Group Offers Interactive Exhibit for a Hard Look at Factory Farming in Food Production
For Immediate Release:
February 13, 2013
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382
Washington -- PETA has sent a letter to John Gray, director of the National Museum of American History, urging him to display PETA's riveting "Glass Walls" exhibit, which gives viewers a look at factory farming from the perspective of animals. It also includes a hard-hitting video narrated by Paul McCartney, who famously remarked, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian."
The move comes on the heels of the museum's introduction of a new exhibit titled, "FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000," which looks at how new innovations and technologies have changed food production and American eating habits. In the letter, PETA points out that any discussion of the advances in food production must address how many of those advances have come at the expense of animals' well-being. Guests of the PETA "Glass Walls" exhibit can literally put themselves in the animals' place by confining themselves to the tiny, cramped holding pens in which pregnant sows on factory farms spend much of their lives.
"To the millions of chickens who have their throats cut while they are still conscious and the cows who are often skinned alive on high-speed production lines, modern agriculture is hardly 'advanced,'" says PETA Associate Director of Campaigns Lindsay Rajt. "PETA agrees that people should know where their food comes from, but by omitting the toll that factory farms and slaughterhouses take on animals, the museum would be telling only half the story."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to the National Museum of American History follows
February 11, 2013
John Gray
Director
National Museum of American History
Dear Mr. Gray:
On behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters worldwide, I am writing about your new exhibit following the growth of the modern American farm. Modern farming has altered the landscape for the American farmer, but it has done little to end the suffering of animals on these farms. To be fair in your presentation, we ask that you include our "Glass Walls" exhibit, which shows what life is really like for billions of animals on factory farms—from their perspective.
The exhibit is an interactive 20-foot-by-30-foot inflatable tent where visitors learn about animal intelligence. In order to see what life is like from the animals' point of view, visitors have an opportunity to confine themselves to a gestation crate—which is so small that pregnant pigs can't even turn around or take two steps—and sit on chairs that simulate a battery cage for egg-laying hens while watching "Glass Walls," a video exposé of the meat industry narrated by Paul McCartney, who famously said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls,everyone would be vegetarian." It will prove to be an experience that your visitors will never forget. Please take a moment to view our traveling exhibit, which is visiting college campuses around the country and garnering great interest.
Farmed animals have the ability to suffer just as cats and dogs do. They're intelligent individuals with feelings, needs, interests, and desires. The farming of animals for food has been a colossal dark spot in our history, and while improvements to efficiency and productivity have been made for humans, they have been at the animals' expense. Will you allow us to balance out your new exhibit by telling the animals' side of the story with our "Glass Walls" exhibit?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President