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Tag: PETA

  • Sabrina Corgatelli On Hot Seat After Photos With Dead Giraffe Circulate The Web

    Recently, the killing of Cecil the lion caused uproar on social media. The hunter and dentist by profession, Dr. Walter Palmer became the butt of criticisms and insults after the news came out.

    It seems that news of hunting and killing animals is now a hot topic as another poacher by the name of Sabrina Corgatelli, is making rounds in social media. Corgatelli, from Idaho drew the attention of netizens and animal rights activists after posting photos of her with a dead giraffe and other wild animals she killed on her hunt in South Africa.

    The said photos garnered a lot of criticisms from animal rights activists and ordinary people who were angered by this seemingly inhumane practice. Her collection includes a giraffe a wildebeest, a kudu, a warthog and an impala.

    She said on her Facebook post dated July 25, “Day #2 I got a amazing old Giraffe. Such a amazing animal!! I couldn’t be any happier!! My emotion after getting him was a feeling I will never forget!!!”

    Beautiful Blue Wildebeest. #Africa #racksandridges #huntlikeagirl A photo posted by >>>>—Sabrina Corgatelli—-> (@italianhuntress) on

    Tonight got a HUGE wart hog. 13 inches. What a fun hunt!!! #huntlikeagirl #racksandridges #Africa

    A photo posted by >>>>—Sabrina Corgatelli—-> (@italianhuntress) on

    Truly one of my favorite animals I’m Africa!! So lucky to be here!! #huntlikeagirl #Africa #racksandridges #kudu A photo posted by >>>>—Sabrina Corgatelli—-> (@italianhuntress) on

    Various people from all walks of life lamented and shared their views on the said incident including Ashley Byrne, spokesman for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

    Another celebrity who is very vocal about animal rights, British comedian and activist Ricky Gervais, took to Twitter his feelings regarding the killing and went to describe Corgatelli as a “new extreme ‘untress desperate for publicity”.

    Not only did she receive negative criticisms, some commenters even threatened her job.

    “Everything I’ve done here is legal, so how can you fault somebody because of their hobbies?” Corgatelli expressed as she defended herself against accusers. “How can an employer chastise you for something you do on your personal time that’s legally done?” she added.

    Idaho State University, where Corgatelli is working, released an official statement through the Associated Press and expressed that the choices of the said employee is “not representative of the university”.

  • Gay Bull of Ireland Afforded Sanctuary in Britain

    Benjy, dubbed the gay bull of Ireland, which was set to be slaughtered for failing to mate with any heifers, has been offered a reprieve, with the help of The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon.

    Simon, who is battling colon cancer, has been contributing much of his estimated net worth of $100 million to animal rights causes, and is footing the bill of having Benjy transported to the United Kingdom. Benjy, who has been deemed fertile by veterinarians, failed to mate with any of the lady cows at County Mayo farm in western Ireland. Benjy, a Charlerois bull, was more attracted to the bull which replaced him.

    After the proprietor of the farm announced he planned to have Benjy processed, animal rights activists launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking $7,825 last week, in hopes of sending the cow to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, England. The sanctuary houses roughly 2,000 unwanted farm animals and horses.

    About 300 backers contributed $6,200 to an ongoing fundraising drive organized by the British online magazine TheGayUK.

    Simon, who developed The Simpsons in 1989 alongside creator Matt Groening and James L. Brooks, receives millions of dollars in royalties from the show each year.

    Simon, who said he heard of Benjy’s plight via People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, commented, “All animals have a dire destiny in the meat trade, but to kill this bull because he’s gay would’ve been a double tragedy. It thrills me to help PETA and ARAN make Benjy’s fate a sanctuary rather than a sandwich.”

    Expanded Simpsons cow intrigue:

    ARAN (Ireland’s Animal Rights Action Network) campaigns director John Carmody remarked that Simon and other donors were buying the bull “a one-way ticket to freedom.”

  • Man Eaten By Anaconda: Animal Activists Outraged Over Man in ‘Snake-proof’ Suit Eaten Alive by Snake on Reality Show

    Animal rights activists are outraged over a man’s decision to suit up in a snake-proof suit and be eaten alive by an enormous anaconda constrictor snake.

    Self-proclaimed naturalist and wildlife filmmaker Paul Rosolie promises his audience to be eaten alive by the snake in a promo for the Discovery Channel special, Eaten Alive.

    Staff at The Columbus (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium expressed their outrage over the spectacle.

    “If this snake would ingest something very large, like a human, and then have to regurgitate that prey or that food, that obviously could be harmful to the snake,” said Tom Stalf, CEO and President of the Columbus Zoo.

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have likewise condemned the stunt.

