Today Canada, tomorrow the world (insert maniacal laughter here). We were totally spent from doing a victory dance over our recent KFC campaign triumph in Canada, but we've rested up and now we're ready to get back to kicking the Colonel's bucket. Continuing our Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign in other countries, including the U.S., we're not going to let up until KFC cries uncle and agrees to make some serious changes to the way its suppliers treat chickens.

Speaking of our campaign, we were recently reminiscing—while recovering from our V dance—about all the actions we've taken against KFC. We couldn't decide which one was our fave, so we thought we'd ask for your input. I'm partial to the completely unappetizing but utterly inspiring, demo-licious Bucket of Blood. Then again, Pam Anderson's video is pretty cool. See why we need your help? Check out our list below, and vote for your favorite by leaving us a comment.

1. PETA staffer changes his name to KentuckyFriedCruelty.com2. Pam Anderson video3. Super Chick Sisters video game4. The Rev. Al Sharpton's video5. Bucket of Blood 6. 'Crippled Chicken Crosses the Road' demos7. KFC sign generator8. Kentucky Fried Cruelty: The Movie9. Colonel Sanders headstone10. Kentucky Fried Cruelty HQ

If you have plans that don’t involve watching 30 Days, first of all, how dare you? I told you it was going to be on. And second of all, you should immediately cancel them. ‘Cuz the show’s going to be really interesting, and it has my friend Melissa in it. And a very funny hunter dude named George.

For those of you who were already planning to watch the show, well, I’m glad that some people are listening to me. You guys get a gold star. To recap:

Since 2001, PETA's mobile "Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please" (SNIP) clinic has been providing free and low-cost spay-and-neuter surgeries (nearly 45,000!) in Virginia's Hampton Roads area, where PETA is located. Earlier this week, we doubled the size of our lifesaving fleet, rolling out a second animal birth control mobile clinic.

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, who was on hand to cut the ribbon during the official unveiling of the clinic, praised PETA's approach to the companion animal overpopulation crisis as intelligent and humane. That's right—we've got smarts!

Check out these pictures of the new lifesaving clinic!

Simon says…we're sorry we couldn't resist the clichéd reference to a certain kids' game.

Ingrid is especially happy because the unveiling was on her birthday. What a wonderful present!

Check out the size of those scissors! They're HUGE! Was Mayor Fraim expecting the clinic to be wrapped in steel? Really, it's a bit much—my toenail clippers could have finished off this ribbon!

Kimora will be stunning people with her beauty wherever the clinic travels.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a boatload of cats and dogs (4 million) are killed every year in the U.S. because there just aren't homes for these animals. And you also know that when people don't sterilize their animals, that contributes to the problem.

We've all seen the population pyramids: one fertile cat can produce 12 to 18 kittens every year, and one fertile dog can produce 12 to 20 puppies every year (not doing it together, of course). When you do the math, that can translate to more than 11,000 cats and more than 12,000 dogs in five years. The flipside of these overwhelming numbers is that we can stop a lot of suffering just by spaying or neutering one animal. And when we spay or neuter more animals, the savings multiply.

—Grace

Posted by Grace Friedan

Every once in a while, someone notices that women are featured in PETA's provocative ads and demonstrations more often than men are. It's not that PETA, as an organization, doesn't appreciate animal-loving, nearly naked men—it's just that usually the ads and demonstrations make more sense or will garner more attention to animal rights issues with women as the stars.

For instance, if young chickens were called "dudes," "guys," or "homeboys," I personally assure you that we would have called out the Broccoli Boys and there would have been a couple of male PETA volunteers at our recent scalding-tank reenactment demos (photos below). Alas, young chickens (the chickens killed for KFC are only about 45 days old when they are slaughtered) are called chicks. As are women. Global conspiracy or convenient protest idea? I can't say—but it is one thing we have to work with in the battle against KFC.

PETA's latest demonstration highlights that while chickens killed for KFCs in Canada will soon be killed using the least cruel slaughter method available, birds killed for KFC in the U.S. are still scalded to death. It costs KFC more money, and it's just plain cruel.

