Barbecue Tofu Pizza, Colleges, and Texans ... Oh My! November 10, 2009

Posted by Ryan at November 10, 2009 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

It's that time of the week—your regularly-scheduled peta2 College Campaign update, and boy does this one pack a punch ...

For starters, we're right in the thick of our highly-anticipated "Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges" competition, and the contest is really heating up! Voters have already narrowed down our list of U.S. colleges from 32 nominees to 8 semifinalists, including last year's winner American University and returning finalists Oberlin College and UC Santa Cruz.

We're not talking about PB&J here. These schools offer some of the finest vegan options found anywhere in the country, including ... *inhales deeply* ... tempeh cacciatore, fried buffalo tofu, vegan scallion mashed potatoes, veggie chicken red curry with steamed broccolini and organic jasmine rice, vegan barbecue tofu pizza, vegan sausage patties, almond seitan, and veggie barbecue riblets on a French roll, just to name a few.

Incredible, right? Well, click on the image below to check out the current standings, and to cast your ballot!

Also this week, our Liberation exhibit crew rolled deep into the heart of Texas to set up the provocative animal rights display in the middle of the University of Texas campus.

Working alongside the peta2-award-winning campus group, Students Against Cruelty to Animals, we spoke to thousands of Texans about why we reckon the state's cattle-ranching industry will soon be a thing of the past, just as so many human atrocities throughout history have come to an end. Even the student newspaper, The Daily Texan, came out to cover our visit. Yee haw!





Well, that's it from us for now. Farewell from the Lone Star State!

We LOVE People Who LOVE Animals! July 23, 2009

Posted by Marta at July 23, 2009 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Greetings from the dirrrty south!

The Rise Against tour has been HOT since I last checked in, literally. I'm not gonna lie—super hot weather makes me want to stay in my air-conditioned apartment and eat vegan coconut ice cream in front of the tube all day, but there were much more important things to be done. I was more than impressed to meet a few AMAZING people this past week who felt the same way and came out to donate their time, despite the heat, for the sake of the adorable rats and mice still being tortured in cosmetic testing labs. In Dallas, TX, we had amazing peta2 Street Teamer Alex come out for the second time this summer to help.

In Austin, TX, we had a brand new volunteer, Ashley. With no previous experience, she got over 300 people to agree that Animal Testing Breaks Hearts and that huge cosmetic and household product corporations should switch to the more sophisticated and humane non-animal methods of testing their products.


Last but not least, for the last ten days, we've had amazing PETA intern, Hannah, out with us on the road. She chose the triple-digit temperatures over the air-conditioned office, and for that the animals will surely benefit. She has dominated everyday!


Whether it be one hour or one year, your time is worth one million carrots to a bunny rabbit who never has to see the inside of a product testing laboratory!

So what are you waiting for? Start spreading the word now!

-Heather

This Month's Star College Group! April 1, 2009

Posted by Ryan at April 1, 2009 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBack

Last month, we highlighted the tremendous work of Speak Out for Species (S.O.S.) at the University of Georgia.

For the month of April though, we're swinging down into the Lone Star State, to shine the spotlight on Students Against Cruelty to Animals (SACA) at the University of Texas!

Just to give you an idea of some of the many things this rockin' student group has been up to recently, they have:

• Worked with peta2 to gather over 1,500 petition signatures from UT students against Petland, because the chain continues to sell dogs and cats from cruel mass-breeding facilities, even though nearly 4 million cats and dogs must be euthanized at shelters every year for lack of good homes.




• Protested regularly outside of KFC restaurants, fur stores, restaurants that sell foie gras, circuses, rodeos, and everyone else who dares abuse animals in Austin!




• Organized a colorful "Only Zombies Eat Flesh" event on campus, where they distributed free vegan sloppy Joes and delicious faux beef jerky, while covered in fake "blood", to the delight of hundreds of UT students!

Pretty amazing, right?

In recognition of their efforts, peta2 will be sending the organization a framed "Star College Group" award, to proudly display on campus.

So from all us at peta2, to all of the students in SACA, thanks for all you do!



Leave your kudos for SACA below, and make sure to get in touch with us to organize similar events at your school!

"Only Zombies Eat Flesh" at the University of Texas! March 5, 2009

Posted by Ryan at March 5, 2009 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Written by Kelly Sloan, President of Students Against Cruelty to Animals at the University of Texas.

Thursday, March 20th, is Great American MeatOut Day, a day devoted to spreading awareness about the effects of meat consumption on animals, humans, and the environment. The University of Texas animal rights group, Student Against Cruelty to Animals, held a rally on campus where we passed out free vegan food while dressed up as zombies to go with their theme of "Only Zombies Eat Flesh"!

