stay loud!
-Rachel

Where's Pulin?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:29:54 -0500

Regulars to the peta2 blog may have noticed that I haven't posted anything in a while. A few people have been asking what's up, so I figured I'd write a blog to explain.

After several years working in peta2, I've moved on to PETA's Action Team. Most of you are already on the Street Team. Well, the Action Team is basically a similar thing for people who are not in high school or college (hint, if you're not a student and are 22+ years old, you should be on the Action Team, not the Street Team).

My goal is to make sure that once all of you are out of school, there are still plenty of ways to stay active for animal rights with amazing demonstrations, the best possible leaflets and stickers (even old people like stickers!), and ideas for reaching people at work and in your local community. So that's why I'm not doing the peta2 stuff anymore. It's certainly left in great hands!

Since this is my last blog for peta2, I figured I'd do a list of my top ten peta2 memories:

10) peta2 swear jars.
9) Getting nice interviews on SocialVibe.com and Issue Oriented Podcast.
8) Animal rights spring break!
7) Coming up with the slogan for this shirt!
6) Coordinating protests against Wet Seal (and getting them to stop selling fur!).
5) Working with amazing bands including Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Silverstein.
4) Sea kittens.
3) Using fun ideas to spread the word about animal rights at schools.
2) peta2's new dissection leaflet!
1) Meeting thousands and thousands of compassionate people across the US and Canada at conferences, concerts, and other events!

So thank you! And please be sure to check out the jobs we have open so you can have the opportunity to work with some amazing people!

If you're not mean or smelly, please stay in touch on Facebook and MySpace.

Next Time You're at a Show, Stop by the peta2 Table and Say Hey!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:50:42 -0500

Hey there guys and gals!
We've been cruising all the way from Cali to New York this week with the amazing, caring, and ever so punk rock guys of Anti-Flag! With the Olympics approaching, we are urging people to help us put an end to the horrific seal slaughter going on up north. Each year thousands of baby harp seals are bludgeoned to death and skinned alive for their fur. Come on, Canada! Shame on you for letting these beautiful beings suffer for fashion.

So next time you're at a show, stop by the peta2 table and say hey!

We are always looking for cool kids to help us out!
Until next time —Renee

'No Fur' and 'Go Vegan' Tees at dELiA*s!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:01:09 -0500

Right now, one of peta2's favorite retailers, dELiA*s, is carrying these awesome animal-friendly tees:

I love tees with animals on them—especially ones as adorable as these two. Go to dELiA*s to get your 'Go Vegan' and 'No Fur' tees now.

- Tiffany

5 Questions with Secret and Whisper

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:08:19 -0500

This week's 5 Question Blog comes from some friends from the North—Canada's own Secret and Whisper. Read my interview with bassist Jordan Chase to find out what prompted him to go vegetarian and what's coming up next for the band.

What prompted you to become vegetarian? Were there any bands, books, etc. that influenced your decision?
I was a very sickly person in my younger years; always getting sore throats, colds, the flu, etc. on a regular basis. My doctor recommended that I take meat out of my diet 3 to 4 times a week. I shrugged it off and basically said "yeah right," as I was a full on carnivore at the time. I was actually at a Goldfinger show one night and they had a booth set up with a video on animal cruelty. I watched about a minute (which was all I could handle), took some pamphlets, and swore off meat forever. It's been 10 years now, and I rarely get sick and my health has improved drastically.

What are some of your favorite vegetarian and/or vegan foods?
Indian food is my go to—curry, stuff like that. They really know how to make a great vegetarian dish full of flavor and all around awesomeness. I also like this small little hole in the wall vegan place in my hometown (Kelowna B.C. Canada) called Lake Tai. They have a sweet and sour "pork" dish that is unreal. It's vegan, but I swear it tastes better than the real thing. I eat it at least once a week. On the road I go for a lot of Mexican food, making sure the refried beans are natural of course and not consisting of any lard. Burritos are always a good choice.

