Written by Michelle Kretzer
Tennessee lawmakers passed the state's proposed "ag-gag" bill, which would require video shot on factory farms in order to expose animal abuse to be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours. The governor has 10 days to sign or veto the bill, and Tennessee resident Carrie Underwood is determined to stop the unconstitutional bill in its tracks. She expressed her outrage over Twitter: "Shame on TN lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill. If Gov. Bill Haslam signs this, he needs to expect me at his front door. Who's with me?"
Advocates for animals and free speech can join Carrie by tweeting polite messages to @BillHaslam.
As always, scores of celebrities reached millions of Twitter users with animal-friendly messages this week:
The mercury is just now starting to rise, but Eva Mendes is already devising ways to make the fall fur-free. Disappointed that designers continue to use real fur, she is releasing her own animal-friendly evening-wear collection. Eva, who proved that she would rather go naked than wear fur, told Look magazine, "Within the fashion industry I can't believe designers still use real fur in their designs when it's so easy to make faux fur. It's cheap and looks great."
And speaking of rising mercury, feast your eyes on PETA India's newest spokesperson, Vidyut Jammwal. You may not be familiar with this Bollywood star and his veggie-powered bod just yet, but you will soon want to be. As one PETA director put it, "Everyone deserves to be able to cast their eyes on him."
Had enough heat? If not, then check out our buds, fellow adoption advocates Mickey Rourke and Kellan Lutz, in their hot new thriller, Java Heat.
To keep up with what all your favorite stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.
Things got rockin' at our "Summer Is No Vacation for Animals on Fur Farms" demonstration in Portland, Maine, when Gavin Rossdale and his son Kingston stopped by:
Gavin thanked the demonstrators for being there and mentioned that he and his fur-free wife, Gwen Stefani, are teaching their children to be kind to animals.
Chad Ochocinco (whose sizzling PETA anti-fur ad might be part of the reason why he's considered "the ultimate catch") tied the knot last weekend with fiancée Evelyn Lozada. So PETA sent the happy couple—what else?—an elegant faux-fur throw from Donna Salyers' Fabulous-Furs.
Fur foe Lea Michele is being recognized for her animal activism. She earned a 2012 Do Something Award nomination for her work with PETA to shut down New York City's cruel horse-drawn carriage industry. Be sure to cast your vote here!
PETA pals are snagging nominations right and left this week. Eva Mendes, Penélope Cruz, Benicio Del Toro, Roselyn Sanchez, Martin Sheen, and Constance Marie are all nominated for 2012 National Council of La Raza ALMA Awards.
And vegetarian wrestler Austin Aries just claimed the title of TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
When 11-time Olympic medal winner Natalie Coughlin heads to London, she'll have some new reading material for the plane. PETA sent the swimmer vegan cookbooks and a vegetarian/vegan starter kit to help her maintain her nearly 100 percent vegetarian diet on the road.
NFL star Arian Foster is hopping on the vegan-athlete bandwagon. His inspiring tweets were some of the best in the Twitterverse this week:
Dominic Monaghan also took to Twitter to defend animals this week, calling the show Swamp People, which glorifies the killing of alligators, "death entertainment" that "continues to demonize reptiles as monsters and animals that are okay to torture and kill." He then vowed, "I'm gonna stop them."
Bob Barker is ready to put a stop to the Calgary Stampede. Everyone's favorite game show host said of the cruel 10-day rodeo festival, in which three horses have already died this year, "I would like very much to see them celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede by saying that is enough animal cruelty. Let's wind it up and close it down."
To keep up with what the stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.
Tonight on The Real Housewives of Orange County, viewers will see Vicki Gunvalson in fur for the last time. When she received a mink coat as a gift on last week's episode, PETA immediately sent her our video exposé of the fur industry narrated by none other than fashion guru Tim Gunn.
As soon as she saw that her coat was made of animals who had been beaten, electrocuted, or skinned alive, Gunvalson refused to wear fur again. In a statement to Bravo TV's The Dish, Gunvalson revealed:
The world has changed and I must change as well. Fur, while it was never something I needed or specifically wanted, it was in my mindset as something glamorous and a sign of success for a woman. That is no longer the case. When PETA sent me video footage of investigations on fur farms, I was horrified by the cruelty involved. These animals endure terrible pain and this cruelty is something I do not want to ever be a part of. After seeing what happens in this industry, I have chosen to partner with PETA to raise awareness and will not wear fur in the future.
The world has changed and I must change as well. Fur, while it was never something I needed or specifically wanted, it was in my mindset as something glamorous and a sign of success for a woman. That is no longer the case.
