TresSugar

PETA Outrage: Real or Fake?

TresSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

When President Obama demonstrated his killer instincts this week by swatting a fly to death midinterview, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) took the opportunity to send the president a humane bug catcher urging him to have compassion for insects and refrain from "executing" them. The organization said it supports all animals, even the least sympathetic ones.

Stories like this give PETA a reputation for extreme, and sometimes comical, support of all animals. I've rounded up some other examples and mixed in some fake ones, too. Find out if you can spot the difference!

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PETA Asked Phish to change its name to Sea Kittens in order to raise empathy for fish.

Is Nudity a Persuasive Method of Activism?

TresSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:00:00 -0700

A naked person might make you either look twice or cover your eyes; but activists in Spain hope it will persuade you to join their cause against bull fighting. Over the weekend, anti-bull fighting demonstrators in Madrid dressed themselves up in not much more than fake blood. They were trying to raise awareness about the animal cruelty involved with bullfighting.

Going naked or using sexy women to bring attention to neglected causes isn't new. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) routinely uses human flesh to get out its animal rights message; they even orchestrated a Running of the Nudes to protest the infamous running of the bulls in Spain.

Do you think nudity gets people to pay attention to important causes, or does it come off as a distracting gimmick?

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Eco-Nudists Go Naked to Save the Planet & Paltrow's Fur Furor

CitizenSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:46:39 -0700

Want to help the planet? Then what are you doing sitting there all dressed and everything? The newest wave in eco-activism is all natural, sans a stitch of clothing. Gwyneth Paltrow may be wishing she'd followed that example after her deal with Italian designer Tod's and resulting ad showing her wearing fox fur and fur-lined boots has earned her heat from animal rights groups.

Gwyneth has been known for her embrace of holistic practices, yoga, vegetarian husband, and pal and vegan designer, Stella McCartney - but this campaign stands to erase that cred. The director of Respect for Animals, said: "Gwyneth Paltrow should be ashamed. I can only assume that Paltrow either is ignorant of the facts or lacks human decency and compassion." Friends have even said that Gwyneth's decision will flay her close friendship with Stella McCartney.

If Gwyneth wants to get back on track, maybe she can embrace the naked eco-movement? To see the story and a cheeky protest, read more.

Not satisfied with the casual sun-bathing reputation of nudists, Econudes.org have embraced the naked as the ultimate way to erase your carbon footprint. After all, clothes (and everything that goes into making and transporting them) are a major cause of climate change. Take those off, and the planet might be happier. It's apparently an ancient practice dating all the way back to the 70s when nudism was defined as "a way of life in harmony with nature, characterised by self-respect, respect for others and for the environment."

If warming skepticism is more your schtick, you can shuck your socks for that too, sort of. A renegade group called Nudists Opposing Winter actually like the warmer weather because, well, it's nicer to be nude. The founder "Pantsless James" says, "we actively support pro-global warming places and companies. No longer will nudists be forced into the fetish of clothes wearing. It frees up everybody to go clothing-free, the way God intended."

Silliness aside, is nudity a good way to bring attention to the strain on the planet we wear on our backs everyday? Is Gwyneth's endorsement deal a slap to animals? Should we all just go-go naked?

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PETA Warning to Border Crossers: US Burgers Will Kill You

CitizenSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:15:22 -0700

Like the Minutemen, another controversial group who has erected signs at the border between the US and Mexico, PETA has a billboard all cooked up and aimed at the migrating population heading across the border. The PETA placard has a stronger message than "we keep this road clean" - the animal rights superadvocates want immigrants to cross over, and cross meat off their shopping list.

PETA is asking the government to let them rent space on the border fence proclaiming to the new arrivals: "If the Border Patrol Doesn't Get You, the Chicken and Burgers Will - Go Vegan."

Now I'm as vegan as the next. . . vegan, but the PETA campaigns can be let's say, less than subtle. To see what they're planning for this campiagn, read more.

