Roots Eatery Put University Over the Top to Clinch Victory in peta2 Contest

For Immediate Release:
November 15, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

San Diego -- Historically, college campuses are hotbeds for social change, and that includes one of the fastest-growing trends among young people in the U.S.: going vegan. And nobody is meeting that demand better than the University of California–San Diego (UCSD), which has just captured the title of Most Vegan-Friendly College in Americain the large-school category of the annual contest sponsored by peta2—PETA's youth division. After thousands of people cast their votes to help peta2 decide who it should crown, UCSD beat out some formidable challengers, such as Cornell University, the University of California–Berkeley, and the University of California–Los Angeles. UCSD will receive peta2 certificates, which can be hung up around campus, recognizing it as the nation's most vegan-friendly college.

"With creative, delicious dishes such as the Spicy Sierra and El Capitan, UCSD's vegan-friendly dining hall puts the university at the top of its class," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "Every year, peta2 meets more and more students from across the country who are protecting animals, the planet, and their own health by joining the vegan revolution."

One of the biggest factors in UCSD's victory was the new vegan eatery called Roots. As peta2 discovered, many students' favorite item is the Spicy Sierra, which consists of vegan chicken in barbecue sauce with chipotle soy cream and caramelized onions. The El Capitan—featuring vegan Italian sausage, dairy-free cheese, and sautéed peppers—also received rave reviews. And the campus's grab 'n' go market offers an even dozen topnotch vegan sandwiches for students and faculty members on the move.

There were 32 large schools and 32 small schools in this year's competition. This year's winner in the small-school category is Wesleyan University.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Group Will Give Students a Feel for Intensive Confinement That May Have Them Going Vegan 

For Immediate Release:
November 15, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- Most students at the University of California Los Angeles have probably never been to a factory farm, so peta2—PETA's youth division—is bringing factory farms to them. As part of a national college tour, the group will set up a 20-foot-by-30-foot inflatable tent, inside of which students can confine themselves to sow gestation crates—which are so small that pregnant pigs can't even turn around or take two steps—and watch "Glass Walls," a video exposé of the meat industry narrated by PETA pal Paul McCartney, who famously said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Students will also receive samples of vegan foods and free vegetarian/vegan starter kits with recipes and tips for helping the Earth, animals, and their own arteries by going meat- and dairy-free.

When:   Friday, November 16, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where:  Bruin Plaza, UCLA campus

"College is the time to consider new ideas, and peta2's factory-farm display gives students an idea of how much suffering goes into a chicken nugget or a beef burger," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "Once students see what cows, chickens, and other animals go through on factory farms, in transit, and in slaughterhouses, they'll want to load up their cafeteria trays with humane vegan selections."

Pigs, chickens, fish, and cows feel pain and fear just as intensely as do the animals who share our homes with us, yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs and cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets are castrated and have their tails cut off without being given any painkillers, and calves raised for their milk have their horns burned out of their skulls. On the decks of fishing boats, fish suffocate or are cut open while they're still alive.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Gourmet Gift Serves Up the Best Vegan Treats, From Savory Faux Chicken to Rich and Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

For Immediate Release:
November 15, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- What's the perfect gift for a longtime vegan? It's the same as the perfect gift for someone who doesn't yet know how delicious vegan food can be: PETA's Vegan Holiday Gift Basket, which makes its debut this week on PETACatalog.com and features an array of delicious vegan snacks and dinner centerpieces.

Some of the delectable treats in PETA's gift basket include the following:

• Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders, which are easy, quick, delicious, crispy, and low-fat—and they're great by themselves or in salads or sandwiches
• Daiya Jack Style Vegan Cheese Wedge, which is ready to eat, either sliced on crackers (also included in the gift basket!) or melted into a zesty grilled-cheese sandwich
• Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute by Field Roast, a special holiday entrée stuffed with Field Roast sausages, crystallized ginger, cranberries, and apples and wrapped in a savory puff pastry

"Whether you're shopping for someone who's vegan or just hoping to show someone how delicious vegan food can be, you can't go wrong with PETA's Vegan Holiday Gift Basket," says PETA Foundation Manager Tanner Hatfield. "Our gift basket offers a great way to spread holiday cheer and help animals at the same time."

