Written by PETA
Update: Because it is illegal in Ohio to use a bullhook on an elephant, PETA is offering a $5,000 reward to any arena employee who documents use of the bullhook if it leads to a citation against Ringling Bros. circus.
Originally posted October 4, 2011
Rock star, animal defender, and Ohio native Chrissie Hynde has sent a letter to Cleveland officials to remind them that there is a ban in the state against using prods like bullhooks and "hot shots" on animals in circuses and asked for confirmation that humane authorities would make sure Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus doesn't use them on elephants when the circus comes to town next month. In response the letter, the mayor wrote that the city shares Chrissie's concerns and that "[a]n inspection will be conducted and the event monitored to ensure that the use of bullhooks and other devices that cause harm to circus animals are not used during the Cleveland event."
We'll be watching to make sure that the mayor keeps his word, but we won't be watching the circus, and neither should you.
Written by Jennifer O'Connor
Oh, how we love Olivia Munn. In her Us Weekly "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" Q&A, she wrote: "I believe in rescuing your pets, not buying them." You're in good company there, Olivia. Loads of celebrities are fans of animal shelters, including Orlando Bloom, who rescued his dog, Sidi, seven years ago and has enjoyed having him right by his side ever since.
We can easily name 25 things that we love about Pamela Anderson. Just this week, as she headed into the Celebrity Big Brother (UK) house, she sent a letter to the European Commission, asking it to institute the ban on animal-tested cosmetics in 2013, instead of delaying it, as the commission has discussed doing. Then she proposed a deliciously kind idea to her new housemates: She will introduce them all to heavenly vegetarian cuisine, and the entire show will be cruelty-free.
Fellow vegetarian Ke$ha is proving that blondes really do have more (animal-friendly) fun by designing a new line of faux-fur clothing and accessories.
Maybe they'll become one of Oprah's favorite things. The Editor's Note in the October issue of O reads, "And there's one [trend] that O has decided to skip, not just this season but in every issue since the magazine began: garments made of real fur. . . . That is not to say you won't find exotic animal skins and feathers in O's October issue; it's just that they're still attached to the living creatures that grew them."
Well said! And these stars are eloquent about animal issues in 140 characters or fewer:
Written by Michelle Sherrow
When Olivia Munn cohosted the Today Show with Hoda Kotb on St. Patrick's Day, Hoda mentioned that her ex-husband proposed to her while they were riding in a horse-drawn carriage. Uh-oh.
There wasn't enough green beer in the studio to make Olivia let that remark go unchallenged.
"Did you guys just watch an 80s chick flick and then go off, and then did you realize that it's really horrible to ride in those carriages with those poor horses?" she asked.
A chagrined Hoda said that it seemed romantic at the time but turned out not to be.
"Do you not regret it?" Olivia asked.
Hoda replied, "Well, yeah, 'cause I'm divorced!"
"'Cause you were in a carriage ride in Central Park!" Olivia declared.
Well played, Olivia, well played.
PETA's party for New York Fashion Week was a smashing success, even by Fashion Week standards. Hosted by Project Runway's Tim Gunn and Olivia Munn, the celebrity guests included Taraji P. Henson, Joan Jett, reality stars Lo Bosworth and Stephanie Pratt, and fashion designers Todd Oldham, John Bartlett, and Marc Bouwer, plus many others. They all partied at Stella McCartney's chic New York City boutique while listening to tunes spun by DJ Lady Bunny and munching on delicious vegan hors d'oeuvres.
Tim, looking dashing as always, screened the riveting anti-fur video that he narrated for PETA and spoke about how killing animals for their fur is never in fashion. "I'm on a campaign to get as many fashion designers as possible to stop using it," said Gunn. "I'd just like to sit with them and have a talk and ask, 'Is it really necessary?'" And when Tim Gunn talks about fashion, people listen.
Henson, the latest beauty to bare it all for animals, unveiled her sexy new ad and told the party attendees that she stopped wearing fur after channel-surfing and coming across the "I Am an Animal" documentary about PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. What she saw changed her entire perspective on fur, and she resolved to help others see the light."You don't have to kill an animal because you want to be hot and fly," she said. And she promised the crowd to keep on pushing to get fur off the streets.