    “This blatant publicity stunt sounds far-fetched, but if the description is accurate, the snake was tormented and suffered for the sake of ratings – as animals usually do when they’re used for entertainment,” PETA said in a statement.

    “Anacondas go days without eating and expend the energy needed to do so selectively. Making this snake use up energy by swallowing this fool and then possibly regurgitating him would have left the poor animal exhausted and deprived of the energy that he or she needs.”

    Rosolie — who is a naturalist, author, and until this WTH-stunt, a respected conservationist — is likely to see his career take a hit, at least in animal activist and conservation circles.

    “What I think is a shame is that his credibility will be just absolutely ruined now, and as we talk about Jack Hanna, Marlin Perkins, Steve Irwin, these are people that explore this beautiful planet, and we only have one, and so the message is to protect that planet and learn about conservations,” Stalf said.

    Eaten Alive is set to air 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, on the Discovery Channel.

  • PETA Offering Reward for Squirrel Kicker Identity

    PETA Offering Reward for Squirrel Kicker Identity

    In a video that went viral online, an unnamed Frenchman was shown kicking a squirrel into the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Now the UK branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering a $17,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the squirrel-kicker.

    PETA urged anyone with details to relay information to the Grand Canyon’s chief ranger, and calls the man seen in the video a “heartless thug.”

    In the clip, (the original has been deleted from YouTube), a shirtless man is seen setting down crumbs to lure a squirrel to the edge of the cliff, before kicking it into the canyon, while his friend in biker shorts watches.

    Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski said that rangers have been investigating the video, and have concluded that it appears to have been shot at the Grand Canyon, but when and exactly where is still vague.

    Here is a copy of the clip of the incident:

    If the kicker is caught, he could face a charge of wildlife harassment, which carries a penalty of up to six months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine, Shedlowski said.

    The Frenchmen from the video did not make any new fans on Twitter:

    PETA, founded in 1980, is the largest animal rights group in the world, with over 3 million members and supporters. Its slogan reads, “animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment or abuse in any way.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Anti Sea World Ads: PETA Knows How To Make ‘Em

    The San Diego International Airport has decided that they will allow an anti Sea World ad to be posted in the terminal.

    The ad will be allowed to stay in the terminal for a month.

    The ad was created by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and will appear in the airport on Thursday.

    The airport’s decision to allow the ad comes after a lawsuit was filed against them by PETA. The airport had originally refused to allow the ad and felt that it would cause problems between passengers and visitors.

    PETA filed a lawsuit and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California agreed to settle it by allowing PETA to place the ad in the terminal.

    Sea World has been criticized for keeping whales in captivity and using them for shows and performances. A recent documentary called Blackfish added to the heated debate of whether Sea World was treating their animals humanely or simply using them as props or tools.

    PETA and many other animal welfare organizations argue that the large killer whales and other animals used in Sea World shows should not be kept in such small holding tanks or pens. They claim that many of the accidents that have occurred at Sea World including the ones where the whales have attacked trainers, are a result of the whales reacting to the cruel treatment they receive.

    PETA hopes that the new ad will show people exactly why they should boycott Sea World and make everyone aware of the way Sea World treats its whales and other animals.

    The airport ad is just one of many anti Sea World ads that PETA has created. Another ad that was recently released by the organization stars actor Jason Biggs.

    Biggs jokes about the Sea World trainer accidents and says that what we see as harmless family fun is actually torture for the animals that are forced to perform at the parks every day.

    How do you feel about Sea World?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Turkey Roadside Memorial Denied By Utah

    Turkey Roadside Memorial Denied By Utah

    The Utah Department of Transportation denied PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) permission to put up a roadside memorial for hundreds of turkeys that were killed in a tractor accident that took place last month. However, supporters of animal rights appealed the decision on Monday.

    PETA was asking for a sign to be erected on the site of where the accident happened. The trailer truck, which containing over 700 turkeys, crashed on Highway 189 and fell into the Deer Creek Reservoir. The truck’s driver, who was thrown out of the vehicle, survived with injuries, but the hundreds of turkeys on board died.

    The sign was supposed to read “In memory of the hundreds of terrified turkeys who died here in a truck crash. Try vegan.”

    In a letter addressed to PETA, the Utah Department of Transportation said, “This request does not meet the policy standards for roadside memorial signs and UDOT will not make an exception to the policy in this case.”

    UDOT policy states that memorial signs can be erected for road accident victims in order for friends and family to express their grief, but this case is different, as the turkeys that died do not have living relatives who will grieve for them.

    Amy Meyer, a staff for PETA, said that the turkeys also felt pain during the incident, and that they deserve to be treated just like people who have died in road accidents.

    PETAs goal is to remind drivers to drive with care, especially those who are transporting hundreds of animals.

