How Much Can You Watch? (WARNING: Graphic Video) August 25, 2009

Posted by Ryan at August 25, 2009 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 85 ) | TrackBack

We see a lot of gruesome footage around the peta2 office—whether it's bastards boiling birds, only to sell them to McDonald's, or what happens when military higher-ups seem to think that soldier training sessions should be a bloody battlefield for animals.

There are however, on occasion, videos that even some peta2 staffers have trouble viewing. Videos so horrific that we have to force our callused eyes to watch it all the way through, because we know that if we turn away, nothing will change. This is one of those circumstances.

A new video from inside a slaughterhouse in Turkey, shows ... well, you'll just have to watch ...

This is where meat comes from, folks. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Make sure to comment below, letting us know how much of the video you could watch and what you witnessed.

Happy Tofurky Day 2008! November 27, 2008

Posted by Ryan at November 27, 2008 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 14 ) | TrackBack

I don't know about you, but Thanksgiving has to be my absolute favorite holiday (sorry Flag Day). On what other day would it be socially acceptable to eat like you don't plan on living tomorrow, sit and watch parades on TV (no walking required), and celebrate the beginning of the winter holiday season with a tall glass (or eight) of everybody's favorite vegan nog? What a day to be alive...

I'm sure you're all out there enjoying your scrumptious homemade recipes, but I thought I would share some pics from our peta2 feast (you know, to make you jealous and stuff):

Tofurky, of course!



My first three plates...(notice the vegan mac 'n cheese on all three)



Some of the many vegan cupcakes created for the occasion

With meals like these being served all across our lovely nation today, it's hard to believe that some people actually eat dead birds around this time of year! Don't they know it's 2008?

So I showed you mine. What's on your plate today?



P.S. - Still know some bird-eaters out there? Well, we've got you covered with this sweet e-card to send them! They'll be begging for a piece of your Tofurky in no time!

Sexy Pilgrims, Giant Turkeys, & Delicious Food November 24, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack

The holidays are a great time to get vegetarianism on people's minds. How are we doing that here at PETA? Well, besides reaching out to people online through investigations, videos, and games, PETA is also out on the road, asking people to leave meat off their plates this Thanksgiving.

Here are our 'Sexy Pilgrims' handing out Tofurky samples and hot cider in Fargo, ND:

And our cute 'Turkeys' giving out Tofurkys to curious passersby in Denver, CO:




Both demos got covered by local media, which is great, because that means even more people learned about the delicious vegetarian options that are available!

So, what will you be devouring on Thanksgiving? For those of you who have trouble convincing your family to eat vegetarian, be sure to go grocery shopping with your parents and help make dinner. Maybe your parents will be more inclined to veganize dishes since you're so willing to help! I know that definitely works in my family. Here are some of my suggestions:

• Try soymilk and vegan butter/margarine in mashed potatoes—the potatoes will still be creamy and delicious (I like lots of garlic in mine, too).
• Use tofu in your pumpkin pie. Tofu soaks up the flavor of whatever it's cooked with, so no one will be the wiser!
• Knock people's socks off with this cranberry salsa (seriously, everyone I know that's tried it loves it). Feel free to make without the vegan cream cheese—it's just as delish.
• Ask for a Tofurky. Hey—there's no harm in asking, right?

For more suggestions, check this out. And if you have a tip you want to share with us all, comment with it below.




P.S. Fur-Free Friday is this Friday! Get excited!

Turkey Pardon Fail, Starring Sarah Palin November 21, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 18 ) | TrackBack

The moose-hunting, fur-wearing, pro-aerial-wolf-gunning governor is in the news again. On Thursday, Sarah Palin visited a turkey farm in Wasilla for the traditional pre-Thanksgiving turkey "pardoning." Now, most people probably don't think about exactly how the turkeys raised for Thanksgiving dinner every year meet their maker. But not to worry. Sarah has that under control. In this video, while responding to a reporter who asks about her post-election plans, Palin talks about how she wants to "promote a local business" and do something that won't "invite criticism." While turkeys are being slaughtered. Behind her. ON CAMERA.

Was that one of those "gotcha" questions, Sarah? Because it seems to me that showing the bloody reality of slaughter is just about the worst thing you could do to promote this business. Some people just won't want to eat turkey after watching—especially when this happened the day after PETA released new undercover video from the world's leading poultry-breeding facility. In that video, workers stomp on turkeys' heads, punch them, and bang their heads against metal scaffolding.

This is a country of people who love animals—in fact, 97 percent of Americans believe that farmed animals deserve to be protected from abuse. The more that people are confronted with the ways that animals who are raised for food suffer—from the moment they're born until the moment they're killed—the more that people will start thinking about giving vegetarian meals a try. And then the factory farming industry will need a bigger bailout than the "Big Three."