Here are some details from our news release (it's not that I'm lazy—I just thought it was already well explained):

Great demo, Colleen and Shawn. And happy birthday, Colleen! I'm sorry you share it with the gruesome twosome.

More photos, wonderful photos:

—Joel Bartlett

Here at PETA, we get undeniably excited when we receive new costumes in the mail. It virtually turns into a reenactment of little kids on their birthdays—without all the "gimme gimmes" and grabbing fingers. Well, maybe. Anyway, the point is we were very excited when our new nugget costume arrived. Now, if you don't know who Nugget is, check this out. But all you really need to know is that Nugget is ruler of the "I Am Not a Nugget" campaign and an ally of our good buddies over at peta2.

Well, the costume was glorious! But before we tried it on, we found an extra surprise at the bottom of the box: instructions!

These instructions were especially amusing to us given that the costume consists of four parts: the main body, tights, and two feet. Now, I know that I, too, put my shoes on the wrong feet sometimes—but in my defense, this is usually before my morning cup of tea—and this really shouldn't be so difficult! Alas, we couldn't contain our curiosity and checked them over:

• The wearer should be of average build and approximately 5'4" to 5'8" tall.
• The wearer should be of reasonable strength and stamina. The costume is bulky and will get very warm while worn.
• It's best to wear a T-shirt under the costume. The wearer should drink plenty of liquids before and after the event.
• The costume should be worn without shoes.
• Be sure to have a dress rehearsal. It takes two people about 10 to 15 minutes to put on the costume. Becoming comfortable before the event will ensure the best performance.

And the finished result? So gosh darn adorable you almost can't take it, right? Well, Nugget is a tough warrior for animal rights. After all, it's a tough job when you've got 9 billion chickens to speak up for. Thank you, Nugget!

-Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

The next time someone tries to tell you that a vegan diet isn't healthy, just mention Mary Bukowiec to them. Who is she? Ms. Bukowiec is a breast cancer survivor who credits her change to a vegan diet with the complete disappearance of her cancer. Following an earlier diagnosis, she had followed the conventional course of treatment. But when the cancer reappeared, she decided that a different approach was called for. Michigan's Morning Sun reports:

Of course, eating meat, dairy products, and other food from dead, tortured animals is clearly linked to a higher risk of cancer as well as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and lots of other things you don't want to get in the first place. So if you haven't done the vegan thing yet, it's time to get with it already—it could even keep you from developing a certain condition (wink, wink) that isn't life-threatening but might ruin a guy's social life!

-Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

An early version of the “Meet Jack” picture for the PETA Files had more of a “getting things done!” feel to it. In the end, we decided to go with “simpering idiot” instead.

For everyone else, I wanted to take a very few minutes of your time to say thanks for sticking around during the last year or so. It’s been a fantastic experience being a writer for the PETA Files, and I’m very much looking forward to settling into being a reader. In fact, I have every intention of leaving longwinded, self-important comments on every post until Christine (who, bless her heart, has taken over moderating duties) politely begs me to stop.

While I still have a soapbox, I figured this would be a good time for a quick retrospective in the form of my Top 5 moments working at this amazing organization, so here goes:

Since coming to PETA four years ago, I have:

• Performed search-and-rescue operations for abandoned animals in post-Katrina New Orleans.
• Stood, naked, painted like a Union Jack, in front of the British embassy in DC to protest the Queen’s Guards’ bearskin hats.
• Toured the country with The Alkaline Trio on behalf of peta2.
• Starred in a special “episode” of Full House that was featured on The O’Reilly Factor.
• Written (roughly) 1,200 entries and approved more than 30,000 comments for this blog. Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of that.

The good news is that this is the last week that any of us will have to put up with that nauseatingly smug version of me quite clearly sleeping on the job up in this blog’s banner. Word on the street is that (fittingly enough) I am being replaced by a chicken.

And I’ll leave you with that thought. See you in the comments!

-Jack

In March, a video surfaced on online showing a smiling Marine throwing a live puppy off a cliff while another Marine laughs. People everywhere were outraged, PETA was immediately flooded with calls and e-mails from people who wanted to know how they could help get justice for the puppy.