    This is not the first time PETA has filed for the erection of memorials for animals. The animal support group has also filed roadside memorials for chickens in Georgia, and for cows in New York City. As of writing, none of the requests have been allowed.

    PETA has also asked to erect a memorial for fish

    Image via YouTube

  • PETA Wanted Jeffrey Dahmer’s Home To Become A Diner

    (Warning: the following describes a man whose crimes were against humanity.)

    If you’re unfamiliar with Jeffrey Dahmer, then all you need to know is that he was a serial killer and sex offender who:

    • Killed, raped, and dismembered 17 men and boys from 1978 to 1991.
    • The murders involved necrophilia, cannibalism, and preservation of body parts (in his fridge.)
    • Suffered from borderline personality disorder and was found legally sane on trial.
    • Was bludgeoned to death by fellow inmates in 1994.

    So what did everyone’s favorite animal-rights organization suggest Dahmer’s former childhood home turn into?  A vegan restaurant called “Eat For Life – Home Cooking” – to think how edgy and niche it would be to munch on your vegetables in a place where a man killed and dismembered 19-year old hitchhiker Steven Hicks and scattered his remains on the 1.5 acre property.

    Classy.

    “We’re always looking for ways to turn cruelty on its ugly head, so when we heard that serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer‘s childhood home had been put up for sale, we saw an opportunity to create good out of evil,” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted on its website.

    “Rather than remaining as a stark reminder of its dark past, the building can instead become the site of a celebration of culinary compassion.”

    However, last Tuesday, PETA changed their minds and abandoned their idea for the killer home restaurant makeover:

    “We regret that we won’t be able to move forward with this project, even though it was met with some enthusiasm as well as some derisive comments,” said Moira Colley, media officer with PETA, in an email sent to media outlets on Tuesday.

    The real estate agent, Richard Lubinski of Stouffer Realty, said he was not surprised that PETA dropped the proposal.

    “I had to take it seriously,” he said, out of “fiduciary duty to my client”. Lubinski said. “With PETA’s history of these stunts … it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two-and-two together” to determine the suggestion was a publicity stunt.

    On Friday, Bill Funk, the town’s zoning inspector and administrator, told the Akron Beacon Journal that it’s unlikely Bath Township would make an exception to allow a restaurant business to run in a residential neighborhood.

    Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA’s president, once said in a 1991 USA Today article about PETA’s shock-value methods: “Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt … We’re not here to shock and horrify, but sometimes you have to grab people’s attention.”

    In 2012, PETA wanted to transform the foreclosing Florida home of O.J. Simpson into a “Meat is Murder” museum.

    Go vegan.

    Images via WikiCommons, PETA, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department

  • Paul McCartney & PETA Work to Rescue Elephant

    Paul McCartney headed a campaign to rescue an elephant from a temple in India after a trip there in 2012.

    He saw 14-year-old Sunder being obviously mistreated at Jyotiba temple and, with the help of Maharashtra State’s forest department and India’s Project Elephant, arranged his transport to a sanctuary.

    It would have been really nice for Sunder who already suffered from numerous scars, an eye injury and a hole in his ear, if all had gone as planned. But it didn’t.

    Investigation by an animal rights group in February yielded video of Sunder being treated worse than before. He had apparently simply been moved to a chicken shack with no bedding and insufficient shelter to keep out the harsh sun during the day and the cold night wind. He was also shackled so tightly that he couldn’t lay down, according to Yahoo.

    A following investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals provided video to back up those claims. They also gathered photos and video showing the still-young elephant in a malnourished state, being beaten and severely mistreated by his handler.

    The video shows Sunder “writhing in pain and struggling to stand as the mahout (handler) strikes him repeatedly,” said PETA director of veterinary affairs, Dr. Manilal Valliyate. “Sunder visibly recoils in fear from the weapon-wielding mahout, who continues to threaten him with violence after he has stood.”

    You can see PETA’s video here, but please be aware, it’s hard to watch:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BOWXPyQiMw&noredirect=1

    In August, he made an angry escape attempt including pulling down a heavy pillar to which he was tied with strong ropes and ransacking local retail shops, according to PETA’s website. They say it was a desperate flight to try to gain his freedom to enjoy what is remaining of his life.

    Hopefully India, a country ironically noted for holding the elephant as sacred, will be spurred to do more to see that this poor elephant is put somewhere safe and far away from the handlers and temples which have treated him so cruelly.

    Image Via PETA

  • Paul McCartney: Elephant Not Rescued After All

    An elephant that was believed to be rescued by ex-Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, has been found abused in a shack.

    In 2012 McCartney made a trip to India. While on that trip he met Sunder, an elephant that had been abused by his handlers at Jyotiba Temple south of Mumbai. McCartney was so moved by the 14-year-old Sunder that he organized a campaign to rescue the elephant.

