Leona Lewis - Harrods Fur Snub! October 10, 2008

Posted by Patricia at October 10, 2008 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Today's blog features guest blogger, peta2 UK's Violet...

In just one more thing to add to our "Reasons That peta2 Are In Love With Leona Lewis" list, the beautiful Leona proved that her compassion is NOT for sale when she rejected a £1m offer from Harrods boss Mohammed Fayed to open this year's summer sale because of the department stores ruthless pelt pushing record. Harrods is the only department store in the UK that continues to sell real fur! Come on Harrods, get out of the dark ages and take a leaf out of Harvey Nichols' book!

Photo: Michael Germana/Star Max Inc.
Leona said, "I'm totally against animal cruelty. I don't have clothes, shoes or bags made from animal products."

Also on the Leona front - rumour has it that she's been in talks with Sir Philip Green about creating a range of non-leather bags and shoes for Topshop!!! Right, I'm off to Pilates so I can get fighting fit, ready for the inevitable scramble at the unveiling!! Watch out ladies; see you at the front of the queue!!!

*Violet
x

Whose Skin Are You In? September 25, 2008

Posted by Marta at September 25, 2008 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Isn't it disturbing to think that wearing the skin of another animal is considered normal by many people? I mean seriously, wearing the skin of someone who was once living and breathing is really sick.

Many people wear animal skins in a misguided attempt to be fashionable, but how can wearing dead skin make you look good (Hello, Hairy-Kate and Trashley)?

I think the problem lies in the fact that many people are just completely unaware of what happens to animals in the cruel skins industry. Honestly, it's weird, but a lot of people don't even realize that leather comes from an animal. We need your help to make sure everyone knows the truth.

We have a brand new video to share with you all, called "Whose Skin Are You In?" It's a great video to share with your friends and family to get them to think twice about whose skin they're wearing on top of their own. Our goal is to get 1,000,000 views of this video on YouTube. Will you help us?

First, watch the video below. Next, embed the video everywhere you can (get the code here). Then be sure to go to YouTube and comment on and favorite the video. And, of course, don't forget to forward the video to everyone you know!

Let's make sure everyone knows that wearing animals is not fashionable. Thanks so much for your help!

♥ Marta

The peta2 Advice Blog! September 18, 2008

Posted by Marta at September 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Not sure what to do if your uniform contains leather or some other animal product? See what you can do!

I'm in color guard at my school, and I found out that our pole gloves are made of leather! I love being in guard and don't want to quit, but I need gloves. What should I do? - Doesn't Want to Be Left Guardless

For this season, ask your coach if you can purchase your own non-leather gloves that are the same color to stay within uniform. This site has some non-leather glove options. For next season, ask your coach if he or she would consider non-leather gloves to be part of the uniform for the whole team. Explain why leather is cruel, and show them the many skin-free options! - Lara

You'll be surprised how easy it is to get animal-friendly non-leather gloves if you just ask, like Lara suggested. But if the chump in charge of the uniforms isn't understanding of your ethical objection, drop us a line and we'll help you step up the pressure with leaflets, flyers, and other resources. Them fools better recognize, peta2's got your back! - Pulin

This is a tricky one! Most people don't know how cruel it is to wear leather, and even more people are okay with just accepting it as tradition. With so many cruelty-free alternatives made now, it makes your job a bit easier though. You can let your school know that leather comes from cows that are abused, and exploited for silly things like coats, seats, and in your case, gloves. Who wants to wear dead animals' skin? Not me, not you—and I'm sure some of your newly informed fellow color guard members will agree that your school should get an alternative. Hand out leaflets and look online with your school for faux leather gloves! - Rachel

Have a question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!

Comment with your own advice for Doesn't Want to Be Left Guardless! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.

Olympic Judo Medalist Declares She's Going Vegan! August 14, 2008

Posted by Patricia at August 14, 2008 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack
usjudo/CreativeCommons.org
Typically when athletes are asked what they're doing next after winning a big game or a medal they reply, "I'm going to Disney World!" This wasn't the case when Ronda Rousey became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo. Nope, her response went like this...

"What am I gonna do?" she replied, "As of right now I am a vegan." Nice.

The 21 year-old bronze medal winner has also sworn off of leather and credits Earthlings for opening her eyes to the hideous ways animals are treated. (If only she had known about Mac Danzig then, she could have ditched meat and dairy much earlier!)

Training for the Olympics must be so intense, but luckily Ronda has a lot of support from her mom AnnMaria, who's a former U.S. world champion judoka. When asked about how a vegan lifestyle would mesh with the world of mixed martial arts her mother replied, "I mean, we're tough but we don't kill our opponents and eat them." I love this family.

Ronda actually has a list of things she wants to do next which include driving a "clean car," trying her hand at college, and teaching herself to surf. "I made up this long list of stuff that I couldn't do while I was training that normal people do. It's kind of too late to go to prom, but you know. I'll find something to make up for it."

I think an Olympic medal trumps prom.

Read her blog, she's awesome.

Congratulations, Ronda!

xox
Patricia

Special Back-to-School Offer from MooShoes! August 14, 2008

Posted by Patricia at August 14, 2008 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

As much as you don't want to think about it, it's back-to-school time. I myself could not wait for back-to-school time because to me that meant only one thing...back-to-school shopping!!

If you're nothing like me and dread the thought of shopping, seek professional help immediately. the wonderful folks at MooShoes.com want to help make this task easier by giving you 10% off your entire online purchase. Pretty cool, huh?

