We have very exciting news to share. Earlier this week, a representative from United Airlines phoned PETA to say that the airline will no longer transport primates for use in experiments anywhere in the world! In order to ensure that animal experimenters get the message loud and clear, United even posted the new policy on its website, and it leaves no one in doubt: The airline "do[es] not book, accept or transport primates to or from medical research facilities."

United's compassionate stance means that there isn't a single commercial airline based in North America that is willing to transport primates to a cruel death in laboratories. This will make it much more difficult for experimenters to get their hands on primates in order to lock them away from their families and poison, cut up, and kill them.

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YOU helped make this possible! Last year, after we organized demonstrations against the airline at its offices around the world and purchased stock in the company with the intention of introducing a shareholder resolution this year, we encouraged our members and supporters to contact the company. Hundreds of thousands of you flooded United's inboxes and Facebook wall with messages demanding that the airline stop profiting from cruelty to animals. One supporter even interrupted a United senior vice president at a trade conference, took over the microphone, and announced to attendees that United was the last U.S. airline that was still transporting primates to be abused and killed.

United's new policy means that only four major international airlines remain in the world that are willing to shuttle primates off to years of torment in exchange for a few dollars in revenue. Let's make that number zero. Please take a moment to tell Air France, China Eastern Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines that you won't be flying with them until primates don't either.

Some exhilarating news from our neighbors (aka "neighbours" or "voisins") to the north: The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) will allow Air Canada to ban shipments of primates destined for pain and misery in laboratories. 

This leaves United Airlines as the only North American airline—and one of the few left in the world—to continue this bloody business.)

Following pleas from PETA, other organizations, and members of the public, Air Canada first sought the CTA's permission for the ban last year, stating that the proposed ban was "both to align our policies with those of many other major international carriers and in response to widespread public concern." Following objections from animal experimenters, the CTA initially did not approve the ban and scheduled a hearing on the issue. PETA immediately filed comments as a "party of interest," which were included in the official record, in support of Air Canada's proposed ban.

The CTA just released its decision in this matter, ruling entirely in favor of Air Canada and against the animal tormenters. In its lengthy decision, the CTA pointed out that the airline had received "over 47,000 letters from the public protesting its practice of transporting non-human primates for research purposes" and that Air Canada "cannot ignore the overwhelming volume of letters in opposition to the transport of non-human primates destined for research."

What You Can Do

As the CTA decision makes clear, this victory was made possible because of the appeals of concerned people—including the almost 19,000 PETA supporters who took action through this website. That's why it's so critical to make sure that your voice is heard—please join PETA in urging the few remaining airlines still willing to ship primates to laboratories to stop contributing to this cruelty.

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Here's one of the most fun things that you'll see all weekend: Morrissey's version of a cat in the hat. 

The abuse that snake charmers inflict on snakes to make them "dance" is anything but charming, so PETA India offered a simple solution: Use fake snakes.

This is perhaps the most consequential quote of the animal rights movement. It never gets old.

Here's just a small excerpt from the eye-opening article "How I Failed as a Rescuer: Lessons From a Sanctuary," which is a must-read for those you know who may not understand the problems with "no-kill" shelters: "Here's what I know now, having worked at a shelter and in rescue: All animals deserve love at the end of their lives. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is to provide a peaceful death. And a peaceful death comes from a human taking full responsibility for the life of that animal. I wish I had done that."

United Airlines' mistreatment of animals continue: A disabled veteran says airline workers abused his service dog. 

New Feature

George Brett's new PETA spot is so cool—and he wants dogs to be cool, too.

New Action Alerts

Tell 99 Cents Only stores that only stores without sense still sell glue traps.

And while you're at it, let Menards know about the suffering that glue traps cause small animals, too.

iStockphoto.com/GlobalP

How can a property management group require tenants to mutilate their cats? By calling it "declawing." Urge Bruce Tanski Construction & Development to stop requiring this cruel amputation.

Unless trainees at the Madigan Army Medical Center plan to spend their careers intubating ferrets, the center needs to prepare students to treat real children. Tell the center to replace animals with lifelike human simulators.

Thank you for speaking up for Diego, an aging military dog, and Logan Black, the soldier who wants to bring him home. The Air Force has now told PETA that Diego is ready to retire and that Black is at the top of the list to adopt him!

Scene and Heard

Have you seen PETA's new plan to put abusers at SeaWorld in a "SeaWorld of Hurt"?

Forget paying to check your luggage or being charged for an in-flight drink; if you're a passenger on United Airlines with a little extra "personal baggage," the airline might charge you double. United says that overweight passengers must pay for two seats instead of one.

That's why PETA is asking to put up a billboard at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport with this advice for passengers:

It's a fact: Vegetarians and vegans are, on average, some 10 to twenty pounds lighter than meat-eaters. So, switching to a vegetarian diet isn't just good for your health—it could leave you with some extra cash for cute souvenirs.

Written by Shawna Flavell

From Los Angeles, California, to Paducah, Kentucky and from Berlin, Germany, to Zagreb, Croatia—all around the world, caring people are taking to the streets to protest against the shameful Canadian seal slaughter. These caring activists are showing Canada that the world will not tolerate this bloody massacre.

We've posted many entries on this blog with photos from across the globe, but that's just a fraction of the pictures that have flooded into our inboxes in recent weeks. We've just set up a gallery on Flickr, so we're no longer limited in the number of photos we can share with you. Check out the slideshow:

Got demo photos of your own that you'd like to share? Why don't you send 'em our way so that we can add them to our Flickr gallery?

Written by Shawna Flavell