Helping Make a Difference One Vegan Pancake at a Time July 30, 2009

Posted by Lara Sanders at July 30, 2009 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Greetings from our nation's capital! Pop quiz: What do Michelle Obama and PETA have in common? No, it's not our toned biceps. Yes, we are both anti-fur, but that's not what I'm getting at either. It's that we both have volunteered with a great organization called Miriam's Kitchen. Miriam's Kitchen is a D.C. based nonprofit that provides free meals and support services to the homeless.

Since PETA is relatively new to the neighborhood, we wanted to pitch in and help out the community. And what better way to do just that than with vegan pancakes?

Today we had the great opportunity to cook and serve Miriam's first vegan breakfast in the history of the organization.

On the menu:

Fluffy vegan pancakes with strawberry topping and non-Canadian Maple syrup
Fruit salad
Cereal with soy milk
Hearty veggie chili and brown rice
Salad
Coffee with soy milk and orange juice

At first, the vegan breakfast was met with some skepticism, but the empty plates at the end of service spoke for itself. Here are some reviews of some of the people I spoke with:

"It's actually good!"
"I wish they had soy milk every day. I am allergic to cow's milk, and it tastes better."
"They're trying to makes us healthy up in here!"

Indeed we are.

Obama, A Fly, And Compassionate Living June 18, 2009

Posted by Pulin Modi at June 18, 2009 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 14 ) | TrackBack

One of the hottest news stories today has been about PETA's statement on President Obama killing a fly during a recent interview.

There's a bit of a misunderstanding on what's been going on with this (we don't have a campaign against him for swatting a fly or anything like that), so here's what we have to say ...

Certainly, President Obama has been helpful in his opposition to factory farming, which involves the mutilation and slaughter while fully conscious of 10 billion chickens and other farmed animals every year and is something America can be ashamed of. He condemned the Canadian seal slaughter, which is the largest massacre of marine mammals in the world. His wife won't wear fur, which means she doesn't support having animals die slowly in traps and an abysmal life and death on fur factory farms just for a coat. His administration is supporting openness regarding how government money is spent, so that's going to save millions of animals from painful experiments every year. And he had a perfect voting record on behalf of animals while he was in the Senate and spoke out publically in support of animal protection on multiple occasions during his campaign for President. Swatting a fly on TV indicates that he's not the Buddha, that's all.

As an organization, we support compassion even for the most curious, smallest, and least sympathetic animals, much as Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who included insects in his realm of compassion, but human beings often don't think before they act and so people swat flies and far worse.

PETA's mission statement is that other animals are not ours to eat, to wear, to experiment on, or to use for human amusement. Basically, do the least harmful, hurtful thing you can, be aware.

We hope that anyone reading this will take steps to reduce suffering through simple, kind choices in our daily lives such as choosing vegetarian meals, cruelty-free cosmetics, and clothing made without animals. Visit peta2.com/TakeCharge if you need some motivation and tips on making it happen.

"Skinny Bitches" Get Their Moms Something Useful This Mother's Day! May 4, 2009

Posted by Ryan at May 4, 2009 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Best-selling author Rory Freedman has already spared millions of animals from unnecessary deaths in slaughterhouses, simply by promoting a healthy and cruelty-free vegan diet in her iconic book Skinny Bitch. But now she's taking her compassion to the next level!

You see, rather than buying her mom another meaningless foot massager or something this Mother's Day, Rory has offered to donate $5,000 to peta2 in her mom's honor—but only if you follow her example!

Here's how it works: Rory is going to match donors like you dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 total. So for example, if you donate $20 to peta2, she will also donate $20 to double the impact! As Rory said in an email to peta2, "Show your mom who you are and how well she raised you—that you know what is really important."

Your donations—no matter what size—will go twice as far to help us raise awareness and combat cruelty to animals raised for food, clothing, experimentation, and other industries.

Your support helps us win countless victories. From convincing top retailers such as J. Crew and Urban Outfitters to go fur-free to pushing for the first-ever felony charges of cruelty to factory-farmed birds, peta2 is changing how the world treats animals, but we can't do it alone!


Take Rory's Challenge and Have Your Donation Doubled!

--or--

Take Rory's Challenge Through peta2's Facebook Cause

Greatest Tattoo Ever? March 11, 2009

Posted by Ryan at March 11, 2009 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 17 ) | TrackBack

When we met Nicole at the peta2 National Conference in San Francisco last fall, we knew right away that we'd be friends. Sometimes you just kind of know, right?

Well, I'm glad we did too, because when Nicole got her latest animal rights tattoo, we just had to check it out...

Pretty amazing, eh?

Leave your comment below, telling Nicole what you think of her new tattoo!

Vote for Your Fave Banned Super Bowl Ad! January 27, 2009

Posted by Lara Sanders at January 27, 2009 8:11 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 20 ) | TrackBack

Some people watch the Super Bowl for the game, and others watch it for the crazy commercials. This year, I'm watching it for both, because the Steelers (my team) are playing.

One commercial you won't see on February 1st is PETA's new "Veggie Love" ad. This racy commercial was a little too hot for TV if you know what I mean ... thank goodness you can see it here! Check it out.

This isn't the first PETA ad that has been banned from being played during the Super Bowl. Below are my top five favorites.

1. "Sexy Sausage"

2. "Sex Talk"

3. "Milk Gone Wild"

4. "Kentucky Fried Cruelty: The Movie"

5. "Veggie Love"

Comment below to vote for which commercial you like best!


