Artistic Haven Merchandise July 10, 2008

Posted by Pulin Modi at July 10, 2008 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

I am always inspired by the success stories of people around the world working for animal rights. I've known an activist named Doreen for a few years now, and she's awesome. I remember one time when she did an anti-KFC protest that got great coverage in her school newspaper and locally, too. She's hard working, way into animal rights, and totally obsessed with Flogging Molly!

Doreen's latest project is a clothing company called Artistic Haven. I figured I'd give a plug for where you can order some of her great animal rights designs. So check this out.

And here's a photo of Doreen modeling one of my favorite shirts about seafood.

Check out the Artistic Haven online store. They are even donating 20% of the profits to PETA! The power of compassion never stops.

-Pulin

Posted by Pulin

30 Days - Did You Watch It? June 18, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders at June 18, 2008 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 22 ) | TrackBack

Did you watch the "Animal Rights" episode of 30 Days last night? If so, I told you! Wasn't it amazing? Sugar!

If you didn't watch, I disown you. No, not really, but I will if you don't catch the rerun!

Want to know what George (the hunter) had to say about the show? Look below!

When you were first selected to participate in this show, what did you expect the experience to be like?

I was pretty scared. I expected to be surrounded by people that just wanted to argue for a whole month. I'm not afraid of an argument, but I thought the numbers were stacked against me. All I was told was that I would be totally immersed in the animal rights movement. As far as the people I would meet, I expected a lot of angry people that yelled a lot. I figured girls and guys alike would be hairy-legged sandal-wearing hippies. For the most part, I was mistaken.

How did your opinion of animal rights activists change after your 30 days with the Karpels?

I realized almost immediately that animal rights activists, PETA members specifically, were very normal folks. That being said, there are some out there, just as with the factory farms, that give everyone involved a bad name. I learned about several examples of the abuse, neglect, and suffering that occur in factory farming. It's not a pretty industry, and if people were able to experience what I did, you might see a major change.

Are there any animal rights issues that are particularly important to you now that you hadn't thought about before staying with Melissa and her family?

I am aware that there need to be changes in factory farming, but aside from veganism, I haven't heard about a practical alternative. I personally prefer to buy my meat and produce from grocers that support the smaller local farms. The Burberry demonstration was hard-hitting, but we don't have very many fur coats in North Carolina. The one subject that I find the most offensive is vivisection. I can't give away anything about the show, but I had no idea how unnecessary it was. Tissue samples are infinitely more effective. For the sake of money, it seems people are abusing animals just because they can. They should be ashamed of themselves and pray that they never have to answer for their actions.

What are your views on the tactics that PETA uses to draw attention to the suffering of animals?

One area where I think PETA could use some P.R. work is separating themselves from some of the other animal rights groups out there. The term most people relate to animal rights is PETA. Anything that happens for the sake of animals, regardless of how offensive it is, gets hung on the neck of PETA. Consequently, most people think PETA people are nuts. I believe PETA does it the right way: education. They keep it fun and provide people with information.

***

Thanks George!

Did any of you watch the show? If so, what did you think?

xoxo- Lara

Posted by Lara

PETA on 30 Days Tomorrow! June 16, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders at June 16, 2008 9:19 PM | TrackBack

What do you get when you put George Snedeker, an avid hunter, with a family of vegans (including PETA's own campaign coordinator Melissa Karpel) for 30 days? If you ask 30 Days creator Morgan Spurlock, an hour of the most compelling TV you'll ever watch.

Since I have connections (i.e. I know Melissa), I got a sneak peak of the "Animal Rights" 30 Days episode that airs tomorrow night on FX at 10:00 PM EST. Morgan Spurlock was right—it was the most compelling hour of TV I've ever watched. I laughed. I cried. I loved it!

George spent 30 days living with Melissa's all vegan family in L.A. participating in Kentucky Fried Cruelty protests, eating only vegan meals, and working at a local farmed animal sanctuary.

I don't want to spoil it for you, but you really have to see what happens! So tell your family, invite your friends, pop some popcorn, and watch it!

Again, the "Animal Rights" 30 Days episode airs tomorrow (6/17) on FX at 10:00 PM EST. Check your local listings!

xoxo-Lara

Posted by Lara

Adidas Scores, Big Time, for Australian Sheep! June 4, 2008

Posted by Ryan at June 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 19 ) | TrackBack

We 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!

Posted by Ryan

T-Rex Invades PETA! April 17, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders at April 17, 2008 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

A few days ago, I decided to eat my lunch in the PETA dog park because it was just so darn nice out. Imagine my surprise when I came outside and found a HUGE dinosaur in the parking lot...a T-Rex to be exact.

Here is a photo of me and Mr. Rex. Don't worry, he was very friendly. In fact, he was even against testing on animals (as the sign on the side of him stated).

I was a bit surprised to see a dinosaur in the parking lot, but then again, I do work at PETA, where the unexpected seems to be a common occurrence.