Of all of the major animal rights issues are there any that are particularly close to your heart?
That's a tough one, obviously I don't agree with any of them. However, I think as a North American culture we eat FAR too much meat. Factory Farming turned me off from meat in the first place—it's completely unsanitary, cruel, and just downright wrong. There is no respect for these animals, and I really don't feel that this is what they were intended to do on this earth. If people actually knew what happened in these places, I think we would have a lot more people looking toward vegetarian/vegan options.

If a fan were to approach you with questions about how to get involved with animal rights, what advice would you give him or her?
I guess I would tell them to look on the net for themselves. I try not to push my beliefs on others, but rather inspire people to make the right choice. There is plenty of reading material out there to get someone started. The internet is rich with facts about the mass production of meat, and the cruelty that goes with it, and how to safely change your diet to strictly vegetarian/vegan. It's all about finding the facts for yourself, and making a decision for yourself, rather than just fitting into a fad or whatever your favorite band is doing.

What do you guys have coming up that we can be looking forward to?
We have a brand new record coming out in March titled Teenage Fantasy and are planning to hit the road and support it in late March. We are extremely excited about the record and looking forward to people hearing it for the first time.

Thanks for participating, Jordan! Everyone be sure to check out Secret and Whisper and show them some love when their new album drops next month!

xo
Megan

Free Stuff Friday: 'Vegans Do It Better' and 'Vegans Make Great Lovers' Tees!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:04:40 -0500

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Have you gotten your beau or babe a gift yet? If you said "yes," you're doing a lot better than me. Yikes! I need to get on it.

This week, you have the chance to win something that makes a great gift all year round. And, if you're anything like me, you won't be able to resist getting one for yourself. Check out our 'Vegans Do It Better' and 'Vegans Make Great Lovers' tees. You know you want one!

For your chance to win your choice of tee, comment below with your Valentine's Day plans for this year. If you don't have any, make up something good! Entries must be received by February 12. The five people with the most original comments will be chosen as our winners and notified by February 16.

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

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

GOOD LUCK!

- Tiffany

West Hollywood Bans Sale of Dogs and Cats from Puppy Mills!

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:39:02 -0500

animeal.wordpress / CC

OMG! Have you heard the news? In one is one of the greatest things to happen to dogs and cats in well ... maybe forever, West Hollywood has banned the sale of dogs and cats from puppy mills!

This is great news for not only animals suffering in those horrible places, but also for every single dog and cat languishing in a shelter right now waiting for a home. These dogs and cats are just as loving and adorable as that doggy in the window, but are forced to compete with designer breeds and pet stores peddling cute puppies—without letting consumers know about the cruel industry behind that cute face.

Seriously—this is an amazing victory and will hopefully educate all animal lovers on why they should always only adopt from shelters and never buy.

Way to go West Hollywood!

Stay loud!
-Rachel

Introducing: peta2 Recipe of the Week!

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:42:13 -0500

Alright—I won't lie. I'm pretty sure I've mastered the burrito. So when the peta2 staff decided we were going to start doing "Recipe of the Week" instead of "Sandwich of the Week," I thought there was no better way to kick it off than with my favorite quick and cheap lunch or dinner. The best thing about these is that they don't need any fancy schmancy ingredients—you can find every single ingredient below at your local grocery store! Bonus? These are pretty healthy and packed full of veggies and protein.

Choppin' up some black olives, green onions, jalapenos and tomatoes!

Setting the scene with some guacamole and some fresh limes!

Right before being wrapped up!

Voila! All you need to make these is:

Refried beans—watch out for lard, but fat free and vegan brands are cheap and easy to find. I also mixed some taco seasoning into my beans for some extra flavor.
Spanish rice (this is optional—watch out for chicken stock if you're grabbin' this up!).
Veggies—shredded lettuce, black olives, green onions, tomatoes, jalapenos ... you know, the works!
Guacamole or avocados
Tortillas—I grilled mine over an open flame on the stove to give them that crispy feeling, but you can also microwave them in a moist paper towel to make 'em super soft!

