What do you get when you cross a chicken with a Vegas showgirl? Cupcake Chicks! PETA staffers Ashley Byrne and Amber TeGantvoort took up position near the White House to hand out yummy vegan cupcakes from Sticky Fingers Bakery and let people know that there's a tasty way to beat the salmonella outbreak. The proof is in the pudding, er, cupcake, and judging from the speed with which the confections disappeared, I think it's safe to say that we proved our point.

The combination of a woman with a beak on her forehead and a tray of cupcakes in her hands proved irresistible.

Tourists ate up our sweet little cupcakes.

Working on the city's infrastructure sure does work up an appetite for a sweet treat—and a vegetarian/vegan starter kit.

Written by Alisa Mullins

We've always said that meat is murder, but our demonstration in New York City this week literally turned that message into flesh and blood. Well, OK, the blood was fake, but the point was genuine: All meat comes from somebody. And when you show human bodies in those neatly plastic-wrapped supermarket packages, the point hits home and it begins to look like a grisly scene from Dexter.

The thought of chewing and swallowing the skin and muscle of a murder victim surely ruined some viewers' appetites for flesh food. It's the appropriate response to witnessing a gruesome display of the corpses of those who have been tormented and killed—you know, like in the butcher department of your supermarket. Let's face it, every piece of meat comes from an individual who suffered miserably and died violently. In other words, meat is … yup … murder.

Tired of being an accessory to a violent crime? Get your copy of our vegan/vegetarian starter kit here.

Written by Jeff Mackey

Dear Cleveland,

We know that it's hard to let go of LeBron James. Our hearts melted for you when we heard that he signed with the Miami Heat, so we thought we'd cruise around Cleveland today, doing something really cool to lift your spirits: handing out free Tofutti Cuties in outfits that would make most cheerleaders blush.

These vegan cuties (the soy ice cream, that is) are the perfect way to "beat the heat." But we are also big softies for animals and the Earth. Did you know that raising animals for food is a major cause of greenhouse-gas emissions? A recent U.N. report concluded that a global shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. Plus, switching to a dairy-free diet reduces the suffering of cows and can help lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and obesity—meaning that you'll be in your stadium seats cheering on the Cavs for years to come.

So keep your chin up Cleveland. You'll go on without LeBron. And please enjoy the Tofutti Cuties on us!

Love,

PETA's "Cleavage Cavalier" Cuties

Of course, I'm not talking about the tormented bulls—I mean the intoxicated bullies who were trampled on the second day of Pamplona's weeklong San Fermín festival. Reporters, who were apparently channeling their inner Hemingway, described the bulls as "angry," "threatening" "hulking beasts." I think those terms better describe the people who goad animals into a terrified stampede, don't you?

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see anything heroic or brave about terrorizing animals just for the thrill of it. It seems like the truly courageous people are the ones who stripped to their undies to protest Pamplona's annual exercise in stupidity and cruelty:

Now that takes some cojones.

Written by Alisa Mullins

With people glued to their TVs to watch the final matches of the World Cup, a group of folks from PETA Asia, Fur Free South Africa, and the South African Naturist Federation—as well as fans from all over the world—seized the moment to speak out for animals who are killed for their fur. 

From China (where animals on fur farms are commonly skinned alive and even cats and dogs are killed for their fur) to Canada (where hundreds of thousands of baby seals have their heads bashed in every year), the fur trade represents cruelty of global proportions. Let's unite and take action to reach our goal: a world in which no more animals are killed to become coats, collars, and cuffs.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

It's the eve of one of Mexico's biggest bullfights. And earlier today, María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten, better known as Charo, the bodacious ray of sunshine from Spain, led PETA's anti-bullfight rally in Los Angeles. The lovely Latin music icon unveiled her new anti-bullfighting video for PETA and presented a simple, straightforward message: Don't Go to the Gran Corrida!

As a young girl in Spain, Charo went to weekly bullfights with her father, so she understands the gruesome, bloody reality of the corrida, which she's protested in her dance music video for España Cañi and her appearance on Dancing With the Stars.

"Cuchi-cuchi"* convince tourists to steer clear of bullfights? No doubt, but Charo—and bulls—need your help too.

Written by Karin Bennett

*Two things I can't resist: Guacamole and painful puns. Sorry.

One of our top activists has just been arrested for participating in an anti-circus demonstration in Dallas. Her crime? You tell us, Dallas P.D.! No one will even tell us why she was arrested! Watch the action for yourself:

Thanks to Animal Connection of Texas for capturing this on video, and hang in there, Meggan! We'll update you as soon as we know more.

Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth

It's been a whirlwind week for PETA's seal. To keep pressure on Canada to stop letting people shoot baby seals and bash their heads in, PETA's sombrero-sporting seal followed Mexican President Felipe Calderón around to all his stops during his visit to Canada on Thursday.

President Calderón's visit received tons of media attention, and PETA's seal even got a shout-out from Canwest News Service. The seal almost got to shake hands—er, flippers—with President Calderón, but I'm sure that the seal would have preferred to give him a hug, considering that Mexico banned seal imports years ago.

On Monday, PETA's seal was back in action—this time wearing a yarmulke—while tailing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Canada.

What hat will PETA's seal wear next? Stay tuned for updates. And in the meantime, why not let Canadian officials know that the cruel seal slaughter makes you want to blow your top.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Our neighbors to the south have been busy bees for animals lately. Last Saturday, more than 9,000 people took part in a massive activist-organized march for animal rights in Mexico City. How inspiring are these pics?!

The event raised tons of awareness, got lots of media coverage, and allowed organizers to gather more than 6,500 signatures on a petition asking the government to introduce tougher penalties—including jail time—for people who are convicted of cruelty to animals. Not bad for a day's work.

If you are the mood for a margarita and a march for animals, swing by Mexico City on June 27 to join this stellar group of people for another march in honor of Mexico City's official Animal Rights Day. Or if you are just feeling inspired by all this activism, be an amigo to animals by trying one or two of PETA's easy summer outreach ideas.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

No one—and I mean no one—rocks like Chrissie Hynde. Whether she's fronting the Pretenders or backing a PETA campaign, the vegan Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is never in the "Middle of the Road." In fact, she's always willing to go the extra mile (or "2000 Miles") to help animals.

Case in point? After helping us re-launch our McCruelty campaign last year—urging McDonald's to require its U.S. suppliers to upgrade to less cruel slaughter standards—Chrissie took time off from promoting her upcoming album in New York this week to kick off our new "i'm hatin' it" national ad blitz with an appearance in Philadelphia. And to make sure that people got the message, she not only unveiled her attention-grabbing billboard, she also passed out some of our thought-provoking Unhappy Meals to the fine folks of Philly!

Check out these pictures:

Written by Jeff Mackey