Written by PETA
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.
Written by Amy Elizabeth
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.
Written by Liz Graffeo
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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