When PETA sent me video footage of investigations on fur farms, I was horrified by the cruelty involved. These animals endure terrible pain and this cruelty is something I do not want to ever be a part of. After seeing what happens in this industry, I have chosen to partner with PETA to raise awareness and will not wear fur in the future.
Gunvalson joins a growing list of celebrities, including Sharon Osbourne, Bethenny Frankel, Lea Michele, Eva Mendes, Olivia Munn, Joanna Krupa, and others, who publicly shun fur.
Gunvalson asks any Real Housewives fans who are still harboring fur in their closets to join her in donating it to PETA.
If being on Maxim's Hot 100 list is verifiable proof of hotness (and, of course, it is), these lovely lasses are steaming:
Photo: Hama Sanders/www.hamasanders.com Hair: Steven Lake for Exclusive Artists Makeup: Julie Cuomo Wardrobe: April Steiner for Exclusive Artists Elephant background: (c) iStockphoto.com/Bruno Buongiorno Nardelli
2. Olivia Munn: Working to end the abuse of animals in the circus, the fur industry, puppy mills, and the horse-drawn carriage industry, Olivia Munn proves there's no "hot list" or animal rights issue that she can't conquer.
Photo: (c) Andrew Southam for WelssArtists|Styling: Estee Stanley for Starworks Artists|Hair: John D for Starworks Artists|Makeup: Kayleen McAdams for The Wall Group|Manicure: Carla Kay for Cloutier Remix
14. Lea Michele: Lovely Lea Michele is a triple threat: She sings, she acts, and she advocates for animals. From her vegetarian diet to her refusal to wear fur to her rescued animals to her campaign to get horse-drawn carriages out of New York, Lea always hits a beautiful note for animals.
(c) Jim Jordan
16. Charlize Theron: She might be playing the wicked queen in Snow White and the Huntsman, but Charlize Theron is a noble defender of animals killed for fur and those in animal shelters waiting for homes.
Photo: Don Flood
29. Eva Mendes: She would rather go naked than wear fur, and whether it's for Maxim or PETA, Eva Mendes always shows that everyone looks better in their own skin.
Photo: Robert Sebree Hair: Davy Newkirk for Tracey Mattingly Makeup: Jennifer Pitt for Tracey Mattingly Wardrobe: Britt Bardo for Magnet Wing design: Mia Gyzander Costumes
35. Yvonne Strahovski: If she looks angelic in the Maxim.com gallery, it's because Yvonne Strahovski is an angel for animals. She and her rescued pups are doing their part to end the animal overpopulation crisis.
Maxim's Hot 100 is so full of compassionate cuties that we don't have room to do them all justice here, but check out the list for yourself to see sexy and sweet gals Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde, Kellie Pickler, Kristen Bell, JWoww, Miley Cyrus, Sarah Hyland, Emmy Rossum, Ashley Greene, Lake Bell, Miranda Kerr, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, and Kristen Stewart.
Written by PETA
Before Pamela Anderson, before Eva Mendes, before Dennis Rodman, there were the Go-Go's. The iconic ladies of pop-punk weren't just pioneers for women in music, they were also animal rights innovators, as the first celebs to proclaim that they would rather go naked than wear fur.
Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, and Charlotte Caffey were music to animals' ears when they launched PETA's "naked" ad campaign in 1991.
Today, as the Go-Go's are being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, PETA would like to celebrate them, too, for getting our "rather go naked" campaign go-go-going and inspiring people all around the world to follow their beat. What will you do to celebrate being fur-free?
Written by Michelle Sherrow
Things are getting muy caliente at the PETA office during National Hispanic Heritage Month. We rounded up some of our favorite ads starring Latino supporters and created a slideshow hotter than the month of August.
From fighting fur and "fixing" animal homelessness to goring bullfighting and getting gorgeous with veggies, these Latin stars are true amigos to animals.