    By the time McCartney met Sunder, the elephant had an eye injury, a hole in his ear, and multiple scars all over his body. Sunder had spent six years in the city of Kolhapur at the temple after being donated by a local politician.

    After working and making agreements with the Maharashtra State’s forest department and an Indian government organization called Project Elephant, McCartney believed Sunder would be moved to a sanctuary, but a recent investigation found Sunder living in a shack.

    Not only did an animal rights group investigation find Sunder living in a chicken shack being shackled in chains that were so heavy he couldn’t lay down to sleep, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) captured video of the elephant being beaten by his handlers and looking malnourished. You can see for yourself in the video below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BOWXPyQiMw

    PETA director of veterinary affairs, Dr. Manilal Valliyate said Sunder had been seen “writhing in pain and struggling to stand as the mahout (handler) strikes him repeatedly. Sunder visibly recoils in fear from the weapon-wielding mahout, who continues to threaten him with violence after he has stood.”

    The investigation performed by PETA found that the shack Sunder has been confined to is open on three sides, allowing the harsh heat of the sun during the day and the cold wind and weather at night to abuse the elephant. They also found that there is no bedding for Sunder in the shack.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Bindi Irwin: Major Backlash On Partnership With SeaWorld

    Bindi Irwin, the daughter of ‘crocodile hunter’ Steve Irwin, became the subject of criticism and controversy when she announced her partnership with SeaWorld.

    The teen appeared on Good Morning America with her brother Robert and mother Terri. She shared her excitement in following her father’s footsteps by empowering kids through SeaWorld’s project Generation Nature. “I’m thrilled to be partnered up with SeaWorld… and just encouraging kids to change the world,” she added.

    Bindi’s announcement

    http://youtu.be/pNKL5GURuao

    SeaWorld has come under heavy scrutiny ever since the documentary Blackfish was released last year. The award-winning film showed the poor conditions that the killer whales in SeaWorld’s theme parks are subjected to.  After the release of the documentary, protests ensued and many musical acts, such as Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, and Barenaked Ladies cancelled their performances in SeaWorld’s theme parks, most recently in SeaWorld Orlando’s concert series in February.

    Documentary: ‘Blackfish’

    http://youtu.be/8OEjYquyjcg

    The 15-year-old seemed to be ignorant of SeaWorld’s negative image as she went on to promote the company’s site.

    The announcement immediately triggered a barrage of violent reactions and angry tweets from animal rights groups and concerned individuals. In Pat Fitzgerald’s Twitter post mentioning Bindi, he asked her if she had watched Blackfish, adding, “Please do not bring shame to your fathers name by colluding with #SeaWorld.”

    Another tweet, this time from user Amanda Holliday, posed the question “How much do you think #SeaWorld had to pay Bindi Irwin to fix their image?”

    Animal rights organization PETA, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also had something to say, stating that the Irwins had been exploiting animals for years, so they were not surprised that the Bindi agreed to become SeaWorld’s endorser.

    The statement noted that making Bindi the SeaWorld cover girl will never cover up the fact that animals are suffering in the theme parks’ tanks. “SeaWorld is no place for anyone who truly cares about animals,” PETA said in their statement, commenting that Bindi’s appearances on television are just the company’s desperate attempts to make money.

    Image via Twitter

  • Americans Seen Turning Against Animal Testing

    Americans Seen Turning Against Animal Testing

    The gap in opinion between young and old in the U.S. can often be wide. The country has seen significant movement on political issues such as gay marriage and marijuana legalization in recent years, much of it due to the entrance of younger people on the political scene.

    Now it appears that American opinions on animal rights are set to change dramatically in the coming years as well. New research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this week has shown that more Americans are now opposing medical testing on animals.

    The study, performed by researchers from Western Governors University and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) looked at survey data from Gallup between the years 2001 and 2013. They found that 41% of U.S. adults said they oppose animal medical testing in 2013, a 12% increase over 2001 opinion levels.

    What’s most interesting about the data, though, is how different various demographic groups’ opinions on the matter were. Only around 33% of Americans age 30 and older last year said that they oppose medical testing on animals. Meanwhile, over half (54%) of adults age 18 to 29 oppose animal testing, a full 23% increase over that statistic as measured in 2001.

    The data also shows a significant gender gap when it comes to animal testing. In 2013 52% of U.S. women said they oppose animal testing versus only 30% of men.

    “Opposition to animal testing is steadily rising among people of every gender, age group, and political affiliation, likely because people have more exposure than ever to information about the cruelty that animals endure in laboratories, how animal testing rarely helps humans, and the superior alternatives available,” said Justin Goodman, co-author of the study and a director at PETA. “Now, the country’s laws and policies governing animal experimentation and its research funding practices need to evolve to meet public expectations as well.”