Yum! In total, this whole meal cost me less than $10, and I had left overs today for work.

So, for the rest of February, we'll be featuring some delish Mexican dishes during our "Recipe of the Week" blogs—what do you want to see next?

Stay loud!
-Rachel

Do You Have 'Change for Chained Dogs'?

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:39:58 -0500

Could you imagine spending your entire life living on the end of a chain? For most of us, it's unimaginable. But for countless dogs around the country, it's reality. Dogs who are chained outside spend their days and nights, week after week, facing extreme heat and frigid weather—often neglected, abused, or forgotten.

PETA's Community Animal Project works in low-income areas of Virginia and North Carolina, promoting our SNIP (Spay and Neuter Immediately Please!) clinic, and providing warm straw and sturdy doghouses to these dogs and others in need—but these dogs need your help!

With Teachkind's (PETA's Humane Education Division) brand new "Change for Chained Dogs" fundraising program, you and your school can help raise money to help us build more doghouses for these animals—who often have little more than a few concrete blocks or a plastic barrel to protect them from snow, rain, sleet, or 100 degree heat.

We've created an easy to use downloadable letter for you to print and give to your teacher. Your class can do anything from simply putting out a jar to help raise change, to holding a school wide contest. Every penny helps these dogs who are desperate for your help. The letter can be edited to include your teacher's name and your own name (just a heads up, you can't save the letter once you edit it, but you can print it once you do!).

Print the letter here to get started! Throughout the month of February, we'll be giving you more ideas every week on how you can help raise "Change for Chained Dogs," so stay tuned! Make sure to e-mail peta2@peta2.com if you have questions.

Stay loud!
-Rachel

P.S. Of course, we all know that dogs don't belong chained outside. Unfortunately, as hard as PETA's cruelty caseworkers work every single day (often 24 hours a day) the laws are not always in our favor. We work hard to convince people to bring their dogs inside, or to relinquish them to a better life, but the laws are not always on the side of compassion. Sometimes, giving these dogs a safe, warm, sturdy doghouse will be the best that we can do at that moment—and it surely means the world to that dog.

Naked in South Africa

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:49:30 -0500

Ever get the feeling that North Americans get to have all of the fun? Think again.

Enter, ROAR. That stands for Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights—the student animal rights group at Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Representing the Southern Hemisphere well, ROAR is arguably the most active student group on the continent. Here is a brief sampling of their recent activities, compliments of organization leader Kathryn McConnachie:

An anti-fur and anti-leather streak! 80 students ran across campus, chanting "wear your own skin," and holding pro-animal posters.

To speak out against classroom dissections, students organized a "Love Thy Fellow Rhodent" campaign (students that attend Rhodes University are called "Rhodents"—get it?), to speak up for the rats, mice, and other rodents that are killed for pointless and cruel classroom experiments.

Fantastic work, eh? Who's ready to jump on the first plane to South Africa?

—Ryan!

NFL's Ricky Williams Hosts Faux-Chicken Wing Taste Test

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:56:00 -0500

Hey sports fans! With Super Bowl Sunday just days away, I'm sure you're all getting ready for the big game. Wondering which faux-chicken wings will score a touchdown with your hungry guests? We can help you with that.

Earlier today, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams hosted our Faux-Chicken Wing Taste Test at his Miami restaurant, Proof Restaurant and Lounge. And the results are in ... Gardein Classic Style Buffalo Wings are the MVP of faux-chicken wings!

Ricky, a longtime vegetarian, knows that the best way to tackle cruelty to chickens and other animals raised and killed for food is to simply stop eating them.

Here's hoping that today's taste test results will encourage meat-eaters to give some little birds a break and go with Gardein's Classic Style Buffalo Wings instead, or any of the other fabulous faux-chicken wings available in grocery stores everywhere!

