Written by PETA
A PETA member found a fun way for her little car to send a big message in the Big Apple.
New York resident Emily McCoy wants NYC to go v-e-g to save animals and the planet. Switching to a vegan diet is easier than navigating bridge-and-tunnel traffic and more effective in preventing climate change than switching to a hybrid car. So we can have our vegan cake and our classic cars too.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
In Canada, you can have your pie—you just can't throw it too. PETA supporter Emily McCoy is saying au revoir to Canada after a certain tofu cream pie left her hand and wound up in the face of Fisheries Minister Gail Shea. McCoy appeared in an Ontario courtroom yesterday to face charges of assault after she pushed the pie into Shea's face as part of a protest against Canada's annual seal slaughter. McCoy was spared jail time, but the judge sentenced her to two years of probation during which time she is banned from Canada, its embassies, and contact with all Canadian officials.
A New York resident, McCoy doesn't generally visit Canada all that often, although she is sorry that she won't be able to protest the seal slaughter on Canadian soil for the next two years. Hopefully, by the end of her probation, Canada's bloody seal massacre will be nothing but a sad memory, and she will be able to visit Canada as a tourist, not a protester.
If you would like to bring attention to the seal slaughter sans pastry, visit CanadasShame.com.
One pie, two pie, red (cherry) pie, blue (berry) pie. Over at Twitter, we have a stockpile of (virtual) pies, and we've been having trouble deciding what to do with them (you can only eat so many virtual pies before you get a virtual stomachache). Then it hit us: We should share the tasty treats. But who is worthy of having a virtual pastry delivered to their Twitter account? Then, last week, Canada's minister of fisheries and oceans, Gail Shea, received a cream delight right to the kisser because of her support of the bloody seal slaughter, and the answer was clear—Stephen Harper!
With so many virtual baked goods on hand, we need your help launching them all. So if you have a Twitter account, click on your pie of choice to send a tart message sailing at Prime Minister Harper. Here are the flavors you can choose from:
Now, folks, we know that you can probably distinguish a real pie throw from a virtual one, but for those of you in the back: Please do not try this for real. Also, choose your flavor carefully—we only want each person to throw one pie. So what are you waiting for? Ready, aim, pie!
Written by Shawna Flavell
Vegan-Sisqó mash-up time: "Meat's wrong, wra-wrong, wrong, wrong!" If that doesn't make you want PETA's "Vegans Taste Better" thong, which is half of this week's "Win It" Wednesday, I don't know what will! The other half is for those who like a looser fit when it comes to their underclothing—a pair of ladies' zebra print boxer shorts that'll take your valentine's zebreath away.
Ready to sport this humane nightwear? Just take some lyrics from your favorite song (don't worry, you're not limited to Sisqó's lyrically rich canon), and come up with an animal-friendly alternative. We're giving a thong and a pair of boxers each to the two readers who come up with the catchiest verse—so start tapping your inner rhapsodist!
Enter by posting your revised rhymes in the comments section. The contest ends on February 10, 2010, and we'll pick the winners on February 12, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!
Written by Logan Scherer
We're saddened to report that a dear friend to both animals and PETA, Cynthia Long, recently passed away after what appears to have been a terrible, tragic accident.
Cynthia and her lifelong friend were returning from a gardening class when they drove past a cat who was stuck on a median, too frightened to cross in front of traffic. Knowing that the cat desperately needed help, they exited the interstate and turned the car around. Cynthia emerged from the car but as she tried to cross the passing lane, she was struck by another motorist. She died at the scene and investigators believe that both the glare from the setting sun and a bend in the road impaired the other driver's ability to see Cynthia until it was too late.
State Trooper Kurt Wagenbach told the Brattleboro Reformer "She was trying to do something out of the goodness of her heart, and it had tragic consequences." Another officer noted that, although the police have received calls about the cat, the animal has not yet been found.
Our deepest condolences go out to Cynthia's family and friends, and for her unwavering determination to help animals, we're honoring her posthumously with PETA's Compassionate Citizen Award. We're also adding a leaf in her name to our "Tree of Life", believing that her commitment to animal protection will inspire other people to always take action to help them, too.
Written by Karin Bennett
Bleary-eyed and barely out of bed, I woke up to this morning's Oscar nominations delightfully unsurprised. Every year, the nominees for the Best Documentary Academy Award manage to reflect concerns that stir Americans most, so I wasn't shocked to see that two of this year's five nominated films are The Cove—the critically acclaimed examination of Japan's bloody dolphin trade and slaughter—and Food Inc., the eye-opening examination of the nation's grossly inhumane and environmentally unsustainable production of meat.
Alec Baldwin—who, coincidentally, narrated PETA's iconic documentary, "Meet Your Meat"—is hosting this year's award show, so on March 7, I'm going to be sitting on my couch, waiting for him to give a gold statue to The Cove or Food Inc. with his best Jack Donaghy swagger. I'll be happy if either movie wins, although I am partial to The Cove. How about you? Which do you think will take home the gold?
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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