McDonald's corporate headquarters is located near Chicago, so ever since we launched our McCruelty Campaign, the city's residents have seen some pretty interesting demonstrations asking the company to stop abusing birds immediately. We've been keeping our latest stunt under wraps—but last night, two groups of stealthy crusaders were in the Windy City, projecting this pretty scary image on the façades of Chicago's buildings:

While everyone loves a good light show, I have a feeling that these antics didn't elicit any "oohs" or "ahs" from McDonald's executives. That's because our display definitely caught the attention of potential McDonald's customers who now know that chickens slaughtered for McDonald's "happy meals" are still conscious and able to feel pain—even though there are more humane slaughter methods available.

So, Chicagoans, keep the light on for us. Until McDonald's makes the decision to require its U.S. suppliers to switch to a less cruel slaughter method, we'll be in town.

Written by Liz Graffeo

vegetarianstar / CC

We'll let you decide.

Written by Shawna Flavell

We warned you that Andy Dick was going to make an appearance in Chicago dressed as "Ronald McDonald" to scare McDonald's executives straight and try to convince them to switch their current method of chicken slaughter—which often involves scalding live birds to death—to controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK).Yesterday, Andy delivered on that promise and was out in front of the Clark Street McDonald's theatrically slicing demo posters in half with his "knife" and making menacing faces for the photographers. Check out the raw footage and some images of the protest below.

Andy's "Ronald" sure is scary, isn't he? I'll bet he has McDonald's head honchos shaking in their boots.

Written by Shawna Flavell

PETA is poised to take the mic on Wednesday to speak in behalf of chickens at McDonald's shareholder meeting in Oakbrook, Illinois. We're all set to grill CEO Jim Skinner and plan on asking him to change the way that his restaurants' suppliers slaughter birds by switching to controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK), a less cruel slaughter method.

For years, we've tried to convince McDonald's to require its suppliers to use CAK, which would eliminate some of the worst abuses suffered by the millions of chickens who are turned into McNuggets every year. But despite our efforts, the company still refuses to implement CAK.

After the meeting at 12 noon, we'll lead a protest at a nearby McDonald's restaurant, during which two PETA members will soak in "bloody" water to draw attention to the fact that many chickens at slaughterhouses that supply McDonald's are boiled alive in scalding-hot water.

If you live in the Chicago area, feel free to join the festivities!

Written by Karin Bennett

Olympic official Carol Gross really wants our Vancouver Olympics 2010 T-shirts off CafePress.com. As in, she literally wants them and all merchandise bearing PETA's anti-fur parody of the Olympic logo removed from the CafePress Web site. Gross e-mailed CafePress asking that it "take necessary steps to prevent Sellers to advertise [sic] Olympic merchandise via use of Olympic trademarks …."

Say what?

Because this is obviously a parody of that, PETA's legal team sent a letter to Carol Gross explaining why we will continue our efforts to protect seals from the bloody slaughter by selling merchandise bearing our protected spoof logo.

We might be open to striking a deal, though. If the Olympic Committee were to help us convince the Canadian government to stop allowing hundreds of thousands of baby seals to be slaughtered annually, maybe we'd agree to quit parodying the Olympic logo.

Written by Karin Bennett

Sometimes, Mother Nature isn't entirely on our side when it comes to outdoor demonstrations. Luckily for us, caring citizens don't let a little rain stop them from getting the word out about animal abuse. Just check out all these pictures that were sent to us this week:

Rain check? Not for these seal lovers!

We'll come in out of the rain when the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of baby seals stops.

Is that a banana, or are you just happy to see me?

I'm thinking the rain only made this demo sexier.

Not to rain on your parade, but ... Oh, sorry, it's too cheesy, even for me. Just boycott McDonalds, OK?

Thinking about getting active for animals? Well, don't let a gray day stop you! Check out PETA's Action Center and then hit the streets.

Written by Lianne Turner

Thank you Prolife Across America for your excellent billboard juxtaposition. We're always trying to remind folks that the squishy part of their Egg McMuffin is just a fried chicken embryo*. You've done future baby chicks everywhere a favor.

Still hungry for an Embryo McMuffin? Mmm … doubt it! We're definitely not lovin' it.

Written by Jennifer Cierlitsky

*OK, not exactly an embryo because it's not fertilized, but "fried chicken period" ain't so appealing either!

Campaigners from PETA and our affiliates have been working their tails off, fearlessly campaigning against McDonald's, protesting KFC, and pumping up the case against bad zoos. Take a look:

The San Antonio Zoo sold giraffes to Michael Jackson and now refuses to help them. Our giraffe friend just wanted you to know that.

Nugget sharpens his knife for a little payback.

"Wait, what do ya mean it's supposed to be his throat?"

Our skeletal friends at PETA Germany would rather be dead than eat KFC.

Inspired yet?

Written by Shawna Flavell

If you've kept up with our campaigns, you're well aware of the horrors of the factory farms and slaughterhouses that supply chickens to greasy fast-food joints such as KFC and McDonald's. After learning about the cruelty that goes into making every "Happy Meal" (more like Unhappy Meal), some PETA members took to the streets to turn the tables on old Ronald.

Check out these photos, and then send a letter to McDonald's and let officials there know that you won't stand for any more McCruelty.

Finally, the chicken gets revenge. He's boiling mad that his brothers were scalded alive.

So, Ronald, how does it feel to be on the other end of the knife? The chickens aren't too happy about it either.

Written by Lianne Turner

It's the second-ever Win It Wednesday here at the PETA Files, and we have a fun one for you this week. To celebrate the launch of McCruelty.com, we're giving away "Unhappy Meals" to 10 lucky commenters. An Unhappy Meal is a lot like a McDonald's Happy Meal—it comes with toys, anyway—but our version also contains a super-sized order of reality at no extra charge. It includes a bloody chick who's so drugged up that he can't stand on his own feet as well as a cow whose throat was cut while she was still conscious—all inside a carton printed with the facts about McDonald's cruelty.

How do you win? Just leave us a comment letting us know what you'd say to Ronald McDonald if you could. I know you'd all like to give him a piece of your mind, but try to keep it PG-13 so that your comment will be approved. The 10 cleverest commenters will receive one of these limited-edition Unhappy Meals.

The contest ends on March 4, 2009, and we'll choose 10 winners on March 5, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Check back every Wednesday for new prizes. Good luck!

Written by Lianne Turner