People passing by were able to stop at the table, sample some delicious vegan sloppy joes, "beef" jerky, veggie burgers, and sign a pledge to go meat-free for a day, week, or a lifetime! We also left the table with tons of stickers and informational pamphlets.

Overall we felt the rally was really effective. Many people liked the food and chose to go veg for the rest of the day or try it out for a week. The costumes caught a lot of attention as we called out "Only zombies eat flesh, try vegetarian" and many found it hard to resist our leaflets!

Going Green with hellogoodbye! November 4, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 4, 2008 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

Oh what a first week we had hanging with some of the greatest people ever—who are all learning (or helping spread the word) that Meat's Not Green! Did you know seventy percent of the leveled rain forest in the Amazon is used to raise animals for meat consumption? That can't be good for anyone!

We joined our friends from hellogoodbye in California to start the BBQ tour. Like pros, these manly men got right to building grills.

We're also making new friends, like Ace Enders and Never Shout Never.

Jason and Sergio (Ace Enders) and Casey (Never Shout Never) all signed our petition this week to inform everyone and spread the word that Meat's Not Green!


And these rad Texans got involved by getting decked out in MNG stickers!


We'd also like to welcome Casandra to the HGB tour. She'll be out talking to you about what we can do to help save the planet AND animals at one time—like try going vegetarian for a week. You'll help save the rain forests and feel healthier, and you might even want to stick with it once the week is over! If you're already vegetarian, try going vegan for a week!


This week in my tummy, we went to Mr. Natural in Austin, TX—a 100% vegetarian Mexican restaurant. I'll let the pictures do the talking.




Peace like a river,

Paige!

Students Taking Over! March 24, 2008

Posted by Ryan at March 24, 2008 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack

Oh, spring is in the air, and the students on college campuses are taking FULL advantage of it!

Here's a little recap from 4 of the recent "Student Spotlight" entries we've received over the past week:

- Students at Michigan State University have an AMAZING campaign against the circus coming to their campus

- The student group at the University of Texas held an "Only Zombies Eat Flesh" vegan food giveaway!

- A student at Cal State University in L.A. filmed her own anti-fur public service announcement (view the video here)

- The student group at Brock University held Vegan Taco Day on campus!

As you can tell, there is no shortage of great activism taking place on college campuses this month!

So what did I do this past week? I took some time off and visited Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in DC. Look at this awesome exhibit I found in the Human Development section!

I couldn't have said it better myself!

- Ryan!

We Want To Meet YOU This Weekend! February 6, 2008

Posted by Ryan at February 6, 2008 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 8 ) | TrackBack

This Sunday is the first peta2 Take Action Conference in the South! Our whole crew will be flying down to Texas for a day full of discussion panels about animal rights and "how to answer the tough questions", with a HUGE protest at KFC afterwards! If you've ever been in an argument with friends or family about vegetarianism, fur, or any other topic, we'll give you the answers you need to win that argument! :)

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING, we have a special offer for this conference!! If you have already registered, you can BRING UP TO TWO FRIENDS WITH YOU FOR FREE!! That's right, we want to encourage you to bring friends who have not bought tickets for the event as well, and at no cost!

All you have to do is email me to let me know who you will be bringing, and I'll book them the spaces (and lunch)!

IF YOU HAVEN'T RESERVED YOUR SPACE YET, there's still time! Click HERE or on the adorable picture of us to book your space now!



See you soon!!

- Ryan!

P.S. - If you live anywhere within driving distance of Austin, TX (I'm talking to you Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana!), you DEFINITELY won't want to miss this event. It will be a while before we return to the area, so make sure to get some friends or your parents to drive you to this conference if you can! Road trip!!

P.P.S - IF FOR SOME REASON you cannot register online (or if you're broke), just contact me so that we can find a way for you to go!

Everything is Bigger in Texas January 18, 2008

Posted by Marta at January 18, 2008 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

I've been hanging out in Texas with my buddy Susan for the past week. Surprising as it might sound Texas is one of my favorite states. Not only is everyone so nice, they have some amazing food. We were in Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Dallas, and let me tell you we ate very well. Vegan food is delicious!

If you haven't yet, you should check out the site HappyCow.net. It has pretty much all the vegetarian friendly restaurants in the world. We use it everyday when we are out on the road and you would be surprised what you can find in the smallest towns. Here are a few pictures from our time in Texas—not to make you jealous, though I'm sure they will.

Don't you think the guy that owns this car needs to learn to show his Texas pride?



That's all for now—I'm off to Arizona!

-Paul