We've always known that PETA Germany's staff members are dogged in their efforts to help animals, but who knew that they were such publicity hounds? Apparently, our recent blog post about the PETA India staff got them thinking that they should strut their stuff, and you know what? We couldn't agree more. So, ladies and gentlemen, here are the tireless, crazy-cool peeps of PETA Germany.

We can only imagine what the folks at PETA U.K. will be submitting for their PETA Files profile. Stay tuned to find out.

Written by Karin Bennett

Paul, the octopus who correctly "predicted" the outcome of seven World Cup matches and the final, has been found dead in his tank in a German aquarium. PETA Germany has appealed to aquarium officials not to subject another intelligent and fascinating octopus to a life of confinement to a tank.

In the sea where they belong, these willowy, winsome creatures form relationships with other octopuses and communicate through color change and their skin texture. They are curious and like to decorate their homes with trinkets such as bottle caps and shells ("an octopus's garden"). They are gentle and shy and try to avoid human contact.

Please learn to appreciate and respect these fascinating and sensitive animals instead of crisp-frying their tentacles and making sauce out of the ink that they use as a natural defense. To honor Paul, order a free vegetarian/vegan starter kit today for yourself or a friend. And here's a fabulous faux-fish dish to get you started.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

PETA France tried nicely asking the president of the Trophée des Hauts de France ceremony in Lille, France, not to serve foie gras, but he insisted on displaying the vile "torture in a tin." That left PETA France no choice but to not-quite-so-nicely point out the cruelty involved in its production.

Earlier this year, PETA released a video narrated by Kate Winslet that contains undercover footage taken on French foie gras farms and shows ducks being confined to iron maiden–like cages, unable to stretch even one wing or take a single step in any direction. Such intense confinement is, of course, a violation of Council of Europe guidelines.

Here's how one investigator described the conditions on one farm:

PETA Germany has urged the European Commission to crack down on French foie gras farms that illegally confine birds to cages that restrict their movement. You can help by writing to the European Commission and asking it to enforce the 1999 guideline (Council Directive 98/58/EC):

John Dalli
Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy
European Commission
B-1049 Brussels 
Belgium
cab-dalli-webpage@ec.europa.eu

Written by Alisa Mullins

MTV Denmark host and FHM cover model Anne Lindfjeld stripped down to her trademark tattoos for PETA's first Scandinavian "Ink, Not Mink" ad, which was unveiled just before the start of the Kopenhagen Fur auction in Denmark, the country that produces the most mink furs.

Lindfjeld joins a long list of tattooed celebrities—including Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, the SuicideGirls, and NBA star Dennis Rodman—who've bared their skin to save animals' skins. Go, Anne!

Written by Heather Moore

Giles Douglas / CC by 2.0

Two ailing dolphins who have been languishing in a filthy, cramped tank in Turkey are on the road to recovery after PETA Germany and the marvelous charity Born Free took action. And after The Sun—the U.K.'s best-selling newspaper—ran an exposé about Tom and Misha's plight, PETA Germany staffers posted an action alert, wrote to the mayor, and coordinated action with Turkish animal protection groups.

Our colleagues at Born Free are moving Tom and Misha to a rehabilitation center, and the dolphins will be released into their rightful ocean home as soon as they've recovered.

Let's call for the rehabilitation and release of more captive dolphins, such as the orcas (the largest members of the dolphin family) at SeaWorld.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

As soccer fans all over the world are packing up their vuvuzelas, PETA Germany is petitioning for the retirement and release of Paul the prophetic octopus, who correctly chose the winners in eight match-ups, including Spain's win yesterday over the Netherlands. No one deserves to spend an entire life locked in a glass box, but if that's not reason enough to release Paul, here's a short list that should help PETA Germany make the case:

1. Octopuses are great problem-solvers and have been shown to be the coconut-carrying geniuses of the sea. Would you keep Einstein in a cage?
2. In the wild, Paul would have the opportunity to show off his interior decorating skills. Octopuses have been known to collect shiny ornaments that they find on the sea floor and place them around their homes.
3. Paul could finally sleep. Octopuses like to siesta, and they might even dream, but it's hard to take a nap when people are pounding on your bedroom walls and shouting at you all day long.