I wasn't the only one to make Mr. Rex's acquaintance that day. Check out Marta and Rachel hanging out with him.


So short story short—End Stone Age Animal Tests! A dinosaur told me...

xoxo-Lara

P.S. What's the weirdest thing that has every happened to you at work? Comment with your story below!

Posted by Lara

Milk Gone Wild 2: At the Carwash! March 18, 2008

Posted by Ryan at March 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Summer has to be my favorite season, hands down. Sitting outside on the porch with a giant tub of Soy Delicious ice cream, pretending I can tan. Yes, it's the stuff dreams are made of.

That's why I was so excited to see that a group of peta2 fans decided to get in the summer spirit to create their own DIY sequel to last year's infamous "Milk Gone Wild" video!

Those astute blog readers may even recognize a guest appearence by a peta2 staffer as well. I don't want to blow the surprise, but let's just say his name starts with a "P" and rhymes with "Pulin".

If by the end of this video you can still drink cow's milk, you just might be a weirdo.

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Tabling > Everything Else January 15, 2008

Posted by Ryan at January 15, 2008 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Good morning, ladies and germs! Ryan here, bringing you your weekly dose of college tomfoolery and shenanigans!

This week, we'll focus on that issue that everybody's talking about! Politics? Nope! Britney Spears? God no! Why, it's tabling of course!

Yes, it's the classic way to educate others about new ideas, such as animal rights and vegetarianism. It's true! What was old is new again! Everybody's doing it! It feels so good! (Peer pressure, anybody?)

To get you started, make sure to check out this amazing new video about "How to Table on Campus!", featuring yours truly, and guest starring Rachel "Dance Dance Revolution" Owen!



As mentioned in the video, we send out all kinds of FREE materials (leaflets, stickers, DVDs, etc.) to help your tabling events be a huge success! How cool is that?!

So let us know when you want to set up a table at your school, and we'll help you make it happen! After all, what are friends for?

- Ryan!

P.S. - Comment below with your thoughts on Rachel's amazing dancing skills in the video! She reads every one of them, I swear!

Posted by Ryan

Happy Holidays from peta2! December 24, 2007

Posted by Ryan at December 24, 2007 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Hey everybody! With the peta2 HQ being closed tomorrow for Christmas, we wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Holidays. Yes, it's time to break out the Silk Nog, convince our parents to have a vegan holiday meal, and sing funnier versions of traditional Christmas carols (Ok, "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" one more time, from the top).

As a reminder though, it's still not too late to send along all of peta2's amazing holiday e-cards to your friends and family that still eat or wear animals. There's, of course, last year's classic "Santa Got Run Over by His Reindeer", as well as this year's instant classic, the peta2 Holiday Snow Globe.

Yes, it's exciting enough to make even the toughest "hardcore kids" get into the spirit.

Dance, hardcore kid. Dance like the wind.

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Missing Person: Leah Hickman December 21, 2007

Posted by Ryan at December 21, 2007 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

Yesterday, peta2 became aware of a missing student situation in Huntington, WV which has the entire campus of Marshall University on the look-out. While Leah Hickman had planned to go home for the holidays to spend time with her family in nearby Point Pleasant, WV, she has now been missing for nearly a week and counting.

This situation was brought to our attention because a local news story reported that she had just recently been inspired to be a vegetarian after watching videos on PETA's website. As the article states:

"[Her friend] described the missing woman as "the sweetest girl you could ever imagine," adding that "when she first started at Marshall, all she talked about was wanted [sic] to find a job where she could help people. "A couple of weeks ago she called me out of the blue crying hysterically because she had watched some videos on the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,) website. She was like, 'I'm going to become a vegetarian.' [it's like eating meat] broke her heart.""

Image from Leah's Rescue MySpace page

If anybody has any information that could be helpful for Leah's safe return, please contact the Huntington Police Department (304-696-4420).

A MySpace page has been set up in an effort to raise awareness about this situation, which can be found here.

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan

Super Secret FREE Stuff! December 19, 2007

Posted by Ryan at December 19, 2007 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

Ahhhh, do you smell that? What is that? I can't quite place it. Marta, is it you? No, but close! Yes, it's the holiday spirit!!

With Marta, Pulin, and most of the peta2 crew getting ready to leave for the holidays, I've decided to take advantage of this freedom by giving stuff away before they get back! Shhh, it'll be our little secret, ok?

That's right. I'm giving away FREE Dorm Door Packs for all college students! Inside, you'll find:

Not bad, eh?? All you have to do is order yours HERE before Dec. 31st (that way I don't get busted by the others in the office for offering you this awesome deal). And sorry, but this offer is only valid for students in the U.S. and Canada (sorry to all Street Teamers in Madagascar).

Uh oh, gotta run! The boss is coming! Go! Order the packs, and then hide before we get caught!

"Hi boss! Nope, nothing to see here..."

:)

- Ryan!

Posted by Ryan