After all, wings are for flying, and sometimes hugging, but not for eating.

Check out the photos from today's event below.

xox
-Patricia

VOTE: Which School Has the Best Student Group?

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:28:11 -0500

As regular blog readers will know, there is no shortage of stellar student groups out there, raising awareness on campus. Unfortunately, there can only be one Libby Award winner each year, so here's a little bit of background info about each of the nominees:

Students Taking Action for Animal Rights (STAAR) at Arizona State University - Frequently featured on peta2, STAAR has made a name for themselves at America's largest university, most prominently in light of the recent outrage over classroom experiments using rabbits, rats, and other animals. The group has delivered more than 1,500 petition signatures to the Provost of the University, demanding an end to the experiments. The organization also hosted peta2's provocative Liberation exhibit last fall, drawing attention to the connections between the oppression of humans and animals.

The Harvard College Vegetarian Society at Harvard University - Promoting vegetarianism at the nation's most prestigious institution, HCVS has kept the issue of animal rights on Harvard students' (larger-than-average) minds, while continuously pushing for positive changes on campus. You'll recall that they recently packed more than 250 students into a lecture hall for a debate titled "Is Eating Animals Ethical?," featuring PETA vice president Bruce Friedrich. The group is also constantly grabbing the headlines of the legendary Harvard Crimson student newspaper, including more than half a dozen separate articles so far this school year.

Bruins for Animals! at UCLA - A campus institution, no issue slips under BFA's radar. Representing a school notorious for being the epicenter of debates over animal experimentation, the group has hosted speakers from PETA and various other animal protection organizations to make sure that the animals' side of the issue is heard. At the same time, they have been campaigning hard for additional vegan dining options on campus—overseeing recent improvements in the cafeterias and using the VegAdvantage program to show their administration how simple eating cruelty-free can be.

VegTerps at the University of Maryland - Starting the school year with a bang, VegTerps made a name for themselves through their efforts to boot McCruelty out of their Student Union—a campaign that has even seen the endorsement of a PETA vice president, who spoke on campus in support of the students. In addition to this campaign though, the group has screened "Earthlings" on campus, hosted vegan bake sales, and generally branded animal rights at every turn.

Students Promoting Animal Rights (SPAR) at Michigan State University - A previous Libby Award winner, SPAR has a reputation for holding animal abusers' feet to the fire. They successfully stopped a circus from coming to campus last spring, for the first time in over a decade. When they heard that the school was reversing that position for 2010, they didn't take the decision lying down—delivering a sack full of coal to the desk of the University president. Having hosted peta2's Liberation exhibit, two PETA vice presidents, and countless other high-profile events, it's safe to say that virtually every MSU student has heard about the animal rights movement, thanks to SPAR.

So who's getting your vote

—Ryan!

Pie-tition Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:10:00 -0500

One pie, two pie, red (cherry) pie, blue (berry) pie. Over at Twitter, we have a stockpile of (virtual) pies, and we've been having trouble deciding what to do with them (you can only eat so many virtual pies before you get a stomachache). Then it hit us: We should share the tasty treats. But who is worthy of having a virtual pastry delivered to their Twitter account? Then, last week, Canada's minister of fisheries and oceans, Gail Shea, received a cream delight right to the kisser because of her support of the bloody seal slaughter, and the answer was clear—Stephen Harper!

With so many virtual baked goods on hand, we need your help launching them all. So if you have a Twitter account, click on your pie of choice to send a tart message sailing at Prime Minister Harper. Here are the flavors you can choose from:

Dish out some Heckleberry pie.

Send him a slice of "Dump-Skins" pie.

Want to serve up some good ol' American "Cut the Crapple" pie?

If you're not one for the classics, how about a Cow Pie?

Now, kids, we know that you can probably distinguish a real pie throw from a virtual one, but for those of you in the back: Please do not try this for real. Also, choose your flavor carefully—we only want each person to throw one pie. So what are you waiting for? Ready, aim, pie!

-Cody