Other great holiday gifts available on PETACatalog.com include the "Eat No Turkey" PETA T-Shirt, as modeled by Paul McCartney (photo available here); the PETA Logo Tea Mug, a tall glass mug with a stainless-steel infuser that's ideal for sipping hot gourmet tea on cold winter mornings; and the "Adopted and Adored" Picture Frame, the perfect way to showcase photos of your furry family members.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA Members to Converge on Philadelphia to Expose Cruel Industry

For Immediate Release:
November 15, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Philadelphia -- Accompanied by an activist dressed as a half-plucked goose and holding signs that read, "Plucked Alive," with graphic imagery, PETA supporters will congregate in Philadelphia on Friday. The battered bird's point? That shoppers who would never think of buying fur often purchase jackets, gloves, pillows, or comforters filled with down because they aren't aware of the hideous suffering of birds who are often repeatedly—and painfully—plucked alive for down.

When:   Friday, November 16, 12 noon 

Where:  Southeast corner of 17^th and Walnut streets, Philadelphia

"PETA wants shoppers to know that buying down products is every bit as cruel as purchasing fur, exotic skins, leather, or wool," says PETA Associate Director of Campaigns Lindsay Rajt. "The rule of thumb is easy to remember: If a product came from an animal, the chances that abuse and suffering were involved are roughly 100 percent."

To obtain down, the feathers are often ripped out of restrained, frightened, screaming birds. Warm, animal-friendly bedding and winter clothing are available everywhere. PETA encourages shoppers to check labels for synthetic down, down alternative, polyester fill, or high-tech fabrics such as PrimaLoft® and Thinsulate™—soft, washable, down-like fibers. In most cases, these alternatives are superior to down, which loses much of its insulating properties when it gets wet.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Wants to Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving

For Immediate Release:
November 16, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Buffalo, N.Y. -- Two sexy "pilgrims" wearing high heels and anything-but-puritanical garb will hand out free Tofurky roasts in downtown Buffalo on Monday as part of PETA's tour to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. The lovely duo hopes to reach people's hearts through their stomachs and is urging consumers to stay true to the holiday spirit this Thanksgiving by giving turkeys something to be thankful for.

When:   Monday, November 19, 12 noon

Where:  Southeast corner of Eagle and Franklin, Buffalo

Why have PETA's pilgrims traded in their muskets for a plateful of Tofurky? Approximately 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. In nature, turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 18 miles per hour. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into filthy warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight.

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says sexy pilgrim Leila Sleiman. "With fabulous faux fowl, you can celebrate without causing suffering—and give a bird something to be thankful for."

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.

Electro-Pop Artist Shows Off His Tattoos in 'Ink, Not Mink' Campaign

For Immediate Release:
November 16, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- Stripped to the waist—except, of course, for the hundreds of tattoos that cover him from neck to navel—multifaceted musicianTrace Cyrus, also known as electro-pop act Ashland High, stars in a brand-new "Ink, Not Mink" ad for peta2, PETA's youth division, that reads, "Look Good in Your Own Skin, and Let Animals Keep Theirs." A high-resolution version of the ad is available here.

For Trace, kindness to animals is as much a family trait as musicianship. "I grew up on a farm, pretty much, in Nashville," he explains in an exclusive peta2 interview, going on to elaborate that if his father, Billy Ray, found an injured deer, he would help rehabilitate the animal and that his family has always lived with dogs. Cyrus says of one of his dogs, "Nash … he went on tour with me and everything. He did the whole four-month Miley tour when I went on tour with her. … I look at them like my kids." And as for fur? "I've just never been interested in wearing fur … and I'm not about to start now."