  • Ariana Grande Supports PETA And Defends Ponytail

    Ariana Grande is just one of several celebrities who live a vegan lifestyle and support PETA and their stance on animal abuse. Ariana recently showed her support for the group by wearing a tank top with the phrase “Never Be Silent.” Ariana went Vegan is November and eats no animal products.

    Vegans do not eat eggs, oils that are made from animal fat or dairy products. They are similar to vegetarians but a little more strict in terms of what can and cannot be eaten. Most vegans and animal activists are also against wearing anything made from animals such as leather or wool.

    Ariana takes her activism seriously and often tries to make the public aware of animal cruelty or abuse. After watching the documentary Black Fish, about killer whales that are kept in captivity and how they are mistreated by Sea World, Ariana tweeted a message to all of her friend and fans, asking that they also watch it and consider the message.

    While Ariana’s love for animals isn’t necessarily new, her look is. Ariana ditched her signature magenta dye job for a more mature and natural color. Although it appeared that Ariana liked her neon hair, she recently revealed that it damaged her natural hair and as a result, she has to wear extensions.

    She defended her decision to wear extensions on Instagram saying, “I had to bleach my hair and dye it red every other week for the first 4 years of playing Cat . . . as one would assume, that completely destroyed my hair,” she wrote. “I now wear a wig on Sam & Cat. My real hair is back to brown and I wear extensions, but I wear it in a pony tail because my actual hair is so broken that it looks absolutely ratchet and absurd when I let it down.”

    What do you think of Ariana’s new look and her decision to go vegan?

    Image via YouTube.

  • Blackie the Hippo Mourned By His Many Visitors

    The typical hippo only lives about 30 – 40 years. Blackie the Hippo, who is believed to be the oldest known hippo in North America, lived to the age of 59. Sadly, he had to be euthanized on Monday due to age related issues. Cleveland Metropark Zoo communications director Sue Allen spoke of the special care given to Blackie during his life. “He lived a good life. It was as testament to the care he was given. His needs were really attended to.”

    Born on a Tarzanian game reserve, Blackie arrived at the Cleveland Zoo in 1955 when he just 1-year-old. The 3,700 pound male Nile hippopotamus has not been on exhibit since 2008. During his retirement years, Blackie lived a lush life with a heated pool and his very own digs. However, he was a popular attraction for a long time at the zoo where he had thousands of visitors spanning generations come to see him throughout the years. Some of his fans took to Twitter to express their condolences.

    In addition, many of Blackie’s fans responded to the Zoo’s post on their Facebook page announcing the hippo’s death. On Wednesday afternoon, the post had received over 700 shares and 150 comments.

    Post by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

    Hopefully Blackie’s death will not attract the attention of PETA, who have been known in the past to find fault in an animal’s death. Blackie was euthanized because the veterinarians who were treating him believed that due to his advanced age, his pain and suffering were becoming too much for the hippo to handle.

    Image via Facebook

  • Macy’s Parade Under Fire. Again.

    Remember when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a whimsical trip for the imaginations of generations of childhood viewers who loved to watch giant Snoopy and giant Charlie Brown float down 34th St.?

    Remember when people didn’t have time on their hands to throw a fit about every detail of life that happens to bump up against their feelings?

    Well, those days are officially over. Sorry, guys.

    While the Macy’s parade has been at the center of controversy before, this year seems especially spectacular in the offense department.

    First there was the Joan Jett debacle over her singing on the float representing South Dakota. Turns out, she is a PETA-supporting vegetarian, and South Dakota’s main industry is beef. Not a good match, obviously, but in the grand scheme, it’s just a float in a parade, right? Or does Joan Jett suddenly become ambassador of South Dakota to the world in its entirety?

    Well, South Dakota seemed to take it pretty seriously, demanding that she be given the boot. Fine, Jett was moved to another, as of yet unspecified float. Now, according to the AP, Sea World is in hot water with PETA over their float for the parade. PETA’s minions plan to line the route of next week’s parade to protest the float over some accusations in a new documentary, called “Blackfish”, which asserts that the popular theme parks treat whales badly, and also that said bad treatment is what caused the death of a trainer last year.

    Alec Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, wrote last week that SeaWorld was a “cruel prison for whales” and that the parks “should not be celebrated with a giant Shamu float parading down 34th Street.” They are supporting PETA, who sent Macy’s more than 80,000 emails from animal lovers demanding that the store drop the float.

    SeaWorld, however, says the accusations have “absolutely no basis”. They say that “the men and women who care for these animals at SeaWorld are dedicated in every respect to their health and well-being.”

    Here is a bit of nostalgia, you’re welcome:

    Unfortunately, Macy’s is caught in the middle of this mess, which is in danger of ruining what the company stands for, as far as it’s intention for the parade originally was.

