Written by PETA
The following is a guest post from peta2's Shan.
If you don't already track Blink 182's Mark Hoppus' every move through his Twitter page, allow me to fill you in on something awesome that one of our Blink-loving staff members spotted last week:
Ask and ye shall receive, Mark!
Mark made the compassionate choice to use a plastic prop rather than a real octopus for his photo shoot, so peta2 is giving him a Compassionate Citizen Award. He'll also receive a framed certificate and a card signed by peta2 staffers.
Octopuses are intelligent and sensitive animals who have been observed communicating with each other. They're able to grasp objects with their tentacles just like we can with our hands, and some have even been taught to unscrew jar lids in order to retrieve food inside.
Here's to Mark for showing that "all the small things" deserve compassion and respect!
Written by Shan Philips
He's hard on his opponents, but he has a soft touch when it comes to animals. Yep, that's how mixed martial arts champ Tito Ortiz rolls. Recently, the tender-hearted tough guy and father of twins (with none other than PETA princess Jenna Jameson) took time out from clocking clowns in the cage to take on dogfighting. In a hard-hitting new ad for PETA, Tito encourages people to stand up to the cowards who make canines do their fighting for them. Did I mention that we're also giving away autographed gear from Tito's clothing line? And while we're on the subject of kick-ass things, here's another behind-the-scenes PETA Files exclusive interview. 'Cuz, you know, that's how we roll:
Written by Amy Elizabeth
Ahh, we love Gillian Anderson. Ever since The X-Files, she's stolen our hearts. So when I found out that Gillian had sent a letter on behalf of PETA Europe to every single Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in aid of the 12 million animals suffering in European laboratories, I couldn't help but smile a lot.
Right now, MEPs are considering a proposed law that could improve conditions for tens of millions of animals who are experimented on and killed in laboratories across Europe each year. In a vote that will take place next week, the politicians can change this proposal for better or for worse, so Gillian's help has come at just the right time.
Of course, this isn't the first time that Gillian has spoken out in behalf of animals. The award-winning actor has taken action for animals time and time again. Recently, she narrated a video of undercover footage taken inside rabbit fur farms—it was part of PETA's campaign to pressure Giorgio Armani to stick to his fur-free pledge.
Go, Gillian! Check out her letter. And please speak up for animals by pledging to be cruelty-free.
Written by Shawna Flavell
Victoria Day—which is basically the Canadian equivalent of Memorial (aka "Woohoo, Summer's Almost Here!") Day—isn't until May 18, but I'm thinking about our northern neighbors today. I've sent PETA's e-card by Canadian editorial cartoonist Graeme MacKay to 16 people so far, in order to urge them to take action to end the seal slaughter in Canada. See if you can top my 16. (BTW, there's no prize for the challenge, only victory—for seals!)
Written by Karin Bennett
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about Susan Boyle's knock-your-socks-off performance on Britain's Got Talent. Not only did Susan become an overnight singing sensation, she also spoke up about how much she loves her kitty, Pebbles.
Because they know that this down-to-earth international superstar won't forget the little guys, our lovely British friends at PETA Europe have asked her and Pebbles to consider starring together in a public service announcement with the tagline "Bring Harmony to a Cat's Life!" By raising her voice on behalf of cats, Susan would help homeless animals become winners as well. Yeah, yeah, it's cheesy—but it's true.
If Susan and her feline friend agree to the ad, they would be in good company too. Britain's Got Talent judges Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden have both starred in ads for PETA Europe.
By encouraging her fans to be responsible guardians by always adopting from animal shelters (never buying from pet stores or breeders) and making sure to spay or neuter their animal companions, Susan could help make a difference for the millions of homeless cats who end up in extremely crowded animal shelters around the world every year.
Well, the new swine flu epidemic may already have killed more than 100 people in Mexico, and you don't have to ask us twice to point out what's responsible for all these outbreaks of animalborne diseases, one after another. Factory farming, of course.
We think that this billboard, which we're erecting in San Antonio, Texas, sums it up:
Cramming animals by the hundreds or thousands into gigantic, windowless sheds—in which the air is teeming with bacteria and the pigs' or chickens' throats are burned by the accumulated waste—is a recipe for spreading virulent diseases. Just last month, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote two articles about the spread of deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on pig farms.
No, Kristof isn't psychic. He's just paying attention—unlike the people at your local meat counter.
Bottom line: We can stop pigs from killing us if we simply stop killing them.
Written by Alisa Mullins
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!
Wow! Shepard Smith of The Fox Report went on a rant about how Americans will not tolerate torture, declaring, "We are America. We don't torture. And the moment that is not the case, I want off the train."
I'd like to believe that he was speaking out against the abuse of elephants in circuses, who suffer routine chaining and beatings with bullhooks by trainers in Ringling Bros. and other traveling acts.
Fade to daydream sequence …
"World Week for Animals in Laboratories" means demonstrations against animal testing around the world. At UCLA on Wednesday, hundreds of activists from PETA, Last Chance for Animals, In Defense of Animals, Orange County People for Animals, and Stop Animal Exploitation Now banded together and descended upon the campus to speak out for animals in laboratories.
To all the folks who showed up to express their disapproval of UCLA's abuse of animals in laboratories, thank you. You guys rock our world.
The whole world is coming out of hibernation for spring. What better time to get outdoors and get active for animals? There are all sorts of demos happening. Check 'em out!
Can't get enough photos of demos? Well, stay tuned, because we're only too happy to share! In the meantime, why don't you upload a few photos of your own?
Written by Lianne Turner
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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