Each year, millions of foxes, minks, coyotes, rabbits, and even dogs and cats are bludgeoned to death, electrocuted, strangled with wire nooses, or skinned alive—all in the name of fashion. For every cuff, collar, piece of trim, or coat made from real fur, an animal endured a miserable life and an agonizing death.

Cyrus joins a long list of musicians and other celebrities—including Chester Bennington, Dave Navarro, Waka Flocka Flame, and Steve-O, among others—who have participated in peta2's "Ink, Not Mink" campaign.

For more information or to view the ad, please visit peta2.com.

Group Wants to Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving 

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Cleveland -- Two sexy "pilgrims" wearing high heels and anything-but-puritanical garb will hand out free Tofurky roasts in Cleveland on Tuesday as part of PETA's tour to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. The lovely duo hopes to reach people's hearts through their stomachs and is urging consumers to stay true to the holiday spirit this Thanksgiving by giving turkeys something to be thankful for.

When:   Tuesday, November 20, 12 noon

Where:  Southwest corner of Superior Avenue and Ontario Street, Cleveland

Why have PETA's pilgrims traded in their muskets for a plateful of Tofurky? More than 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. Turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into filthy warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight.

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says sexy pilgrim Leila Sleiman. "With fabulous faux fowl, you can celebrate without causing suffering—and give a bird something to be thankful for."

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.

PETA Plans Protests at Premieres Around the World

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- As reported today by the Associated Press, PETA has alerted Peter Jackson, director of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, to a slew of animal injuries and deaths on the production's New Zealand set. In its letter, PETA details allegations from four whistleblowers who worked as wranglers that all these incidents—including the deaths of three horses and numerous sheep, goats, and chickens—could have been prevented if Jackson's lead trainer and the head of production had fulfilled their duties and heeded the warnings of several wranglers.

"Two horses were run off embankments and sustained broken necks on the set of The Hobbit, at least one horse was left lying on the ground with his legs tied together for more than three hours, numerous goats and sheep used for the production died from worm infestations and from falling into sinkholes, and a dozen unprotected chickens were killed by dogs," says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. "Peter Jackson's films have been at the forefront of the special-effects revolution, but this production's decision to use numerous live animals and allow them to suffer needlessly and die takes the entertainment industry a giant and disgraceful step backward."

Among the whistleblower allegations outlined in PETA's letter are the following:

• Two horses were run off embankments by other horses in their paddocks and sustained broken necks. One was euthanized, and the other was found dead with her face submerged in a river.
• The production team also allegedly ignored wranglers' concerns over the danger that the animals were in. One wrangler was allegedly fired for expressing his concerns.
• A horse named Shanghai was hobbled (his legs were tied together so that he could not move) on set during a location shoot and left lying on the ground for more than three hours, reportedly because he was too active for his rider to handle. The rope burns on all of Shanghai's legs that resulted from the hobbling were covered up with makeup and fake feathers (long hair on the legs of some horses) for filming. Hobbling is a violation of the guidelines of the American Humane Association (AHA) and an inappropriate way to deal with an energetic horse.
• A horse named Zeppelin died, likely of colic, after his diet was suddenly and drastically changed. The head animal wrangler allegedly declined a necropsy, and Zeppelin was quickly buried on site.
• Numerous goats and sheep used for the production died, primarily from worm infestations and from falling into sink holes. In addition, 12 chickens were mauled and killed by dogs who weren't properly supervised during the production.
• The production's AHA representative, whose expertise is reportedly in companion-animal medicine rather than equine care, was allegedly inappropriately friendly with the head animal wrangler and dismissive of the concerns of other wranglers. He was not present for many of the animal sequences.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Tofurky Roasts Give Humans—and Turkeys—Cause to Celebrate, Says PETA

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Stamford, Conn. -- Following news that the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County had put out an urgent call for Thanksgiving food donations after the food it had prepared for the holiday was needed to feed local residents in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, PETA has donated 20 vegan Tofurky roasts to help the program supply delicious holiday meals that are both healthy and humane.