P.S. Go Steelers!

Does President-Elect Obama Bring Hope for Animals? November 5, 2008

Posted by Ryan at November 5, 2008 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | 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!

Fighting Animal Abuse In Your Neighborhood November 4, 2008

Posted by Rachel-O at November 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

As the winter begins here in Norfolk, Virginia, I'm bracing myself for another season with PETA's Community Animal Project (CAP), a program in our Cruelty Investigations Department. This is where PETA staffers volunteer their weekends to deliver straw and sturdy doghouses to dogs kept outside in the colder months. As I think about how eager I am to start again, I think back to last fall and an entry I wrote in my own personal journal:

"This weekend I got the honor of working with PETA's Community Animal Project—or CAP, a program that offers free to low cost spaying and neutering services to low-income families, delivers straw in the winter, and food and shelter all throughout the year for dogs who live at the end of chains or confined to pens in North Carolina and Virginia.

For whatever reason, there is one dog from this weekend that I cannot stop thinking of. I cannot forget. He was a large German Shepherd/black lab mix. We saw him from the street. He was chained tightly to some worn down fencing next to a garage, in a small grassy area of a backyard. His house was a two-tone plastic dog crate, covered in dirt and mud. His living area was a pile of dirt and unraked leaves, and he was surrounded by his own waste on every side. There was no food or water in sight, except for a small plastic baggy filled with raw shrimp. He instantly got up to greet us, his large frame moving fast and his tail wagging. His eyes told stories we'll never understand, and you could tell inside them was hope that we would never leave. The neighbor said the house had been abandoned three years ago, and that whoever owned the house came to "feed" the dog daily. Still, this loving, feeling creature begged us to stay with him, and as we wrote down all of the information we could get, we got up and walked away. We loosened his collar, gave him food, water and straw, and left him behind. We must leave him behind because the law was on the side of misery. (Although when we do find animals like this, in trouble, our cruelty investigators follow up with every case).

Three days have passed now. My life has continued: I've come home, eaten, laughed, played, talked, gone to work, relaxed. It has been day and night, warm and cold.

Still outside, he lingers. In the same place, on the same chain. In the same dark alley way next to the same garage. Smelling the same wretched stench of feces and urine, laying in the same dead leaves as the previous months. His life will never change, for him, simply existing in those horrible conditions is life. From the look of his body and the way he acted, he once knew love, now he knows nothing but memory. Now he knows nothing but loneliness.

For those three nights since I met him, I've thought of him every time I close my eyes. When I'm tucked away in my warm bed, he is still out there. He is still out there in the cold, wet night. He is still waiting for someone to come along and pet him, he is still hoping that one day that love he once knew, will return.

We will return for him, but only to finally end his solace. To end his isolation. We cannot erase his months of betrayal, or his months of depression. We can only alleviate his suffering, not replace it with love. There's not enough love in the world to make up for the wrongs of human beings. If they could understand our language, what could our society ever say? Would we tell them that their lives mean nothing? That they're useless, worthless, nothing? That they deserved to fall asleep every night in the dampness of their own waste? Would we, as a society, tell them that yes, we think that's just fine?

If we truly had to answer for our actions, what would we say?

Two of the thousands of dogs that CAP sees every year.
Fortunately for us, our victims can't speak. Most of only fight for the ones who can, because it makes us feel less guilty. We turn our heads to those who can't because they're simply easier to forget."

So what happens when we can't forget?

Sometimes being in the animal rights movement can feel overwhelming, and that's just part of fighting for such an important cause. Millions of animals suffer every day, but for animals in your local neighborhood, and your local shelters - you can help directly. I spend every Sunday at the local animal shelter here in Virginia, and even though every day working for animals is rewarding, there's nothing quite like finding a new home for an animal who is just waiting for a second chance. Not every community is lucky enough to have a program like CAP, but every one has a shelter. You make all of the difference for animals in those shelters, so find one near you and change a life. Who doesn't love spending hours playing with dogs and cats? Especially ones that are especially grateful to be shown love. Sadly, dogs and cats are often overlooked by some people who believe they have it easier, when in a lot of cases, they have it just as bad. Every day working for PETA is rewarding, but it's always some of the hardest, most gut wrenching work that makes me realize why I fight for all animals.

Please, do every little bit that you can, because they have no other choice to make other than to simply wait.

Stay Loud

-Rachel

Free Stuff Friday: PETA and peta2 shirts! September 19, 2008

Posted by Lara Sanders at September 19, 2008 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 387 ) | TrackBack

At peta2, we talk a lot about the easiest ways to be the most effective activists. One simple way to be a great activist is to make sure that you wear animal rights t-shirts as often as possible! They look great, spread an important message, and start conversations. There really is nothing easier. Check out myself, Marta, Shan, Rachel, and Sarah, sporting the best in animal rights clothing:

Want these five days worth of animal rights t-shirts in order to spread the word about peta2 and animal rights? Comment below with your size and your favorite of the five! Three winners will win five t-shirts each! Pretty great, right? I would recommend wearing the "Love Me, Don't Eat Me" shirt first so you can tell everyone to look at our new pig investigation.

Comment now because this contest ends October 3rd, 2008 and the three winners will be chosen and notified by October 10, 2008!

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

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

Good Luck!

-Ashleigh

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

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