The bigwigs in Washington didn't approve our permit to set up a hog farm on the steps of the Capitol, but you'll still be seeing PETA in D.C. this summer. Starting yesterday, our Animal Liberation Project display is going to be a fixture on the National Mall all season long.

With the recent leak of alleged torture photos to media outlets, our Animal Liberation Project display—which makes the connection between the injustices that people have suffered throughout history and the abuse and exploitation that animals suffer every day—couldn't be more relevant. These newest images of abuse include those of a man covered in feces and another man hung upside-down.

Sound familiar?

Being hung upside-down is something that billions of chickens endure before they have their throats cut.

The parallels definitely don't stop there. Check out these images from yesterday's unveiling of the display:

We're set up right across from the Natural History Museum, so if you'll be in D.C. this summer, be sure to stop by.

Interested in volunteering for the Animal Liberation Project in D.C.? Just leave a comment below and we'll be sure to get back to you.

Written by Shawna Flavell

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Last night, J.T. Thomas, a 24-year-old cattle rancher from Mobile, Alabama, was unanimously voted the winner of reality show Survivor.

J.T.'s good looks, southern drawl, and sickeningly friendly disposition pegged him as the token "nice guy" this season—but it was always hard for me to figure out how much of his charm was real and how much was a sneaky trick to win $1 million.

After all, cattle ranching is directly connected to cruelty to animals, life-threatening diseases, and the destruction of the environment, so it's pretty obvious that any real "nice guy" would never make ends meet by exploiting cows.

J.T., now that you've got a chance at early retirement, how about letting the cows on your ranch retire as well? If you ditch the cattle farm and opt for a humane lifestyle, you'll prove that you truly are a nice guy. Plus, you'd definitely get my vote for PETA's 2010 Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door competition.

Written by Liz Graffeo

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She had always dreamed of going on an African safari, but now that the time is here, Lily Allen feels like she could never take pictures of the animals because of the stalked feeling that she gets from the paparazzi in her own life. In two recent tweets, she wrote, "Safari is something I've always wanted to do. Don't think I'll sleep tonight," and then, "I already feel guilty about exploiting the animals with my camera, I've got a big long lenz, reminds me of some c***s I know."

Expletives aside, Lily's concerns show her sweet nature (her pooch is a rescue), and we're impressed with her sensitivity to animals. She did decide to go on a safari instead of to a zoo, after all. We're sure that Lily knows that zoos are nothing more than concrete jungles, where animals are held prisoner in tiny enclosures day in and day out, and that the animals resort to abnormal, repetitive behavior to alleviate the mind-numbing boredom of confinement. The animals are also stalked constantly by hordes of families, flashing cameras at the ready, all wanting to get a glimpse of the action. No wonder Lily empathizes with them.

Written by Shawna Flavell

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is fast approaching, and here at PETA we've decided to take our cue from President-elect Obama, who suggests that you make January 19 a day of service instead of just a day off. We think it's a fantastic idea for everyone to spend their day doing something to make a difference, and we even have a suggestion: Help animals! Luckily, it's easy to get active with PETA, whether you want to put a bumper sticker on your car or organize a demonstration. Check out our Action Center to find out what you can do, or try a few of these ideas:

Step 1: Get Social
You could throw a banner or two on your MySpace page, support our cause on Facebook, send a tweet on Twitter, embed some of our YouTube videos on your personal Web site, or create an animal-friendly e-mail signature or out-of-office auto-response. It's as easy as that!

Step 2: Participate in Action Alerts
Check out our list of Action Alerts for opportunities to sign petitions, send letters, and make a real difference in the lives of animals. Most of these will take less than a minute of your time, and you can forward them to your friends when you're done.

Step 3: Spread the Word
Order some PETA leaflets and set up a table. You can get out the word on anything and everything you feel strongly about, whether it's KFC cruelty or animal birth control. We even have a handy guide to tabling to help you get started.

Step 4: Make It Official
PETA is always looking for potential volunteers, interns, and employees to help save animals across the country. Check out our job listings or join our A-Team.

Inspired yet? You can also flip through Making Kind Choices or One Can Make a Difference for some more motivating ideas. Post a comment to let us know what your MLK Jr. Day plans are.

Written by Lianne Turner