"Thanksgiving is a great time to remember all living beings and give everyone, human and nonhuman alike, something to be thankful for," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Delicious, healthy vegan foods offer hungry humans an alternative to foods that come from violence."

More than 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. Turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. Made from hearty plant proteins and tasty spices, Tofurky is 100 percent free of the artery-clogging cholesterol found in turkey meat.

For more information about factory farming and vegan holiday dining, please visit PETA.org.

Trio of Students Petitions Canada to Halt Cruel Baby-Seal Slaughter

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Mexico City -- The abuse of animals doesn't sit well with 11-year-old Zarah Blake and her sixth-grade classmates Eugenio Solorzano Fernandez and Beto del Lago Hernandez at Mexico City's Greengates School. That's why they started their own animal rights group, Stop Animal Hunting And Testing. And they mean business. They raised $264 for U.S.-based PETA by selling cupcakes and key chains that Zarah made herself and also sent Canada's ambassador to Mexico, Sara Hradecky, a petition with more than 450 signatures imploring her to urge her government to end its annual slaughter of baby harp seals.

In recognition of their extraordinary efforts to fight the slaughter of animals, Zarah, Eugenio, and Beto will receive a Star Student Group Award from PETA Kids, PETA's children's division. They will also be featured on PETAKids.com.

"The kindness and drive that Zarah, Eugenio, and Beto have demonstrated should serve as an inspiration to people of all ages," says Marta Holmberg, PETA's associate director of youth outreach and campaigns. "They remind all of us that you're never too young to speak out against cruelty to the most vulnerable among us."

To raise awareness about the seal slaughter, Zarah, Eugenio, and Beto made their own T-shirts, stickers, and leaflets. When students visited their table during a school exhibition, Zarah, Eugenio, and Beto told them how each year, the Canadian government gives sealers the green light to bludgeon hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals to death. During the slaughter, they shoot or repeatedly club the baby seals and drag them—often while they're still conscious—across the ice floes with boat hooks. Many seals are skinned alive. Mexico has joined the US, EU, and Russia – which had been importing 95% of Canadian seal pelts – in banning seal fur.

For more information, please visit PETAKids.com.

Group Wants to Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving 

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Wilmington, Del. -- Two sexy "pilgrims" wearing high heels and anything-but-puritanical garb will hand out free Field Roast Celebration Roasts in downtown Wilmington on Tuesday as part of PETA's tour to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. The lovely duo hopes to reach people's hearts through their stomachs and is urging consumers to stay true to the holiday spirit this Thanksgiving by giving turkeys something to be thankful for.

When:   Tuesday, November 20, 12 noon

Where:  Rodney Square, at the intersection of 10^th and Market streets, Wilmington

Why have PETA's pilgrims traded in their muskets for a plateful of Field Roast? More than 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. Turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into filthy warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight.

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says sexy pilgrim Ashley Byrne. "With fabulous faux fowl, you can celebrate without causing suffering—and give a bird something to be thankful for."

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org

Group Wants to Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving

For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Washington -- PETA "turkeys" will hand out free vegan roasts at the White House during the presidential turkey pardon on Wednesday as part of PETA's campaign to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. The group, which hopes to reach people's hearts through their stomachs, is urging consumers to pardon all turkeys this Thanksgiving by eating cruelty-free meals.

When:   Wednesday, November 21, 11 a.m.

Where:  In front of the White House gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington

Approximately 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—more than 45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. In nature, turkeys are known to be protective and loving parents as well as fast runners who are able to use reason to outwit their pursuers. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into windowless warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow so large so quickly that their legs are often unable to withstand the weight. Countless birds slowly starve to death within inches of food after they become crippled and are unable to move.

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says PETA's Ashley Byrne. "With fabulous faux fowl, you can celebrate without being cruel to animals."