    “The parade has never taken on, promoted or otherwise engaged in social commentary, political debate or other forms of advocacy,” Cincinnati-based Macy’s Inc. said in a statement this week.

    Parade executive producer Amy Kule said on Tuesday that the SeaWorld float is staying, in standing strong with the above-mentioned intent. “There is no controversy,” she said. “Our goal is to entertain and that is their goal as well.”

    Image via wikimedia commons

  • PETA Recommends New Washington Redskins Logo

    (image)

    Even Obama says he would “think about changing” the team name of the Washington Redskins, as it offends Native Americans, “a sizable group of people”.

    “I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things,” the president told The Associated Press on October 4th in the White House library.

    But let not your heart be troubled Mr. President, as the animal rights activists over at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) proposed an idea that keeps the NFL’s proud team name, but changes the logo.

    Alisa Mullins made the suggestion non-originally over at PETA.org on October 11th:

    “The redskin potato would be a noble mascot for a variety of reasons. Potatoes are also native Americans, having been cultivated in Peru for millennia. A tasty, versatile, animal-and environmentally friendly vegan staple, potatoes are now the most popular vegetable in the U.S. They are loaded with nutrients, including iron, potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and even protein, and red potatoes in particular are high in antioxidants. (Take that, Cheeseheads.)”

    Nobile indeed, and it’s rather genius if you think about it; not only would the NFL be tackling the controversy and that an organization would finally be listening to PETA, but the long controversy of the racism surround the name will be squashed, and fans might be influenced to buy and eat more of those potassium enriched tuberous crops that are potatoes. The Washington Redskins’ merchandise would be sold out (just look at the market for the Green Bay Packers), and each time Niles Paul made a touchdown, fans would violently head bob in celebration all while donning their newly made giant Styrofoam redskin potato hats.

    (image)

    Keep the zealousness for a team, but subtract the cheese and add a giant potato on that head.

    Wouldn’t fans feel more comfortable wearing in public the all mighty potato instead of a racist Native American caricature? Isn’t this what the world wants? How many of you would personally buy Washington Redskin’s potato merchandise for the sake of progress?

    (Pictures via SportsGrid, WikiCommons, SBvotes, )

  • Katy Perry ‘Roars’ Back at PETA’s Attack

    Katy Perry ‘Roars’ Back at PETA’s Attack

    Katy Perry was under attack two days ago by PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) after her video for her new hit ‘Roar’ was released September 6. The video includes multiple animals: an elephant, a tiger, some birds, an alligator, and a monkey. Various scenes in the video show Perry showering with the assistance of an elephant, brushing a crocodile’s teeth and roaring at a tiger.

    (image)
    Article Images from Katy Perry – Roar

    Protesting the use of real animals on the video set, “What you may not know — as most people do not — is that animals used for entertainment in film and television endure horrific cruelty and suffer from extreme confinement and violent training methods,” PETA’s Merrilee Burke writes in a letter to the video’s producers and directors. Burke adds that a set with bright lights and crowds can traumatize an animal or cause stress and anxiousness.

    The animal rights group also attacked Serengeti Ranch, one of the animal providers for the music video. The Texas based ranch has been cited for 13 animal rights violations since 2001.

    But, Katy Perry, an avid animal lover was able to release a response quickly with a letter from the American Humane Association, explaining how their representatives were present all three days, while the video was shot.

    It reads:
    “American Humane Association was on set for the filming of the above referenced music video, which used an elephant, a monkey, birds and a tiger. After reviewing the reports, we believe that the Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media were followed and that no animal was harmed in the making of this music video.”

    (image)

    PETA must not have done much investigating before making remarks against Perry and her crew. Katy Perry is known as “Kitty Perry” for her love of cats, as well as other animals. Which is actually featured on the tiger’s collar in the video.

    Last October, for Katy’s Birthday, a fundraiser was setup for friends and fans to donate to ASPCA.Katy tweeted:

    Among other celebrities like Natalie Portman, Kristin Bell, Perry was previously PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian in the UK, and ranked third behind Olivia Wilde as America’s Sexiest Vegetarian in 2012. Perry gave up meat and lived vegetarian for over two years while she was in a relationship with and married to Russell Brand, but has since converted back to eating meat.

    Had PETA adequately investigated the video shoot, crew, and the talent involved, they would not have made a fool of themselves. PETA has yet to comment on Katy Perry’s response to their original remarks.

  • PETA Decides to Go After Historical Whaling in a Video Game

    In your “dude, seriously?” news of the day, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have turned their sights on Ubisoft over some possible content from an yet-to-be-released video game.

    PETA is upset that Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag may feature some form of whaling inside the game. They have released a statement calling it “disgraceful” to glorify the practice, which continues today.

