Group Offers Aid to Cash-Strapped School District in Exchange for Permission to Place a Giant Fish Hook in Mermaid Statue's Mouth
For Immediate Release:
February 28, 2012
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
San Angelo, Tx -- Today, PETA sent a letter to San Angelo Mayor Alvin New with a proposal that could benefit the school district, local residents, and fish: Allow PETA to place an oversized fish hook in the mouth of the Pearl of the Conchos mermaid statue on San Angelo's river walk—along with a sign that reads, "Try to Relate to Who Is on Your Plate. Go Vegan"—and PETA will make a donation to the San Angelo Independent School District, which lost a reported $5.3 million in state funding this year. In its letter, PETA points out that fish are intelligent animals who feel pain, just as all animals do, and that because of water pollution, eating fish can lead to conditions such as bacterial infections and nervous disorders.
"Being part human and part fish, the mermaid is a perfect symbol to help us realize that we share certain characteristics with fish—the most important of which are the capacity to suffer and the desire to live," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA's donation could help kick-start corporate school sponsorship—and our proposal would help both the fish who are hooked and suffocated and the San Angelo residents who are sickened by eating them."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to San Angelo Mayor Alvin New follows.
February 28, 2012
The
Honorable Alvin New
Mayor of San Angelo
Dear Mayor New:
I'm writing on behalf of PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization, which has more than 3 million members and supporters, including thousands in Texas, with a proposal regarding the Pearl of the Conchos statue along San Angelo's river walk: In order to inform visitors about the cruelty of fishing and the health risks posed by eating fish, would you consider placing a hook in the mermaid's mouth and having the sculpture hold a sign that reads, "Try to Relate to Who Is on Your Plate. Go Vegan"? In exchange, PETA would make a donation to the San Angelo public schools most hurt by the state's education funding cuts.
Numerous studies show that fish are intelligent animals who feel pain, just as all animals do. Fish have impressive memories, and many form bonds and cooperate with other fish. They suffer when their mouths, which are filled with nerve endings, are pierced with metal hooks and they are dragged into an environment in which they cannot breathe. Fish who are scooped up in giant nets undergo excruciating decompression, and those who survive are suffocated and hacked apart while still conscious.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives exposed the health problems caused by frequent fish consumption. Many participants in the study had symptoms associated with low-level mercury poisoning, including fatigue, headaches, depression, hair loss, and difficulty concentrating. Fish flesh is also frequently contaminated with toxic chemicals—such as PCBs and dioxin, which have been linked to cancer, nervous system disorders, and fetal damage—as well as disease-causing bacteria.
We believe that the Pearl of the Conchos would be the perfect ambassador to convey a message of compassion and good health to both residents and tourists. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tracy
Reiman
Executive
Vice President