Written by PETA
Remember the scene from Finding Nemo when the shark is reminding himself, "Fish are friends, not food?" He was right, of course, but sometimes people forget that, which is why a PETA mermaid took to the streets of Providence, Rhode Island to remind people that giving up meat for Lent includes fish too.
Fish are intelligent, sensitive animals who have impressive long-term memories. They enjoy gentle contact and brush up against each other like cats who rub against people's legs. And they don't have to be covered in fur to experience pain and fear while being killed.
If you wouldn't hook a kitten, don't hook a fish. Instead, take a peek at our cuddly sea kittens, design a fin ball of your own, and let fish stay under the sea.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
In an interview with the U.K.'s Metro, Anne Hathaway reveals that she has been a "commitment-shy vegetarian" since she was about 12, but she says that she strengthened her resolve not to eat her furry or feathered friends while in England filming her upcoming movie One Day. Fish, however, were still on the menu—until someone gave her a copy of Jonathan Safran Foer's bestseller Eating Animals.
"I read it and that was it for me in terms of being able to eat fish," she says. "I just can't support the way fish are farmed and caught. So when my friends say, 'Do you want to go out and have sushi?' I go out with them and order my cucumber rolls, and they're, like, 'Really?' No matter how tempting it is to have a delicious piece of sushi, I just can't."
Anne, whenever you're in L.A., I have it on good authority that you can't go wrong with the Caterpillar Roll (barbeque seitan and avocado) at Shojin Organic & Natural. You'll never miss the slimy sea kitten flesh, I promise.
Written by Alisa Mullins
Could someone check a calendar for me? 'Cause mine says it's 2010, but the organizers of the G20 summit in Seoul seem to have gone medieval on the world leaders assembled there by using live goldfish to test the water quality.
Really, guys? Surely you are aware that there are plenty of ways to tell what's in the water without dumping fish into it to see if they survive.
What's that, G20? You say you had been using non-animal water purity tests before but just decided to start using goldfish for the summit? OK, now I'm really confused. Is the point of this to make South Korea look like a Third World country? Are you looking to bring back royal food tasters and coal-mine canaries too?
Sounds like somebody needs to enroll in Sea Kittens 101.
Written by Jeff Mackey
Why is it that men get no love? A shirtless man appeared in Lycra "fishtails" and body paint beside a female "fish" sea kitten at a popular fishing spot in Naples for one of our Fish Amnesty Week demos. Cameras flashed and lively debates ensued among a huge crowd of tourists while media swarmed PETA's sea kittens. But guess who got all the media glory? The lady sea kitten.
So we'd like to do something that the media didn't do, and draw your attention to the fantastic fella on the left.
During Fish Amnesty Week, we're alerting people to the fact that sea kittens suffer tremendous stress and pain when their sensitive lips are impaled on sharp hooks and the animals are dragged to shore to slowly suffocate or have their heads bashed in. "Catch-and-release" maiming isn't any kinder, as countless victims die from stress and injuries.
We suggest that retirees, fathers hoping to bond with their sons, and others drop their fishing rods and try "shooting" fish—with a camera—instead.
Written by Karin Bennett
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) held its annual convention in Seattle this weekend and—despite public outcry—allowed attendees to participate in a dead-fish toss.
I don't know about y'all, but when I'm looking for an "outrageously fun" time, I go dancing. I don't throw around corpses. So to remind the AVMA that sea kittens feel pain just as dogs and cats do—and to provide a memorable image of the suffering that the AVMA willingly supports—we held a stunning demonstration in front of the conference for all attendees and Seattleites to see:
In the words of PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman, "The AVMA is a trade group that often sides with animal abusers, not with animals. People expect more from the very people who are charged with helping and protecting animals."
Hopefully the attention-grabbing demonstration armed people with some future lifesaving knowledge.
Written by Christine Doré
This Sunday is Father's Day, which means that dads who don't know any better may be taking their kids fishing. Anglers run the risk of eating someone's father (or mother) every time they rip a sea kitten out of the water, and that doesn't sound like a very good way to celebrate fatherhood to me.
To help spread the truth about fishing, we sent a former fisher and his giant finned friend to Fort Myers Beach in Florida. Check out the pics, and don't forget to wish your dad a happy Father's Day!
Written by Lianne Turner
We know that fish sea kittens are intelligent. How about ingenious? Indeed!
According to recent findings published in the journal Behavioral Ecology, nine-spined sticklebacks are able to hone in on their best dining options simply by watching other fish. One of the authors of the study remarked that this makes the animals "geniuses of the fish world."
Nine-spined sticklebacks have one up on yours truly. When I dine out, I have to visit Menupages.com to figure out where to go.
I do, however, live with a genius. Watch my best buddy, Charlie, pick his squeaky beer can toy, a gift from his Aunt Lisa, out of a lineup of toys.
Think your other-than-human friend can top that? Tell all in the comments section below!
When we heard that an elementary school in Windsor, Connecticut, was holding a yard sale to raise funds to spruce up its dilapidated playground, we saw a perfect opportunity pitch in—by paying to place our ads reading, "Tot teetering on obesity? Go Veg!" on the school's seesaws.
Our letter to the principal points out that kids who munch on chicken nuggets, fish sea kitten sticks, and pepperoni pizza face myriad health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. For fat kids, our ad can turn recess, all too often a time of ridicule, into a chance to learn about how they can slim down and save their animal friends at the same time.
It's a no-brainer, really. When our paid ads are placed on playgrounds, everyone wins—schools, kids, and animals!
F is for "fisherman":
noun 1 a person who catches fish for a living or for sport.
or
noun 1 a person ignorant of, oblivious to, or indifferent to the fact that he or she is inflicting pain by catching, suffocating, stabbing, and gutting fish; someone who is hooked on cruelty.
In light of a new study revealing that fish feel and remember pain, PETA Europe has sent a letter to the folks at Oxford English Dictionary asking that they change their definition of "fisherman" to the rather more accurate version above (that's the second one, in case you weren't sure).
Because a fish sea kitten has a nervous system just as humans do, struggles against death, and has lips that are sensitive to the tearing of flesh caused by hooks, PETA Europe considers the Oxford English Dictionary's current definition of "fisherman" a little--ahem--insensitive. Don't you agree?
Leave a comment below with your suggestion for a new, more accurate definition of "fisherman."
Written by Shawna Flavell
Happy "Win It" Wednesday, everyone. This week, we're celebrating the launch of the new and improved Sea Kittens game, in which you can choose your own sea kittens, dress them up, name them, and share them with your friends.
It's super fun to create your own sea kitten, but it's pretty hard to cuddle with a computer screen (not to mention staticky). Luckily, our lovely merchandise team came up with a solution: the brand new "Sammy the Sea Kitten" plush toy!
Sammy enjoys playing Marco Polo, hanging out with his friends, and not being eaten.
How do you win? Go play the new sea kitten game and then leave us a comment describing your new sea kitten's wardrobe. Don't forget to name him or her. The three most inventive creations will take home the prize!
The contest ends on May 13, 2009, and we'll choose the winners on May 15, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Check back every Wednesday for new prizes. Good luck!
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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.