    Whaling – that is, shooting whales with harpoons and leaving them to struggle for an hour or more before they die or are hacked apart while they are still alive—may seem like something out of the history books, but this bloody industry still goes on today in the face of international condemnation, and it’s disgraceful for any game to glorify it. PETA encourages video game companies to create games that celebrate animals—not games that promote hurting and killing them.

    The game, set to release on October 29th, will let players “relive the truly explosive events that defined the Golden Age of Pirates” by “captaining and customizing their own ship, searching for lost treasure, hunting rare animals and looting underwater shipwrecks.”

    So, outrage.

    Ubisoft’s response is pretty good:

    History is our playground in Assassin’s Creed. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is a work of fiction that depicts the real events during the Golden Era of Pirates. We do not condone illegal whaling, just as we don’t condone a pirate lifestyle of poor hygiene, plundering, hijacking ships, and over the legal limit drunken debauchery.

    Nobody is condoning whaling – but the game hasn’t even hit the shelves yet. C’mon, guys.

  • “Organ-On-A-Chip” May Put PETA Out Of A Job

    There are people, including those in PETA, who vigorously protest the use of animals in clinical trials. Many scientists understand why the practice is hated and would probably switch to something else if they could. In their mind, it’s more humane to use animals instead of humans when testing new drugs. Like all problems, however, science may have found a solution.

    Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering are currently developing what they call an “organ-on-a-chip.” It’s exactly as it sounds as researchers are now building microchips that behave like human organs. If successful, scientists will be able to run clinical simulations on these simulated organs to determine the effects certain drugs will have on the human body.

    The video below explains the first of these “organs-on-a-chip” with a microchip that mimics the functions of a human lung. It’s lined with real cells so researchers will be able to how new medicines affect these organs as if they belonged to a human.

    Lung on a Chip — Wyss Institute from Wyss Institute on Vimeo.

    The most amazing thing about this breakthrough is when they introduce white blood cells and bacteria into the “lung.” All the cells behave just like they would in a real lung thus proving that these “organs” could one day replace testing on living beings.

    Of course, the law requires that all medicine go through actual human testing as well before being sold. The “organ-on-a-chip” just allows researchers to test new drugs without having to potentially harm animals in the process. If the technology takes off, we’ll only have to start worrying about robotic rights groups protesting the use of silicon in medical testing.

    [h/t: Science Friday]

  • Olsen Twins’ Fur Backpack Draws the Ire of PETA

    The Olsen Twins’ fur backpack — which, I might add, is not the title for some sort of extremely unflattering underground porno — has caught the irritable eye of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Not surprisingly, the organization is none too pleased about the former “Full House” stars and their furry little fashion accessory.

    The offending bag was designed for their luxury fashion line “The row”, and retails for roughly $17,000. The item is apparently covered in patches of fur, which has forced PETA to toss some pretty strong words in the duo’s general direction. Here’s hoping they have their thick alligator skins on today, because chances are they’ll need it.

    “What the Olsens lack in creativity, they try to make up for in shock value,” a representative reportedly told E! Online. “Sadly, it’s the foxes, calves, and alligators — who often have the fur ripped off them while they are still conscious and able to feel pain — who pay the dearest price.”

    However, despite all of the criticism Olsen Twins and their animal-unfriendly backpack have received from the group, celebrity stick figure Rachel Zoe had nothing but positive things to say about the piece. In fact, if you tossed “a blush blouse, skinny jeans and a bold boot” into the mix, you might be mistaken for someone with class. Assuming, of course, you have $17,000 just lying around to throw at a furry backpack.

    In a final, almost pathetic stab at the designers, PETA said, “If it looks like a troll and acts like a troll, it’s probably a Trollsen Twin”. Considering the girls were recently named Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, there’s a very strong possibility that they don’t care what PETA thinks.

    Hey, I’m just glad they didn’t win a Grammy.

  • Triple Crown Hopeful May Have Been Drugged

    “I’ll Have Another” may be the first horse since “Affirmed” in 1978 to win the Triple Crown. But right now his trainer, Doug O’Neill, is in the middle of an ongoing controversy surrounding the use of performance enhancing drugs in the horse racing industry.

    O’Neill was suspended last week for for giving a horse performance enhancing drugs by the California Horse Racing Board. “Argenta” tested positive in 2010 for elevated levels of carbon dioxide, which points to the illegal practice of “milkshaking”. This is when the horse is given a combination of bicarbonate soda, sugar and electrolytes to enhance performance.

    He has been cited for drug violations more than a dozen times in multiple states, with the latest violation occurring as early as 2010. There doesn’t seem to be anything stopping him from continuing to give horses performance enhancing drugs. After repeated being found guilty, he continues to deny all allegations.

