Written by PETA
At a time when protests of the gruesome Running of the Bulls are making a bigger splash than ever, the sagging global economy is apparently taking a toll on the annual festival as well.
It turns out that bombed bull abusers are scaling back their bar tabs. This means fewer euros for merchants during this year's Running of the Bulls. In the past, these businesses have cashed in on the annual torment and killing of hapless, hopeless bulls. But this year, the global recession means that local businesses won't be making as much of a profit from the misery of the bulls.
Not only that, but according to NPR, polls show that most Spaniards have no interest in bullfighting. In Catalonia alone, nearly 200,000 people have signed a petition asking the regional parliament to ban this barbaric "ritual."
While this is hopefully the beginning of the end for an industry that should have died off with the Spanish Empire, you can save money and animals by doing more than simply tightening your belt. Sign up to take that belt—and the rest of your clothes—off altogether as a member of PETA's Action Team. It won't cost a dime, but the potential to raise awareness is priceless.
Written by Shawna Flavell
If our protest in the middle of New York City's Times Square wasn't enough anti-bullfighting action for ya, just wait until you see the pictures from this mother-of-all-protests in Pamplona, Spain, yesterday.
Two hundred "bloodied" and bare bodies from all over the world (I'm not exaggerating—we're talking U.K., Australia, America, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Belgium, Norway … you get the idea) gathered outside the Pamplona mayor's office in protest of the horrible abuses that bulls suffer during Pamplona's nine-day festival of San Fermín.
Before the Running of the Bulls, workers use electric prods and sharp sticks to rile the bulls into a frenzy. Then, the bulls are often debilitated with tranquilizers and beaten before being taken into the bullfighting ring—where they are repeatedly speared with banderillas (barb-tipped wooden daggers) before being stabbed to death.
Help us put an end to this bloodbath.
No, it wasn't a resurgence of hookers, but PETA's "bloody," "dying" babes were out to solicit New York City tourists—for compassion for the bulls who will be taunted and tormented by drunk morons during the upcoming Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. After the bulls are sent stampeding in terror through the streets of Pamplona, they will be dragged into the bullring to be mutilated and killed for the "entertainment" of cheering crowds.
Similar demonstrations have been held in Paris, London, and other cities around the world. You can check out some NSFW action shots from similar demos here.
Pamplona's "festivities" kick off July 7, which is just around the corner.
Written by Karin Bennett
Upset about the torture of bulls, over 60 activists from across the globe, including some Americans, got completely downright naked and protested against the encierro, or the Running of the Bulls, in Pamplona this weekend. Notice any recurring themes in the protest tactics of animal rights folk? That's right! We're pretty good at, ya know, getting noticed.
Lying down near the end of the Running of the Bulls route and dressed only in black underpants with matador barbs protruding from their backs, the activists dramatically highlighted the immense cruelty and suffering that bulls endure. These half-ton animals are chased through crowded, winding, and sometimes rain-slicked streets while runners and spectators hit and taunt them. The bulls often crash to their knees or collide with walls in their panic. It's seriously sad, sick "hey, look at me, I'm a man" stuff that we're dealing with here, folks.
Even though Spain was recently in our good graces for their compassion to apes, the Running of the Bulls is a massive blemish on the country's reputation, and it needs some serious rethinking. Even Spanish TV stations know what's up, and they refuse to air this hideous event. Maybe Pamplona's mayor could learn a lil' somethin'-somethin' from the folks at Red Bull?
For more information, check out RunningOfTheNudes.com, and take a look at the below pictures from the demo.
Deflocked, baby. Deflocked.
To check out the archives of past strips, click here.
Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has been the hottest ticket in India for a long time. He's been in about a hundred movies, many of which are among the top-grossing Indian films of all time, and he's reported to be working on a new film called Shantaram, starring Johnny Depp. He also happens to be an outspoken vegetarian and a longtime supporter of PETA India's work on behalf of animals. So a couple of my pals from PETA India did something special for his birthday this week to thank him for everything he's done. Here's a pic:
I get to write about this because Thom Yorke, in addition to fronting the greatest band in the history of the world, is an ethical vegan. So take note — go vegan and your band could be the next Radiohead (there may be a few steps in between.)
Anyway, in case you missed it, the amazing new Radiohead album came out yesterday, and their innovative approach to releasing it (you can download it for any price you care to pay for it on their website) has people in the Marketing world talking up a storm, (and a few record industry execs getting pretty nervous). Maybe there is something to the theory that vegetarians are smarter . . .
I've been annoying my colleagues all day talking about this album, so I'll let the subject go for the time being and leave you with this excerpt from a video that Thom Yorke made a while back to encourage young people to think critically about the ethics of what they're consuming. You can download the whole documentary that this was a part of here.
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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