The proposed billboard (which is presented to the Border Patrol today) will show a picture of a fit Mexican eating local food, and a picture of an obese immigrant gorging on meaty American fast food. A PETA spokesperson says, "we think that Mexicans and other immigrants should be warned if they cross into the US they are putting their health at risk by leaving behind a healthier, staple diet of corn tortillas, beans, rice, fruits, and vegetables."

The government is expected to block the billboards because they will hamper visibility through the fence, compromising safety. One resident on the border whose ranch will be bisected by the new fence says the government should take the money - and adds that the message "might even be frightening enough to deter people from crossing into the US."

Between PETA advertising for immigrant health, and LA banning new fast-food restaurants for a year, is this all part of a big effort for a greater good - or are we focusing resources in the wrong place?

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WTF?!

GiggleSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:53:08 -0700

This Estonian meat commercial must be a guerrilla marketing campaign from PETA. How else can one explain an ad that makes its product the most repulsive-looking thing ever - reverse psychology? (Hopefully, this is publishing long after you've finished lunch!)

Running of the Bulls: Cruel Tradition or Bunch of Bull-oney?

LibertySugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:00:08 -0700

The annual running of the bulls kicked off in Pamplona, Spain yesterday and so far one Irish tourist has been killed. Despite the risk of death and injury, thousands of people let bulls chase them for over 800 meters on the way to the bullfight arena.

While human injury upsets everyone, some animal rights activists get particularly upset about how the traditions entails "torturing and killing a defenseless animal." PETA describes the festival like this:

Bulls are bred in fields and are not accustomed to the noise of the crowd or being surrounded by people. They are kept in crowded, dark enclosures, and when they are prodded onto the streets with electric shocks, they are momentarily blinded by the sunlight. They are terrified and are hit by runners with rolled up newspapers.

In order to show their opposition, PETA supporters participate in the Running of the Nudes two days before the major tourist-attracting bull runs. Whose side are you on - PETA's or Spain's?

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Cat Porn PSA Needs to Get a Room

GiggleSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The PETA peeps want everyone to spay or neuter their cats, so they made this PSA to get the word out. Instead of delighting us with images of cute kitties cuddling with blankies or chasing balls of yarn, they took a more XXX-rated approach. We see kitties humping here. There. Darn near everywhere. It's out of control. Where's Bob Barker when you need him?

PETA Will Pay $1 Million For Lab Meat

LibertySugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:15:00 -0700

What if you could have your animal and eat it too? Or even better, not have your animal and eat it too.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering $1 million to whomever figures out how to grow meat in labs. The winner must develop a commercially viable chicken-meat product that does not contain, or make use of animal-derived products, except for starter cells obtained in the initial development stages.

Basically, PETA wants someone to use stem-cell science technology to skip the whole bird, and go straight to the bucket of chicken. Sound like you want an extra order of biscuits? To see what animal activists have to say, read more.

Animal activists, including those within PETA, feel the contest abandons the philosophy that animals are not ours to eat. They also argue that the health risks of a carnivore diet - including obesity, diabetes, and cancer - will not be appeased.

Proponents counter that this is a practical solution, which could end the maltreatment of animals, such as caging, drugging, and brutal slaughtering.

Do you think PETA is compromising its mission with this contest, or making the ethical treatment of animals more realistic? With all the news about the origins of meat and its environmental impact, is this a step in the right direction? Would you eat an in vitro chicken-meat product?

Alicia Silverstone PSA for PETA

GiggleSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

I respect vegetarians for not eating meat, and even vegans for not eating cheese (how you guys do it--I cannot imagine). So I was a little disappointed when I saw this PSA for People For The Ethical Treatment For Animals. Ummm...why is Alicia buck nekkid?

Adrageous: Organ Donation PSA Gets Raunchy

TresSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:30:00 -0700

Becoming a donor is probably your only chance of getting inside her.

Some organizations in support of worthy causes seem to think that it's OK to create sexist ads to get their message across. (Yes, PETA, I'm referring to you, too.) Take this Dutch (?) ad in support of organ donation. Is it really OK to use this sprawled woman as sexual enticement? The ends don't justify the means, if you ask me. This is just lazy and lame.

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