Top advertising agency BBDO New York, a recipient of PETA's Humane Ad Agency Award, doesn't want fellow "mad men" even to think about abusing animals. So it has come up with an ingenious way to stop ad writers from using great-ape actors in ads before they've even started. The agency put an auto-correct program on its thousands of agency computers that gives users pause when they type the words "ape," "chimp," "monkey," or "gorilla." Watch the video below to see what happens.
 

After PETA told BBDO that ape actors are torn away from their mothers as babies, physically abused, and dumped at miserable roadside zoos when their short careers end, the agency took our Great Ape Humane Pledge and is encouraging all other ad agencies to do the same.

You can help, too, by not supporting companies that still make a buck off animals' backs. 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

One of the best things about the fourth season of Mad Men—which has caused me to suffer major withdrawal symptoms since its conclusion a few weeks ago—was watching as spoiled rich kid Pete Campbell showed signs of a new maturity in the face of his new responsibilities as a partner and a parent.

But actor Vincent Kartheiser, who plays Pete (brilliantly) on the show, is clearly well ahead of his TV character when it comes to responsible behavior. While discussing his commitment to green living during a recent interview, he explained that he has not only given up his car but has also ditched meat. "I've been a vegetarian for four years and I have chosen not to have children, which are both green choices in my life," he said.

While many people would disagree with Kartheiser when it comes to the merits of having children, there's no question about the environmental benefits of plant-based diets. After all, a United Nations report recently concluded that the world needs to shift toward a vegan diet to combat the worst effects of climate change. So while you may not want to emulate Pete Campbell, it's not a bad idea to follow in Vincent Kartheiser's Earth-friendly footsteps by greening your diet.

Written by Jeff Mackey