-Dan

P.S. Sarah Palin should take a cue from our own "President Bush," whose turkey-pardoning this year really was a "mission accomplished."

Undercover Investigator Unveils New Turkey Investigation November 18, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 18, 2008 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 14 ) | TrackBack

We have a brand-new investigation of a turkey factory farm, and we wanted to let the investigator introduce it to you himself. See what he has to say, then please check out the video.
—Marta

The alarm clock on my cell blares out at 1 a.m. I twist in pain. It can't be time to get up yet. I hit the snooze button twice. Finally I roll over and rub my face with my hands, feeling the calloused-over blisters scratching my cheeks. The insides of my eyes and nose hurt from the dust that I could not wash out from the hours I worked yesterday in the barns where turkeys spend their entire lives.

They are crammed into pens, sometimes 600 or 800 to a pen. There are almost 8,000 turkeys in one barn. Each of these turkey farms has two or three barns. The dust inside the barns is sickening. I can't even go in without a respirator mask. I cough and choke from not being able to breathe. I see the turkeys panting much of the time. I think about grabbing one of them and carrying her outside and putting her in the grass where she could breathe and walk freely. It is so sad that they are reduced to this miserable existence just to make some profit.

There are times when I have to hold back the tears. To see the workers torture these animals is infuriating. Today we are loading a truck with male turkeys who have been bred to weigh 80-plus pounds—the same weight as my 10-year-old cousin. I will spend the next four hours watching men slam them into cages on the back of a semi truck in temperatures near 20°F. I have seen these guys stomp turkeys' heads on the concrete. The sound of cracking beaks and breaking bones makes me cringe, but I can show no emotion. I am forced to watch in silent pain as these innocent lives are being destroyed.

Turkey factory farms endorse suffering. They sell death. They make money on abuse. They do not want to show people what happens here. Everyone should know what happens here. I have spent two and a half months in hell so that people will know what it means to have a turkey on the table. Watch the video, and show people the truth. Make this world a better place by reducing pain and suffering. And please do not eat turkey this Thanksgiving.

peta2's New Parody Game: Mama Kills Animals November 17, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 17, 2008 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

I'm not what you'd call a video game junkie—mostly because I don't give myself the opportunity to be. I get sucked in too easily!

That aside, I absolutely love all the peta2 games we have! I know, I know, I'm probably a bit biased, but seriously, they're awesome. So I'm super-excited to get to tell you guys about our brand-new game! Mama Kills Animals is peta2's brand-new parody of the popular Nintendo game Cooking Mama.

In the game, you can pluck a turkey, chop off his head, stuff him, and more, all to help Mama prepare a Thanksgiving feast. But beware: Things will get bloody. What better time than right before Thanksgiving to get all your friends and family to play this game and see how gruesome it really is to "prepare" a turkey dinner?

So go on, play it now, then pass it on to everyone you know. And also, if you add this banner to your page, you can get 500 Street Team points if you e-mail the link to your page to StreetTeam@peta2.com.

<a href="http://www.peta2.com/cooking-mama/index.asp?c=p23211"><img src= "http://www.peta2.com/cooking-mama/images/banner.gif" alt="Cooking Mama, The Unauthorized peta2 Edition: Mama Kills Animals" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a>
Okay, so tell me, are you meaner than mama? Get playing to find out!

♥ Marta

P.S. I hope you make it to the bonus level. You'll love it!

Is President Bush Showing Support for Turkeys? November 12, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 12, 2008 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

You know how the president "pardons" two turkeys each Thanksgiving? This year's ceremony marks the 61st anniversary of the presidential turkey pardon, and well, though it's great that two turkeys are spared from becoming someone's main course, what about the rest of the turkeys? I think they deserve the same pardon. A certain someone couldn't agree with me more, and to see for yourself, check out what he has to say in this video:

Other Viewing Options
Heh, OK—so that's not actually President Bush, but there were some good points made in the video—like the fact that turkeys like to have their feathers stroked (hmm...sounds similar to the dogs and cats you share your home with, right?). If your family is still set on having a real turkey as part of its Thanksgiving tradition, ask them to adopt a turkey instead.

Be sure to pass the video along to your family—and while you're at it, why not include these vegetarian holiday recipes? 'Creamy' Chive Mashed Potatoes? Heck yes.

This Thanksgiving, wouldn't it be amazing if, instead of having a dead bird as the centerpiece, every household had a scrumptious Tofurky Roast (or some other equally delectable meat-free turkey alternative)?