    According to the New York Times, O’Neill’s horses break down or become injured at a rate that is twice the national average. Along with his dubious record, this statistic points to the fact that O’Neill is repeatedly giving his horses performance enhancements. What would stop him from giving a horse drugs in what is likely the biggest races of his career: The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness? Now, with those won, he has a shot at the Triple Crown.

    The board has already made a ruling to suspend O’Neil. However, the suspension will not come into effect until June 9th, after the Belmont. O’Neill is not allowed to train the horse except under the supervision of a New York Racing Board member, but the fact that he is allowed near the horse at all, has some animal rights organisations up in arms over the judgment.

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked New York Governor Andrew Coumo to take “special measures” to insure that “I’ll have Another” is safe for race day. Governor Coumo recently took over New York’s poorly managed racing industry by suspending the New York Racing Association and forming a government board to eliminate drug use and protect racer’s safety. PETA thinks his record puts him in a good position to make these changes.

    PETA wants to have “I’ll Have Another” on around-the-clock surveillance during the week leading up to the Belmont Stakes. Although O’Neill, himself, is not allowed around the horse, except under supervision, that does not mean someone working for the camp couldn’t get to the horse in that time frame.

    So far the New York Racing Association has made changes to protect “I’ll Have Another”, although he will not be under around-the-clock surveillance. Instead he will be on lockdown in a secure barn at Belmont’s stables. Any treatments administered to the horse must be run by the board, and O’Neill must submit daily veterinary records for every horse he is training.

    O’Neill has stated that he will comply with these regulations, saying he understands why they are in place.

    If a Triple Crown winner is later found to have been given performance enhancing drugs, it will put a permanent black mark on the industry. If he wins the Belmont in June, let’s hope that the owners and trainers keep their integrity intact.

    [h/t: BusinessInsider]

  • Tucker Max Says No to PETA’s Request For Donation

    Planned Parenthood may have declined the sizable donation Tucker Max offered them after Texas legislature cut off Medicaid Funds to the program, but PETA certainly has no quibbles about taking the $500,000 donation.

    The controversial author has been criticized for talking about women in a degrading manner in his books, and has made offensive remarks about Planned Parenthood on Twitter.

    On March 14, via Twitter Max said, “In South Florida. This place is awful. Shitty design, slutty whores & no culture, like a giant Planned Parenthood waiting room.”

    Last year, he had even harsher words about the program, “Planned Parenthood would be cooler if it was a giant flight of stairs, w/someone pushing girls down, like a water park slide”

    (image)@TuckerMax
    Tucker Max    Planned Parenthood would be cooler if it was a giant flight of stairs, w/someone pushing girls down, like a water park slide #FF @PPact(image) 258 days ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Planned Parenthood said they did not want to be associated with someone with Max’ reputation, even though he has stated that he is pro choice and the organization helped him and his girlfriend when he was poor.

    Though Planned Parenthood wants nothing to do with it, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have said they will step up and take the money.

    In an open letter, PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk proposed “an alternative way that you can help prevent unwanted pregnancies, receive a tax break, and put your name proudly on a clinic.”

    He lays out his proposition, saying, “We would like to purchase a brand-new mobile spay-and-neuter truck and name it “Fix Your Bitches! The Tucker Max No-Cost to Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic. The truck would cost just shy of $400,000 (delivered fully equipped) and give us $100,000 in leftover funds to spend on veterinary fees—if you are willing to spend the same amount you were offering Planned Parenthood.”

    Tucker has since rejected the offer, stating he does not support PETA. He rants about his distaste for the organization in a blog post: “PETA has done all kinds of awful shit to hunters in the past. There is no chance I’m supporting an organization that wants to ban two of my favorite things: Making animals dead and then eating them. If we’re talking about what an awful organization PETA is, that’s really just the beginning.  They’re so ridiculous, they compared the holocaust to killing chickens. Not only that, but they have a history of shitting on celebrities they’ve worked with in the past. And perhaps worst of all, they think that violence against women is OK. Their stated ultimate goal is complete animal liberation. They’ve serious about that. Fuck that–I not only disagree, I vehemently oppose that goal.”

    He will, however, match a donation from the organization to help dogs around his home in Austin, Texas. The author has suggested helping Austin Pets Alive, a no kill shelter, who wants to build a new facility.

    This seems like a good compromise. As a hunter, PETA probably does not care for Tucker, either. This way both Tucker and PETA help save animals, and neither one has any direct business association; everyone wins.

    (image)@TuckerMax
    Tucker Max    PETA has asked me to help fix some bitches, and I think that’s a great idea http://t.co/mQtapAfd(image) 1 hour ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@TuckerMax
    Tucker Max    It’s not a funny read, but I posted my views on the whole Planned Parenthood donation debacle: http://t.co/L0gJTGMe(image) 2 days ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto