Written by PETA
Apparently, NBC has something against girls who love their veggies. After we submitted our proposed Super Bowl ad, which features a comely crop of models demonstrating their fondness for fresh produce, NBC nixed the ad, saying it "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards." No joke, this is straight from NBC—so stop fondling your fruit salad right now and read the list of shots NBC requested we cut before they’d reconsider:
Wow, that list even made us blush! You can read the full NSFW letter from NBC here and then watch the video to see what the controversy is all about. Not as pure as eating apple pie, but it sure does drive home the fact that vegetarians make better lovers. And I'm pretty sure that most Super Bowl fans would find the ad a lot more appealing than the impotence and other not-so-sexy effects that a steady stream of chicken wings and burgers can have on their love lives.
Why so grouchy NBC? Sounds like someone’s not getting enough um…vegetables. I’m thinking network execs could really benefit from a broccoli booty call.
That said, what do you think about our sexy Super Bowl ad? Do you agree with NBC's decision to reject it?
Written by Amy Elizabeth
Hold on to your loincloths, boys and girls—another adaptation of Tarzan (yes … in addition to the 88 that already exist) will be swinging into theaters in 2010! Critics say co-writer and director Stephen Sommers will be focusing on jungle love, but this classic story is sure to have scenes of a boy raised by great apes in the jungle. So, when Anjelica Huston (who has been speaking up for animals abused in the film industry since she was a kid) heard about the film, she contacted Sommers. Anjelica writes:
"Ever since I heard my father complain about animal trainers on the set of his epic The Bible, I've worried about what happens to animal 'actors' behind the scenes. . . . Critics lauded King Kong … for the emotional depth that the giant ape displayed—without any real apes suffering in the process. Can I please hear that you similarly plan to use only creative alternatives to great apes in Tarzan?"
"Ever since I heard my father complain about animal trainers on the set of his epic The Bible, I've worried about what happens to animal 'actors' behind the scenes.
. . .
Critics lauded King Kong … for the emotional depth that the giant ape displayed—without any real apes suffering in the process. Can I please hear that you similarly plan to use only creative alternatives to great apes in Tarzan?"
Luckily, Sommers has a history of using flashy special effects and CGI in his blockbuster films, which have included Van Helsing and The Mummy. Hopefully, he'll continue to do what he does best and leave great apes in the jungle where they belong. Oh, and Sommers, if Anjelica's lovely letter doesn't convince you, here's a promise: Leave out the live apes and I'll be your personal Jane.
P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, check out Anjelica's behind-the-scenes exposé about great apes forced into the entertainment industry here.
Written by Liz Graffeo
As one of his first orders of business, President Barack Obama has suspended a plan to remove several gray wolf populations from the Endangered Species List. Originally, the Interior Department wanted to remove the wolves from the list, thereby exposing them to harm and slaughter.
By taking this action, President Obama has saved some lives. It's estimated that as many as two-thirds of the gray wolf population would have been affected by the plan—meaning that 1,000 out of almost 1,500 wolves would have been in deep trouble.
Bravo, Mr. President!
Written by Lianne Turner
Our local Norfolk, Virginia, pizzerias, like others in the country, offer all sorts of vegan toppings, so when PETA heard that Sammy's Pizzeria in Niagara Falls was planning a buffalo wing boycott (No, Jessica, they actually come from chickens) that gave us an idea. Sammy's is boycotting buffalo wings because of the increased prices and a shortage of wings, but we have offered another suggestion: Serve soy chicken wings instead!
Sam Musolino, owner of Sammy's Pizzeria, is calling on all pizza places to join him in the buffalo boycott, and while it's great news that diners might not be buying into any chicken killing now … we think going faux would be perfect!
We're even offering a few "chicks" of our own to help serve the new menu item.
Please join us in telling Sammy how easy and delicious it can be to go vegetarian by posting a comment below.
You may know (and love) O.A.R.'s hit single, "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)," but did you know that their name stands for "Outrageously Against Real fur"? OK, I made that part up. It's really "Of a Revolution," but after hearing frontman Marc Roberge's awesome anti-fur radio PSA, I seriously think that they should consider changing it.
Now on a three-month tour supporting the band's hit release All Sides, Marc took time out of his busy schedule to give us his thoughts about the fur industry and so much more in this exclusive interview:
PETA: What made you want to participate in PETA's anti-fur campaign?
Marc: I just think that any person with a head on their shoulders who learns the truth about the fur industry through this campaign should have a hard time justifying spending their money on fur.
PETA: What are your thoughts about the fur industry, particularly regarding the fact that animals—including dogs and cats—are often skinned alive just to make things like trinkets and fur-trimmed clothing?
Marc: I just find it so hard to believe that people find this practice acceptable at all, and they flaunt it. Makes me sick, to be honest. Do people crave attention that much? It is laughable that someone can't see how barbaric wearing fur truly is.
PETA: Do you have any animal companions? If so, what are their names and how did they become a part of your family?
Marc: I have three dogs at home, and they run the show. Two terrier mixes and an 11-year-old pit bull have me wrapped around their little paws. They keep us walking all the time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Our pit was facing the end of the road in an animal shelter in Maryland, so we had to get her out of there and bring her with us when we moved north. I will never forget how happy she was to get in the car with us. To this day, she loves riding in the car.
PETA: What other animal issues are important to you, and why?
Marc: I'm sure everyone reading this would agree that all animal issues are important to all of us. Cosmetic animal testing will always be something that kills me, though. It is just plain wrong.
PETA: Do you have any advice for your fans who want to help animals but aren't sure where to start?
Marc: I guess anyone can start getting involved by volunteering at [an animal] shelter. My wife did that growing up and it definitely shaped a caring side of her that grows deeper every year.
Around about now, I'm thinking that you're probably eager to snatch up a new O.A.R. T-shirt and autographed poster. All you have to do to enter to win this and other great gear is post a comment by February 7 telling us what you've done to fight fur. We'll contact the winner by February 8. Note that by commenting you are agreeing to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
In honor of the Year of the Ox, PETA Asia-Pacific's "Go Veg!" cow hit the streets to encourage shoppers to "make it a good year for cows." Welcomed with open arms (and kids jumping on his back), the cow traveled from Taipei to Hong Kong to Manila. He also made a quick pit stop at the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong to welcome Barack Obama into office. Check out photos from some of their recent demos below:
Ringing in the New Year in front of Taipei City Hall, the cow handed out free soy milk to let people know that cows on dairy farms are forcibly impregnated and have their babies torn away from them within days of birth.
In Manila and Hong Kong, he encouraged shoppers to give healthy, humane vegetarian meals a try. On today's factory farms, cows are routinely branded, dehorned and castrated without anesthesia. No cow deserves that kind of abuse, especially in a year dedicated to them. Don't ya think?
Of course, the always-scandalous PETA Asia-Pacific couldn't protest the meat industry without a throwing in a little sex appeal. No blow-up dolls were involved this time, but Sydney's lunchtime crowds got some serious eye candy. Wearing little more than painted-on words mimicking a butcher's diagram, a pair of activists held signs reminding passersby that "all animals have the same parts."
The Year of the Ox sounds a little bit like a year-long birthday party for cows to me, and I can't think of a better gift than to refuse to eat them.
When we found out that Safari Club International, the largest big-game hunting organization in the world, would be in Reno, Nevada, on the same day as our anti-fur demonstrators, we figured that we'd be facing a tough crowd. Our fearless crusaders nevertheless showed up bright and early to let people know that animals caught in steel-jaw traps can languish in pain for days. What happened next was just downright ridiculous.
First, a couple of Reno Police Department cops showed up (unfortunately not in hot pants) to scope out the scene. Things settled down pretty quickly—that is, until a fire truck and ambulance came charging down the street, sirens blaring, and stopped directly in front of our demo. Apparently, a "concerned citizen" called 911 to report bleeding girls in distress. Cherry on the cake? Amidst the chaos, a detective from Homeland Security showed up to take the ladies' names.
Secretly, we were kind of hoping the cops would show up (we have a thing for police in short shorts), but we definitely weren't expecting such an eventful welcome. Well, the whole thing was eventually sorted out and laughed off as a misunderstanding, but let's just say this was one demo that "The Biggest Little City in the World" will never forget.
Check out photos of the "bleeding girls" below.
Liam Neeson's appearance on The Daily Show last night has PETA wondering if one of his horses might have kicked him in the head. What else could explain his bizarre opinions about New York City's carriage horses and what wonderful lives he thinks they have?
"Have you been in these stables?" he asked. "I would move in tomorrow. Seriously." The man has his choice of at least two posh homes—an enormous condo in Manhattan and a sprawling 6,000-square-foot estate in upstate New York—but apparently he would just as soon live here:
It gets better. When Jon Stewart questioned whether the horses would prefer to be free, Liam said, "Everyone thinks cows in the fields would rather be running wild … that's bullsh** … horses don't either."
Oh, Liam, maybe you're right, let me ponder this for a moment … It does seem like horses would prefer to endure the freezing cold and the panicky booms, noisy traffic, and exhaust fumes of the city over living in a lush pasture. And you're right, they probably much prefer the whips, shouting, heavy gear, traces, and lack of water in the troughs as well as the long shifts trudging for hours and pulling strangers in a half-mile circle all day without rest over living a natural life. Makes sense, right?
Jon stood firm, though, and came to the support of horses, adding, "I don't think living on 52nd and 11th is a holiday for a horse."
Well put.
Written by Christine Doré
We have just learned that Shawn Matthew Lyons, one of the men caught abusing pigs during our investigation of an Iowa pig farm, pleaded guilty to one count of livestock neglect. This charge was filed after authorities reviewed our investigators' video, which showed Lyons beating a pig on the back at least 10 times with a metal gate rod.
According to court records posted today, Lyons has been ordered to pay a fine of $625—the maximum permitted by law—and an additional $250 in court costs and surcharges. Lyons has been placed on probation for six months, during which time he is prohibited from working with any animals. All convicted animal abusers should be barred from contact with animals, and we commend prosecutor Nic Martino for securing this vital sentencing condition.
To our knowledge, Lyons is the first individual ever convicted of abusing or neglecting a factory-farmed pig in Iowa, the nation's top pork-producing state. His conviction sends yet another wake-up call to the pork industry: Cruelty to pigs will not be tolerated by the public or the criminal justice system. And you never know where our undercover investigators will turn up next …
On September 18, 2007, I spent eight hours with Michael Vick at PETA headquarters. He was there to participate in PETA's "Developing Empathy for Animals" course as part of an education process that PETA hoped would ultimately lead Michael to speak out publicly against dogfighting.
In one segment of the course, Michael watched a police training video about the link between violence against animals and violence against humans. It contains graphic footage shot at a dogfight. I watched Michael grimace while watching this footage, in the way that any normal person would. At another point, the video shows a young person hanging a live cat from the ceiling and stabbing the animal to death with a knife. At this point, Michael closed his eyes and turned his head from the screen, seemingly disturbed by what he saw.
Michael also watched a slide-show of photos taken of neglected dogs. He was asked to describe what each animal must have felt in their situation. He aced this part of the course, pointing out that starving dogs living in garbage with heavy, rusty chains around their necks must be "lonely," "sad," and "terrified," and pointed to such indicators as the dogs' tails curled between their legs and their heads bowed in submission. You can see Michael's hand-written responses to the empathy test questions here.
I came away from that meeting encouraged. Even though I felt uncomfortable to be in the same room with a man who had tortured and killed so many animals, Michael seemed like an intelligent and thoughtful person who had made horrible decisions in his life but who regretted the consequences, both for himself and others, and who was genuinely trying to change.
However, despite pledging to become an "ally" in the fight against dogfighting, Michael and his camp have done little more than mouth assurances that he's learned his lesson. Since this meeting, they have only surfaced when Michael has been scheduled for court appearances—until now, when he is asking to get his old job back.
And there is more. Despite the hopes I had for Michael during our meeting, we now know that not only did he lie to the NFL in direct questioning about his activity, he also lied in his lie detector tests after his arrest—something that the recently released USDA report revealed for the first time. We need to know if Michael's post-arrest contrition was part of a flawed human being's genuine growth and development or just part of the machinations of a man with a clinically diagnosable anti-social personality disorder.
Until Michael agrees to submit to a brain scan and psychological evaluation, we have no way of knowing. And until then, PETA will refuse to be a part of a public service announcement that may simply be a public relations ploy from a convicted felon trying to manipulate his way back into the NFL. We hope that the NFL will take the same approach.
Written by Dan Shannon
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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