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.

Group Wants to Give Turkeys Something to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving 

For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Columbus -- Two sexy "pilgrims" wearing high heels and anything-but-puritanical garb will hand out free Tofurky roasts in downtown Columbus on Wednesday as part of PETA's tour to promote a vegan Thanksgiving. The lovely duo hopes to reach people's hearts through their stomachs and is urging consumers to stay true to the holiday spirit this Thanksgiving by giving turkeys something to be thankful for.

When:   Wednesday, November 21, 12 noon

Where:  Northwest corner of W. Broad and S. High streets, Columbus

Why have PETA's pilgrims traded in their muskets for a plateful of Tofurky? Approximately 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year—45 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. In nature, turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into filthy warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight.

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says sexy pilgrim Leila Sleiman. "With fabulous faux fowl, you can celebrate without causing suffering—and give a bird something to be thankful for."

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.

PETA to POTUS: Skip Archaic Turkey 'Pardon'

For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Washington -- As President Barack Obama prepares to "pardon" two turkeys, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk has fired off a letter to the president asking him to skip an event that makes light of the slaughter of millions of birds and is essentially an endorsement of the environmentally destructive factory farming industry. Newkirk also suggests that the First Family should set a "green" example by choosing a healthy, humane Tofurky as the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving celebration.

PETA points out that it's inaccurate to "pardon" turkeys since, unlike the cruel polluters who raise them, turkeys haven't committed any crime. PETA would like to see the turkeys—who typically live a year or less because of genetic manipulation that cripples them and induces heart attacks—be sent to an accredited sanctuary rather than to a tourist attraction. For more information visit PETA.org.

Newkirk's letter to President Obama follows.

November 20, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House

Dear Mr. President:

People who are vegetarian for religious, health, environmental, or ethical reasons—with all due respect, I'm writing on behalf of them all as well as on behalf of PETA's millions of members and supporters, particularly young vegetarians who look to you to recognize their very existence.

You understand so well that African-Americans, women, and members of the LGBT community have been poorly served throughout history, and now I am asking you to consider other living beings who are ridiculed, belittled, and treated as if their sentience, feelings, and very natures count for nothing.

The White House turkey "pardon" is a sorely outdated event. It makes light of the mass slaughter of some 46 million gentle, intelligent birds and portrays the United States' president as being in some sort of business partnership with the turkey-killing industry. Turkeys do not need to be "pardoned"—they are not guilty of anything other than being born into a world of prejudice. They are innocents who should be respected for who they are: good mothers, smart birds, and interesting animals.

This year, we encourage you to forgo this event, which so many Americans find offensive, and choose a delicious, healthy Tofurky roast for your family's holiday table. Thank you for your consideration. We wish you, your family, and all Americans a happy, violence-free Thanksgiving.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

Group Places Ads on Madison-Area Gas Pumps Showing Gruesome Photos of Cat Mutilated in School Laboratory

For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Madison, Wis. -- As Madison residents gear up for the busy holiday travel season, they'll get a shock at the pumps — and not just from the gas prices.

PETA has placed ads on top of gas pumps in five Madison-area gas stations showing graphic photographs from inside an infamous University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) laboratory, where a gentle tabby cat named Double Trouble and dozens of other cats were abused and killed as part of a taxpayer-funded experiment.

The ads, which can be seen here, feature shocking photographs of Double Trouble restrained in a bag with a steel post screwed into her skull. PETA obtained the photographs after a three-year legal battle against UW. They were taken by the experimenters as part of an abusive experiment, in which cats also have steel coils implanted in their eyes and electrodes inserted into their brains, are starved for days at a time, and are intentionally deafened.

"UW fought for more than three years to conceal the evidence of Double Trouble's miserable life and drawn-out death because it knew that the public would be outraged if the truth ever came to light," says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. "PETA's new ads will let people see UW's cruelty with their own eyes every time they fill up their gas tanks."