As one of the stars of the NBC comedy Perfect Couples, we thought that Olivia Munn would be the ideal person to ask for ideas on perfect and not-so-perfect ways for couples to spend the most romantic day of the year.
"I would personally find it really romantic to grab a big pizza, a couple bottles of wine, and hang out in a hotel room with a big fireplace and just talk and laugh," she says. You'll get no arguments on that here, Olivia.
What's the worst way this staunch defender of animals can imagine spending her Valentine's Day?
"The least romantic thing to do in New York or any other city is going on horse-drawn carriage rides. … [I]f you knew the pain and misery these beautiful animals endure just to fulfill the false symbol of uniting two hearts, it would actually break your heart. To see the horses in the harsh, cold weather being forced to cart people around the city is the farthest thing from romantic in my opinion."
We couldn't have said it better. Now, off to order a big yummy vegan pizza.
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 hottest PETA celebrity ads of 2010 will warm you up faster than sitting by the fire with a big mug of vegan hot chocolate. Ready to defrost that winter chill? The top 10 ads are …
Jenna Dewan-Tatum gets body-painted as a sexy snake to ask others to leave wildlife out of their wardrobes.Elephants never forget … and who can forget when Olivia Munn spoke out for elephants in captivity?
A naked Dave Navarro showcases his tattoos (and more) to proclaim, "Ink, Not Mink."Sasha Grey is calling for safe sex—for dogs and cats.Kellan Lutz takes a bite out of the animal overpopulation crisis by posing with his rescued mutt Kola.The stars of If I Can Dream prove that you don't need fur to keep warm. Talk about dreamy!Stephanie Pratt bares her buns to save bunnies from painful cosmetics testing.This steamy Married to Rock couple hits all the right notes in their rockin' ad.Chad Ochocinco scores a touchdown for animals by baring his skin to help animals keep theirs.Va-va-voom! Pamela Anderson reveals her body parts to help animals who are used for food.Which one gets your vote for hottest of 2010?
Written by Lauren Gordon
On last night's The Daily Show, correspondent and PETA friend Olivia Munn shined a hilarious light on voter-approved legislation that will alleviate the suffering of dogs in Missouri's puppy mills. Four little minutes, so many laughs:
Once again, Olivia has shown that she's clever and caring, a winning combination for animals. (Of course, so is clever and daring—and clever and baring.) Have you done your clever and caring (or daring or baring) deed for animals today?
Written by Karin Bennett
munn∙tas∙tic (mun tas′ tik) adj. Tremendously great; extraordinarily good {e.g., "Actor and Daily Show correspondent Olivia Munn is munntastic for posing for an anti-circus billboard and leading yesterday's PETA protest against Ringling Bros. Circus at the Staples Center in Los Angeles."}
Christian Serratos, Pink, and Jillian Michaels are also pretty darn munntastic for tweeting about the event. Ringling, on the other hand, is hideous. Animals used by Ringling live in fear, are beaten into submission, and are forced to perform tricks that to them are confusing and meaningless. Still-nursing baby elephants are captured and dragged away from their mothers. Baby elephants are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods. These abusive sessions go on for several hours a day for up to a year.
Now here comes the part where you can do something munntastic for animals who are abused in circuses. Check out the video and the ele-friendly advice that Olivia posted on her blog. Show the video to everyone you know and tell them to show it to everyone that they know. While you're at it, help elephants by signing this petition.
Written by Amy Elizabeth
No one likes to be stuck in traffic, but commuters on Hollywood's famous Sunset Strip at least have some eye candy to help them pass the time: Olivia Munn, au naturel, in PETA's sexy anti-circus billboard.
In an exclusive PETA interview, the G4 Attack of the Show host, star of the upcoming NBC comedy series Perfect Couples,and new "Senior Asian Correspondent" for The Daily Show says that she was "brought to tears" after seeing PETA's undercover footage of Ringling Bros. trainers beating elephants with bullhooks. Olivia is asking her fans to join her in boycotting the circus. "Everyone at home," she says, "if you have a Twitter or MySpace or Facebook or … your own blog, you have to get the message out."
You heard the lady: Please tell everyone you know why circuses are no fun for animals.
Written by Paula Moore
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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