I'm a vegan, but not because of ethics. I don't like any meat except goat and beef biltong, or any milk but goat and soy. However, if I have animal fat after a long period without any I get sick, so since the last time I had biltong was months ago, I'm not game to have any meat products ever again. So I'm a practical vegan.
We don't really have a vegetarian/vegan movement in Australia. After reading in a Cheney Shot A Lawyer thread (either here or at Ornery) and a rumour that the lawyer was a representative for PeTA, I went to PeTA's website (for the first time) to see for myself.
I'm not trying to offend working class PeTA members, but I see right on the front page a bunch of celebrities have gotten together to give themselves awards, and it's really quite sad. Here's the exact quote (emphasis added for names), from the front page of www.peta.org:
quote:Pamela Anderson hosts PETA's Fashion Week Party and Humanitarian Awards in New York City, honoring Martha Stewart, Moby, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Nellie McKay, and Tim Gunn.
Now this doesn't make me think of PeTA as bad, but I'm not impressed by these celebrities. I mean come on, where are the awards (at least reported) for ordinary Americans? And why is a not-for-profit spending donated money to put on a "Fashion Week Bash" to award celebrities?
I have to go out now, unfortunately, so I won't be replying for a few hours.
[ February 14, 2006, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: cheiros do ender ]
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:Now this doesn't make me think of PeTA as bad, but I'm not impressed by these celebrities. I mean come on, where are the awards (at least reported) for ordinary Americans? And why is a not-for-profit spending donated money to put on a "Fashion Week Bash" to award celebrities?
PETA's probably trying to utilize the celebrity stigma to make veganism seem more palatable to people, given that a lot of people are much more wowed by celebrity factor than the typical grassroots and/or terrorist efforts PETA is known for.
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
PETA... People Eating Tasting Animals.
Alright, that aside, I really do see your point. It seems as though it has gone past what its original goals were and has now become a celebrity publicity stunt.
If they wanted to give true awards, give them to the people who really are there trying, as opposed to those just trying to get their name more well known.
Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
Ingrid Newkirk is insane.
Posted by Mr.Funny (Member # 4467) on :
Hey, Vadon, we had a club called that at my high school a few years back.
That always cracked me up.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I think the PETA people have no idea what they're talking about most of the time. Animal welfare IS a big deal, but setting some farmer's livestock free to go get hit by a car is not any more humane than sending them to a slaughterhouse. I'm of the opinion it's WORSE, because with animals like chickens and pigs, sometimes they've never been outside.
I think if they want to be taken seriously by anyone who actually works with livestock on a daily basis(that includes things like mink, too, though they're not big livestock) they need to get past thinking that animals feel things as we do, and look at the research.
Ni!
Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
amen to that Becky.
Posted by Shepherd (Member # 7380) on :
PETA People for the Eating of Tasty Animals
If only....
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
quote:...but setting some farmer's livestock free to go get hit by a car...
Lol. I thought that was Greenpeace.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Wasn't it greenpeace that spent like $50,000 nursing a baby seal back to health, then released it in alaska to cheering crowds, and while the people were still cheering, it got eaten by a killer whale?
Is that an urban legend or just a run on sentance?
Pix
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Well, www.snopes.com doesn't mention either Greenpeace or baby seals, so if it's an urban legend, it isn't very widespread.
But I have heard that story before, so . . . Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Ah, it IS an urban legend.. that's too bad...
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Chieros, PETA does it, too.
Ni!
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
I detest PeTA for very personal reasons. Primarily because they are anti March of Dimes, publish hateful literature about it and encourage people not to donate. My daughter might not be alive today without the medical research funded by the MoD (as well as the awareness they create about prematurity, which also helps fund research). I also have a number of family members who are insulin-dependent diabetics, which PeTA is also against - never mind that one of their prominent members (I think it's one of their executives) is an insulin-dependent diabetic.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
PETA doesnt have alot of respect. Their supposed mission is honorable, but their tactics sometimes border on eco-terrorism.
And rarely does celebrity endorsement impress me. I've seen celebrity jeopardy and Celebrity who wants to be a millionairre. These guys arn't exactly experts in anything except acting. Even that is arguable.
Posted by mistaben (Member # 8721) on :
quote:Originally posted by TrapperKeeper: And rarely does celebrity endorsement impress me. I've seen celebrity jeopardy and Celebrity who wants to be a millionairre. These guys arn't exactly experts in anything except acting. Even that is arguable.
TOO TRUE!!
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
I don't know about PeTA, but often charities will have events honoring celebrities. This is so they can raise funds by selling tickets to these events. People are more likely to shell out cash to attend a dinner with Julia Roberts than they are to attend a dinner your average Joe.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mrs.M: I detest PeTA for very personal reasons. Primarily because they are anti March of Dimes, publish hateful literature about it and encourage people not to donate. My daughter might not be alive today without the medical research funded by the MoD (as well as the awareness they create about prematurity, which also helps fund research). I also have a number of family members who are insulin-dependent diabetics, which PeTA is also against - never mind that one of their prominent members (I think it's one of their executives) is an insulin-dependent diabetic.
Mrs.M, I'm not looking to rebut you, but I am curious about this. I wasn't aware of PeTA's stance against MoD and am curious to read some of their literature. Could you provide some sources not only for PeTA, but also arguments against their stances?
I think this is the same sort of curiosity that draws me to fire and explosives. Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Primal, I found this on on their site. Those PeTA people are scary. I think I will have a nice big steak with an extra side of chicken and a big glass of milk tonight for dinner. I think I will wear my mink coat and my big leather boots while I eat and I will let my pet dog have the leftovers. And maybe I will see if the circus is coming to town; either that, or I will call my friend at the local cancer research center and tell her what a great job I think she is doing saving lives and all.
Just kidding.... I don't have a mink coat.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
PC, a simple search for March of Dimes on the PETA website turns up this. Of 144 matches, all of them are very anti-marchofdimes.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
I was looking through the PeTA site and if I were to really join their organization, I would have to live in a bubble.
My diet and personal hygine habits would suffer. I can't even take vitamins or use chapstick. My daughter would have to give up her crayons, my students could not use Mead school supplies and I would have to stop burning candles in my home. I realize that there are alternative products out there but I would have to spend countless hours reading their lists and checking labels for fear that I might accidently use an animal product. How can anyone live like that really? I can see being a vegetarian even for animal cruelty reasons but they are so militant about it. What would PeTA have us do with all the domesticated animals anyway? Are there any places where there are wild cows? Are we just supposed to set them all free?
I am with Ms M here. There are many benefits to animal testing.
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