Following PETA complaints, the National Institutes of Health is investigating apparent violations of federal animal welfare regulations and apparent misuse of federal funding related to these cruel experiments.

For more information, please visit PETA.org/DoubleTrouble.

Ravens' Terrell Suggs, Forever 21, and Anti-Flag Nominated for Their Outstanding Efforts to Help Animals

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Los Angeles — What do trendy retailer Forever 21, punk band Anti-Flag, Baltimore Ravens' linebacker and sack king Terrell Suggs, and Taco Bell have in common? All four—along with scores of other businesses, musicians, athletes, and others—have gone above and beyond to make the world a better place for animals and are in the running for a Libby Award from peta2, PETA's youth division. Now in their seventh year, the Libby Awards ("Libby" for "liberation," as in animal liberation) include a record 23 categories, which run the gamut from Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant Chain and Most Animal-Friendly Celebrity to Best Cruelty-Free Hair Product and Best Animal-Friendly Clothing Company.

Forever 21—like others vying for Most Animal-Friendly Clothing Company—refuses to sell fur. Anti-Flag was featured in a compelling peta2 poster ad, "Never Be Silent," urging fans to speak out against injustice, no matter what species the victims are. In the Best Animal-Friendly Athlete category, Suggs, who gives opposing quarterbacks nightmares, was so moved by video footage of animals killed for their skin that he appeared in an ad for PETA's "Ink, Not Mink" series. And Taco Bell's bean tacos and burritos, salads, and other meat- and dairy-free options make vegans feel right at home.

"More and more young people are insisting that the food they eat, the music they listen to, the clothes they wear, and even the sports figures they root for reflect their strong feelings in favor of animal rights," says PETA Manager of Youth Marketing Emily Rodriguez. "All our nominees are winners because they're meeting the demands of kind kids and helping animals at the same time."

Voting ends on December 17. Winners will be chosen by peta2 based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on December 19. See the contest details here.

For more information and to cast your vote, please visit peta2.com or click here.

PETA Pleased: Neighbors Can Rest Easy After Commission Ensures Risk of Attacks Won't Be Tolerated

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Enterprise, Nev. -- After receiving information from PETA about James "Mike" Casey's history of animal abuse—including throwing hot water on a baby chimpanzee and beating chimpanzees—and the danger to neighbors posed by powerful and often unpredictable chimpanzees, the Clark County Board of Commissioners has turned down an application for a special zoning permit for Casey to keep four chimpanzees and a capuchin monkey on property belonging to Clark County resident Stacy Jones.

"This is a victory for the chimpanzees—who will be spared Casey's abuse—as well as for Casey's neighbors, who would be placed in danger of life and limb were one or more these animals to escape," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Intelligent and social chimpanzees and other primates don't belong in cages in someone's backyard, and wild animals should never be kept as 'pets.'"

According to sworn eyewitness testimony and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection reports, Casey has a history of physically abusing chimpanzees, confining them in unsanitary and squalid conditions, and depriving them of adequate enrichment. Chimpanzees are extremely powerful and often dangerous animals—especially when they are abused and denied everything that's natural and important to them. PETA has obtained a sworn affidavit by a man who reports witnessing Casey punch the chimpanzees forcefully, strike them with a rod, and douse them with hot water. A USDA inspector verified that Casey used his fist to strike one of the chimpanzees, Kenzy, and threw hot water on one of the animals. The USDA recently issued Casey an official warning for denying proper care to Bentley, a juvenile chimpanzee.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Wants Holiday Shoppers to Know That Every Piece of Fur Trim Caused an Animal Severe Pain

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

San Francisco -- Holding signs featuring a diagram of a rabbit that read, "bebe: Bunny Butchers," members and supporters of PETA and In Defense of Animals will hold a spirited protest outside the bebe store on Grant Avenue in San Francisco on Fur-Free Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Their point? That fur—even if it's "just a little trim"—caused the animal it belonged to much pain and suffering and cost that animal his or her life.