Caring soccer and animal fans from all over the world would certainly celebrate the release of the World Cup's Most Valuable Octopus from his tiny, unnatural confines at the Sea Life center in Oberhausen. PETA Germany promises a vuvuzela-free celebration.

Written by Karin Bennett

While we here in the States are focused on recently discovered godly gluten, the folks at PETA Germany have offered the Catholic Church the "Veggie-Shroud" to fill the void when the Shroud of Turin is retired on Sunday.

Debate abounds over the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, but there's no mystery surrounding the powerful message put forth by the clearly defined slaughtered pig depicted in the "Veggie-Shroud": Animals who end up on a dinner plate "died for the diet sins of mankind."

While we wait to find out whether the Catholic Church will agree to display the "Veggie Shroud," won't you urge everyone you know to find savory salvation from the universal cruelty and unholy unhealthiness of flesh-based diets? Catholics, atheists, Muslims, and people of all faiths and views are coming together to say, "Praise Seitan!"

Written by Karin Bennett

Check out sexy Austrian tattoo-model Sandy P. Peng's awesome new tat.

That baby's not photoshopped, it's real. Sandy's so supportive of PETA Germany's anti-fur efforts that she sent them the pic of her "Ink, Not Mink" artwork to use as an advertisement, and she's doing not one but five anti-fur demonstrations with a PETA Germany campaigner this week. Wow! (That's German for "Wow!")

Those of you who speak German (that's most of you, right?) can read more about Sandy on PETA Germany's brand-new VeganBlog. Check it tomorrow to enjoy the photos of her as she speaks out for animals.

Sandy joins a long list of sexy celebs who've posed for PETA's and its affiliates' "Ink, Not Mink" campaigns. Take a look, and maybe even show us your tats too.

Written by Heather Moore

PETA Germany took the fight for Canadian seals to Berlin on Saturday, bringing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's motorcade to a halt when a "seal" ran in front of the procession. Three police officers hauled the demonstrator off, but not before reporters—and presumably the P.M. himself—saw the "seal." "Seals" have been trailing Harper all over the world on behalf of PETA and its affiliates.

Later, the same "seal" stood outside the Bundeskanzleramt (where Harper was meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel), made sure Harper spotted him in the wings when the convoy arrived, and then—not done yet!—moved on to the Canadian Embassy, where he and another activist distributed nearly 1,200 leaflets.

Berliners, Canadians, Americans, and anyone anywhere with a conscience: Let Prime Minister Harper know that the pressure won't let up until the massive slaughter is brought to an end.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Katharina Wirnitzer in action.

Athletes who are still choking down chicken or pounding whey-protein shakes can be relieved to know that they can trade in that garbage for gardein and soy protein powder. A new book, Bikeextreme, by sports scientist Dr. Katharina Wirnitzer is out to prove that as far as energy and vitamins go, vegan athletes are not at any disadvantage compared to those who eat meat. Wirnitzer also argues that even extreme athletes require far less protein than U.S. government guidelines (at the prompting of the meat, dairy, and egg industries) would have you believe.

"To maintain good health, a daily intake of 8–12 percent is more than enough and ideal for the highly strained metabolism of athletes," Wirnitzer says. She makes it clear that vegan diets "are not only well suited for all phases of life, as well as for top athletes, but if adequately implemented and combined with a supporting lifestyle, also optimally suited for endurance sports." To back up her research, Wirnitzer has first-hand knowledge of the subject—she's a two-time finisher of the grueling TransAlp Challenge mountain-bike race.

With endurance athletes like Dr. Katharina Wirnitzer, Brendan Brazier, and Rich Roll reaching the peak of their performance on a plant-based diet, there is no question about it: If you're a jock reaching for the top of your game, it's time to go vegan!

Written by Jeff Mackey