PETA's Emergency Response Division immediately contacted the Commanding Officer at Marine Corps Base Hawaii urging strong action on this case. In addition, we launched an online action alert, which allowed tens of thousands of outraged people to share their feelings with Marine Corps officials and ask for court-martials and severe penalties for those involved.

Today, we received the long-awaited results of the Marine Corps' investigation. According to news sources, the soldier shown tossing the puppy has been expelled, and another Marine in the video apparently faces disciplinary action. A big, big thanks to everyone who took action and let the Marine Corps know that cruelty to animals is never acceptable—no matter who the abuser is.

PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch has these strong words on this matter:

And here are my words:

- Joel Bartlett

If you've idly tossed around the idea of expatriation, this news item will surely send you packing—and practicing your Italian. We've received news that the independent state of San Marino, located entirely within Northeastern Italy, has formally abolished all animal experimentation within its borders. The bill, supported by citizens' signatures and a local animal protection group, was presented in February of this year and has now been signed into law.

Although San Marino is a small state, this is a historic event: San Marino is the very first nation to make all animal testing illegal. Clearly, people (in San Marino and elsewhere) want more sophisticated non-animal methods to be used and find that vivisection is generally abhorrent. In addition to being compassionate for passing this most progressive law, San Marino doesn't have to worry about having an animal-torturing preclinical racket come to town and wreck its local water supply or snatch up its citizens' loved ones.

On behalf of the cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, monkeys, chimpanzees, pigs, rabbits, sheep, rats, mice, birds, fish, and all other species that are commonly used for research, thank you, San Marino!

-Sean

Posted by Sean Conner

‘Cuz why not? Here they are – the top 10 films that’ll inspire you to go vegetarian. Let us know which ones you like best, or feel free to add to the list in the comments.

• Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2008). See the KFC-esque "American Chicken Bunker" get skewered in this film about chickens who return from the grave to seek revenge against their killers. Throw in a few lesbian protesters, musical numbers about Native American burial grounds, and fry-o-lators, and you've got yourself a vegetarian-manifesto masterpiece.
• Soylent Green (1973). Overpopulation and environmental devastation have led to a world where food is scarce and prices have sky-rocketed (sound familiar?), and the only way to survive is by eating a mysterious food called "Soylent Green." But the real food for thought is when Chuck Heston discovers that "Soylent Green is people!" (Please, pass the veggies!)
• Babe (1995). This film has turned legions of people into vegetarians—including its star, James Cromwell—because who could "pig out" again after watching that cute little piglet charm Farmer Hogett?
• Delicatessen (1991). As if foie gras weren't disgusting enough, this post-apocalyptic comedy gives new meaning to "French cuisine" when a landlord serves cannibalistic meals to his tenants.
• Fast Food Nation (2006). This film takes a compelling look at the destructive impact that eating meat has on animals, people's health, and the environment. Bruce Willis' "tough talk" scene about the suspect ingredients found in meat—while chomping on a huge burger—is priceless.
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Leatherface and his family members really know how to throw a dinner party: blood, gore, and all the human flesh that you can eat. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons calls The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a "vegetarian" movie. "The way that woman was screaming, 'Aaaahhh,' and she's running away—that's how every animal you eat is running for his or her life," he says.
• Super Size Me (2004). Morgan Spurlock documents the ill effects that his 30-day, McDonald's-only diet has on his body, giving new meaning to the phrase "Big Mac attack."
• Chicken Run (2000). That's right: Laying hens don't "retire"—they get turned into "Mrs. Tweedy's Homemade Chicken Pies." This movie is the best that celluloid (and clay) has to offer in making the case for scrambled tofu.
• Sweeney Todd (2007). This tells the story of a demon barber who conspires with a woman who uses human flesh in her meat pies. The only thing yummy in this blood-splattered spectacle is Johnny Depp.
• I Am an Animal (2007). Showing everything from undercover video footage shot inside a turkey slaughterhouse to a rescued turkey singing along to classical music, this documentary about PETA founder Ingrid E. Newkirk is one of the best cases for a Tofurky Thanksgiving.

As Ingrid Newkirk puts it, "Picking up the remote can become a life-changing act when you watch one of these movies. If animals wrote movie reviews, they'd give these films two paws up."