When:   Friday, November 23, 12 noon

Where:  Outside bebe, 21 Grant Ave. (between O'Farrell and Geary streets), San Francisco

"Every bit of fur trim came from animals who were tormented and painfully killed in the name of 'fashion,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "People can choose whether to be kind or cruel. With so many warm and stylish fabrics available, there's no excuse for wearing fur."

In China—one of the countries from which bebe obtains rabbit fur—workers pull rabbits out of cages by their ears and stun the screaming animals with electrical devices. Rabbits watch as other animals have their throats cut and their heads and paws cut off with knives before the skin is peeled off their bodies. In other places, rabbits killed for their fur spend their entire lives in tiny, filthy cages and mired in their own waste. To kill rabbits, fur farmers break their necks or smash their skulls before stringing them up by their legs and slitting their throats.

PETA urges bebe to follow the lead of companies such as Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Forever 21, Wet Seal, and many others and remove all fur from its shelves immediately.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Celebrities' Efforts to Help Animals Make Them Top Contenders

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- Now in their seventh year, the 2012 Libby Awards ("Libby" for "liberation," as in animal liberation) from peta2, PETA's youth division, include 23 categories—and a bevy of animal-friendly stars are battling it out to take home top honors.

In the category of Most Animal-Friendly Celebrity, Glee'sKevin McHale—who urged potential animal guardians to "root for the underdog" and adopt rather than buying—will face off against The Secret Life of the American Teenager star Renée Olstead, a longtime peta2 activist (and reigning Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity!) and Twilight's Christian Serratos, the star of peta2's provocative Día de los Muertos–styled vegetarian campaign. And vegan advocate Christofer Drew—also known as Never Shout Never—and vegetarian Megan Massacre (of NY Ink fame) are among those competing for the title of peta2 Hottie.

Other categories include Best peta2 Ad—which Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino might win for his tongue-in-cheek campaign urging everyone always to spay or neuter their cats—and Best Animal-Friendly Band, for which Anti-Flag's "Never Be Silent" campaign grabbed the all-vegetarian group a nomination.

"More and more young people are insisting that the music they listen to and the celebrities they look up to reflect their strong feelings in favor of animal rights," says PETA Youth Marketing Manager Emily Rodriguez. "All of peta2's nominees are winners because they're meeting the demands of compassionate kids and helping animals at the same time."

Voting ends on December 17. Winners will be chosen by peta2 based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on December 19. See the full contest details here.

For more information and to cast your vote, please visit peta2.com or click here.

Mississauga Secondary School Welcomes Modern Teaching Tools That Make Compassion a Part of Science Classes

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Mississauga, Ontario -- Mississauga Secondary School's biology classes are going high-tech, and it's thanks in part to PETA. The animal rights group has donated software that will help the school replace frog dissection with a state-of-the-art, all-virtual dissection laboratory that uses computer software to teach students.

PETA—through its international educational grants program—has donated a schoolwide license for the popular Digital Frog 2.5 software, which is produced by Digital Frog International, based in Puslinch, Ontario. Interactive software such as The Digital Frog 2.5—which allows students to "cut" using a digital scalpel and, unlike animals killed for dissection, can be used over and over—has been shown to teach anatomy better than animal dissection.

"PETA's donation will help Mississauga Secondary School take the lead in teaching biology with humane, modern methods," says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Countless frogs, pigs, cats, and other animals are still killed for dissection at less progressive schools, even though non-animal methods for teaching biology are far superior."

The millions of animals who are used in school dissection come from biological supply houses, which breed some animals and obtain others from animal shelters or the wild. Comparative studies have repeatedly shown that non-animal teaching methods, such as interactive computer programs, are more effective at teaching biology than crude animal-based methods. These programs also save time and money and increase student confidence and satisfaction. The National Science Teachers Association endorses the use of modern non-animal methods as replacements for animal dissection.

For more information, please visit PETA.org/Dissection.