Written by PETA
Ten girls in South Africa are facing cruelty charges after PETA alerted officials there to a disturbing YouTube video in which a group of girls tossed and kicked a hen to death. Whoever posted the video on YouTube introduced the clip by writing, "Well basically… um… this is what we do at sleepovers at 6 am as you can see with the pajamas :) … and the chicken did die )-o and please no animal cruelty lectures!!!."
We're relieved that suspects have been identified and charges filed against two of them after PETA raised the alarm. Psychiatrists, criminal profilers, and law-enforcement officials have repeatedly documented that kids who abuse animals for kicks are often violent toward humans too. If you know of anyone who mistreats animals, please notify authorities right away—for everyone's safety.
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
We are not alone. No, I'm not talking about the existence of aliens. I'm referring to the existence of other passionate anti-fur advocates such as the South African organization Fur Free. The proof of this group's passion is in this winning poster from its recent anti-fur poster competition.
It's a powerful poster that's sure to compel people to hang up nasty old fur habits and pledge to purge their closets of animal pelts forever.
Written by Amy Elizabeth
In Spain, the bullfight is on its way out. In Britain, it was fox hunting, which is now illegal. In the U.S., we have our own shameful traditions, including slavery, to dwell on. And in South Africa, apartheid may be a thing of the past, but another cruel custom persists.
Sadly, during the festival of Ukweshwama, a group of youths torment and slaughter a terrified bull with their bare hands. They rip out the bull's tongue, shove handfuls of dirt into his mouth, tear out his eyes, and mutilate his genitals. This horrible murder has been excused from compliance with laws against animal cruelty under the country's "cultural liberty" exemption.
Abusing animals does not bring honor to any culture. Indian humanitarian, journalist, government minister, and advocate for animals Maneka Gandhi knows that and has sent a letter on behalf of PETA Asia to South African President Jacob Zuma urging him to modernize this cruel ritual. She writes:
While I respect culture, this bull-killing ritual causes extreme suffering to an innocent creature and has no place in the modern world. Tradition is not an excuse for cruelty, and many societies have ended or are working to end 'traditional' practices—such as slavery, cannibalism, infanticide, female circumcision, foot-binding, bullfighting, and fox hunting—that cause animals or humans to suffer.
As Maneka Gandhi points out in her letter, it's impossible to deny the link between violence toward animals and violence toward people. We hope that President Zuma and other world leaders who care about making their countries less violent will put an end to horrific practices such as this.
Written by Heather Drennan
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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