♥ Marta

Win a Free Tofurky for Thanksgiving! November 3, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 483 ) | TrackBack

If you're anything like me, the thought of having a big, dead, stuffed bird as the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal is definitely cringe-inducing—and I'm sure the 300 million turkeys raised and killed for their flesh each year in the US aren't thrilled at the thought, either.

Lucky for you, me, and the turkeys, there are lots of alternatives available, including one of my favorites, Tofurky!

Here are my top five reasons you should eat a Tofurky this year:

• No animal was tortured in the making of a Tofurky.
• No one has to stick her/his hand up a turkey's butt. Tofurkys don't have butts.
• Murder should never be cause for celebration.
• Tofurky roasts are available practically everywhere. Seriously, check this out.
• Turkeys will be thankful.

With all that in mind, we want to give you a chance to win a Tofurky this Thanksgiving to share with your family! That's right, five of you lucky people will win a Tofurky Roast, with a side of "Giblet" and Mushroom gravy—it's delicious on top of the sliced Tofurky Roast!


All you gotta do is blog about why you won't be eating turkeys this Thanksgiving (for all of your friends to see!), then leave a link to your blog as a comment below. By commenting with your link, you'll be entered to win one of five Tofurky Roasts with gravy.

The contest ends on November 19 and winners will be selected and notified the same day. Winners will have the choice of free shipping from anywhere in the Continental U.S. or a VIP coupon that will allow them to pick up their prize at a local grocery store.

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.

Mmm! Good luck!

♥ Marta

P.S. For some delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes, check this out.

Meet Darla the Turkey November 21, 2007

Posted by Lara Sanders at November 21, 2007 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 12 ) | TrackBack

In the summer of 2002, I worked at a farmed animal sanctuary near my hometown in Western Pennsylvania. My day consisted of feeding the animals in the morning, and working on a larger project in the afternoon such as painting the barn a new coat of red, or mending a broken fence.

During my lunch break, one of my own decided duties was to hang out with the rescued turkeys. There was one turkey in particular with whom I took a special liking to. Her name was Darla. Darla had come to the sanctuary after falling off a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. She was quite the lucky turkey indeed.

Darla loved to bask in the sun, search for bugs, investigate what the rabbits were doing in the next enclosure, and eat her favorite treat—grapes. She also loved to be pet. Every time I stroked under her beak, she would fall asleep—sometimes even standing up!

Throughout the summer, I noticed Darla starting to change. She would wheeze when she breathed, and would spend more of her days lying down in the barn.

Darla got worse as the weeks wore on. She was becoming crippled under the weight of her genetically manipulated and drugged body. She was not intended to have lived beyond her date with the slaughterhouse. Her legs were giving out, and her lungs were being crushed by her ever-growing body.

One morning, I came into work and heard that Darla had to be euthanized the night before. I wasn't surprised at the news, because I saw the amount of pain that she was in, and knew her time had come. I was still sad though, and remember her especially during this time of year.

Even if you haven't had the great opportunity to be-friend a turkey, it is clear that they are smart, gentle, and feeling beings that deserve not to be used as a holiday dinner!

So for Darla and all turkeys, go cold turkey this Thanksgiving, and opt for some Tofurky instead!

xoxo-Lara

Who Watched "I Am an Animal" Last Night? November 20, 2007

Posted by Marta at November 20, 2007 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

I certainly did! I'd been looking forward to watching HBO's I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA since I first saw cameras around the office back when I was interning. Lara had a viewing party at her apartment, so a bunch of us got together with snacks and drinks in hand to tune in. You can imagine that there were certainly a lot of "Hey, there's Jason!" types of comments floating around.

Anyway, the documentary did not disappoint. Anyone who watched was able to catch a glimpse of what it's like to be Ingrid and what she goes through on a daily basis. I don't want to give anything away for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but the movie definitely gave me an extra dose of inspiration—I hope it caused those of you who saw it to feel the same way. We've already heard from many of you, and the resounding response is that your respect has only increased for Ingrid and PETA, and we're really happy to hear that!

One of the parts of the film I found to be really heart-wrenching was our undercover investigation into a Butterball Turkey Plant. I'd seen the investigation footage before, but it's always horrifying to watch and hear about what's happening to these animals. Not only that, I could never imagine having the courage and strength it takes to be an undercover investigator. People who conduct our undercover investigations have to mask any empathy they have for animals in order to get footage to show people what is really happening to animals. In honor of the 50,000 birds killed daily at the turkey plant investigated and the brave folks who went undercover to expose the cruelty, please watch our Butterball investigation and pass it along to your family and friends before Thanksgiving.

If you watched the documentary, what did you think of it? And if not, are you planning on checking it out? Hint: The correct answer is yes.

♥ Marta