When they aren't starring on screen or on stage, many of the nominees in this year's Teen Choice Awards are starring in ads for PETA! There are heaps of hotties with hearts of gold and vegetarians vying for votes this year, so we hope that you'll encourage the animal-friendly teens in your life to cast their vote for compassion in every category. Here are our picks:
Adele Choice Music: Female Artist
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan, DirectorChoice Movie: Drama
Justin Bieber Choice Music: Male ArtistChoice TV: Villain, CSIChoice Male Hottie Choice Twit (for Twitter presence)Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon: Male
Russell Brand, Arthur Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
Ellen DeGeneresChoice Twit (for Twitter presence)Choice Comedian
Emily Deschanel, BonesChoice TV Actress: Drama
Lady Gaga Choice Music: Female Artist
Anne Hathaway, RioChoice Animated Movie: Voice
Eva Mendes, The Other Guys Choice Movie Actress: Comedy
Mila Kunis Choice Female Hottie
Jane Lynch, Glee Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star
Renee Olstead, The Secret Life of the American Teenager Choice TV Show: Drama
Jared Padalecki, Supernatural Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Grace Park, Hawaii Five-O Choice TV Show: ActionChoice TV Actress: Action
Audrina Patridge, Audrina Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star
Katy Perry Choice Music: Female Artist
Kellie Pickler Choice Music: Female Country Artist
Maggie Q, Nikita Choice TV Show: ActionChoice TV Actress: Action
Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck Choice TV Actress: Action
Carrie Underwood Choice Music: Female Country Artist
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids Choice Movie: ComedyChoice Movie Actress: ComedyChoice Movie: Hissy Fit
Glee Cast Choice Music: Group Choice TV Show: Comedy
Khloe & Lamar Choice TV: Reality Show
Linkin Park Choice Music: Rock Group
Modern Family Choice TV Show: Comedy
OneRepublic Choice Music: Rock Group
Call it "animal magnetism," but we couldn't help but notice how many of the women on Maxim's Hot 100 list look awfully familiar. Olivia Munn edged out almost everyone, claiming the number two spot, but she's number one in our eyes for her defense of animals used in circuses and horses forced to pull carriages—just ask Hoda Kotb!
Rubbing shoulders with Olivia on the list is Katy Perry at number three. Ms. Perry became Mrs. Sexiest Vegetarian in the UK when she married Russell Brand, and he might be rubbing off on the singer, who has said that she loves Tofurky. At number five, Mila Kunis is definitely hot, but fur, she says, is not.
Vegetarians liberally pepper the list, including Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, and reigning Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity Olivia Wilde.
Lea Michele has more in common with Olivia Munn than just talent and beauty—the fur-free vegetarian star has tirelessly campaigned to end horse-drawn carriages too. Near to Lea on the list and in their animal-friendly values is Eva Mendes, who bared her skin for PETA to save the skins of animals killed for fur. And Audrina Patridge is an angel for animals, asking her fans always to adopt from an animal shelter in a PETA ad.
So many of the Hot 100 ladies are doing great things for animals that they were too numerous to mention here, but one thing is clear: Being compassionate makes one beautiful inside and out.
We just told you about the Fun, Fearless (Animal-Loving!) Males of 2011, and now the girls are getting their turn. AskMen released its 10th annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women list, and so many animal-friendly ladies were included that it can't be a coincidence—it's hot to be compassionate!
Several Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity alums ranked high on the list, including Natalie Portman, Kristen Bell, and reigning Sexiest Vegetarian Olivia Wilde.
Some possible contenders for future Sexiest Vegetarian honors are among the Top 99 Most Desirable as well. Lovely Glee star Dianna Agron loves her veggies, and Anne Hathaway recently added fish to her "friends, not food" list, bidding adieu to sushi. Katy Perry has been singing the praises of eating Tofurky with vegetarian hubby Russell Brand, so it might not be long before his diet rubs off on her.
So many of the Top 99 ladies have done public service announcements for PETA that we wonder if AskMen searched our ads for its candidates. Vegan Lea Michele is a staunch defender of horses used in the horse-drawn carriage industry and of animals killed for their fur. Lea's abhorrence of fur is shared by Eva Mendes, who narrated an anti-fur video for PETA, and by Natalie Imbruglia, who starred in an anti-fur exposé for PETA Australia.
Rounding out our picks of delightful, desirable damsels is PETA pal Olivia Munn, who isn't shy about standing up for animals who are abused in circuses and puppy mills.
The naked gold guy who reigns over Rockefeller Center's skating rink made way today for a naked gold medal champ, Tai Babilonia, who bared all this afternoon for PETA's "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign.
Click here to see images of the event.
Tai is urging shoppers to cross fur off their wish lists. "Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean we should be cold inside," she says. "There are many more warm things to wear nowadays than fur." Indeed, whether your style is sporty or super-glam, you can find fauxfillment here.
She joins a long list of huge-hearted big names—including actor Eva Mendes, Dancing With the Stars' Karina Smirnoff, and Tony Gonzalez and his wife, October—who have taken off all their clothes for PETA campaigns and drawn attention to the cruel killing of millions of animals for their fur.
Tai's action will surely motivate many people, including cold medalist Oksana Baiul, to forgo fur forever.
Written by Karin Bennett
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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