Kaboodle//Creative Commons

MooShoes has a wide variety of non-leather, all vegan shoes, belts, and wallets for girls and guys, and the most adorable bags!

So shop til your heart's content knowing that no animals were harmed! Don't forget to enter the code "veganstyle" at checkout, and hurry because this offer ends on September 30!

xox
Patricia

Sand Sculpture Demonstration? June 3, 2008

Posted by Marta at June 3, 2008 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

The demos that PETA's affiliates around the world come up with never cease to amaze me. Our friends at PETA India held a demonstration today to highlight the leather industry's factor in global warming. Check out a quote from this article about the demo:

'Leather-production facilities destroy nearby waterways and delicate eco-systems in the water resources,' PETA Campaign Manager N.G. Jayasimha told IANS.

'The energy consumed and pollution produced by the leather industry makes it a leading factor in global warming, which is endangering polar bears and their habitat,' he said.

And look at this absolutely amazing sand sculpture, designed by artist Sudarsan Patnaik in Puri City:

The leather industry is cruel and disgusting. And seriously, there are so many alternatives—just keep an eye out for labels that say things like "synthetic" or "man-made materials." Chances are high that you already own some faux-leather products, even if you didn't specifically seek them out.

I really can't believe that people wear someone else's chemically-processed skin on their feet (or any part of their bodies). The chemicals are necessary to keep the skin from, you know, decomposing and stuff. Sick. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Chemically-treated cow skin is not fashionable.

♥ Marta

PS - Check out peta2's adorable anti-leather sticker:

We're Loving Leona! March 28, 2008

Posted by Patricia at March 28, 2008 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Today's blog features guest blogger, peta2 UK's Violet...

One of peta2's new [bleeding] loves (besides Panic at the Disco's single—it's so bloody catchy!) is unsurprisingly the lovely Leona Lewis! Not only one of the most talented ladies in pop, but she's a great friend to the animals and this month she's guest blogging for one of our favourite mags, Cosmogirl!

Copyright: Michael Germana/starmaxinc.com

In her blog with Cosmogirl she talks about recently meeting Jamie Oliver, and how she can't wait to get some vegetarian recipes from him! So Leona, if you're reading this, please send them to us too! Yum yum!

Leona is managed by fellow animal friend Simon Cowell (yes please) and she's a girl after our own heart. She loves shopping, shoes and handbags, but she also loves animals and knows that they shouldn't have to suffer for anyone's shopping spree. In the past she's said, "I hate the thought of animals being killed just for our pleasure, so I won't wear leather."

Three cheers for Leona!

*Violet
X

P.S. Simon Cowell is my ONLY celebrity crush (except Morrissey - but that's different).

Tobey Maguire Thinks Leather Stinks March 7, 2008

Posted by Patricia at March 7, 2008 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Copyright: DP/AAD/starmaxinc.com

Tobey Maguire has made his feelings about leather known before but this time it appears he's really taking a stand. According to an article I recently ran across, the veg actor not only abstains from wearing leather himself, but he also wants his house guests to leave their dead skin behind as well.

Apparently, upon entering his home, his guests are asked to check their leather belts, shoes, and bags at the door. Makes perfect sense to me, I mean it's his house and if he isn't eating or wearing animals, why should visitors be able to? And leather stinks. Who wants that horrible stench of death filling up their house? Not me.

If only every leading man was as kind as Tobey Maguire...I'm bummed that there isn't another Spiderman sequel to look forward to this summer. I loved watching him swing from webs and battle crime—and his beautiful co-star James Franco—but I think The Cider House Rules is still my fave Tobey flick. Tobey Maguire + the always gorgeous Charlize Theron = good.

xox

Patricia

Britney Spears' Birthday Massacre December 6, 2007

Posted by Patricia at December 6, 2007 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 20 ) | TrackBack

NPX/starmaxinc.com

America's ex-sweetheart, Britney Spears, celebrated the big 2 6 with all her pals at the Scandinavian Style Mansion last weekend. Apparently that Scandinavian Style Mansion is the new "it" spot for has-been fur hags, dont'cha know, because Sharon Stone was there as well, but not to celebrate with Britney...right.

All Britney's best pals were there, Paris, cousin Alli Sims, and that Sam guy who's in all the pix of her lately. And of course Britney, clad in her usual street-walkeresque attire, and Alli arrived to walk the red carpet in style, trimmed in dead animals. Nothing says party like fur, y'all.

And what celebrity party wouldn't be complete without super pricey presents?! Don't worry, Britney's "friends" didn't let her down, they loaded her up with lots of gifts including diamonds, leather, and fur—allegedly $30,000 worth of pelts. Nothing says, "Yay, we're glad you're around to celebrate another year of your life," quite like the skin and fur of dead animals.

Instead of giving her garments made from tortured animals her "friends" should have given her things she could really use, like parenting manuals, a driver, a new stylist, a few full length mirrors, and the number of a good life counselor/shrink. That girl needs help, not death wrapped in a brightly colored package.

xox

Patricia

P.S. Got some suggestions for things that would have made better gifts for poor, misguided Britney? Let me know by posting them below, then pledge to be fur-free because with friends like Britney's around, animals need all the help they can get.

Natalie Portman - Leather-free Beauty November 7, 2007

Posted by Patricia at November 7, 2007 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 16 ) | TrackBack

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.