‘Bring Home the Bagels’: We Suggest Anti-Speciesist Language—Many Miss the Point

Written by PETA | December 7, 2018

Earlier this week, we took to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ask people to start “bringing home the bagels” instead of the “bacon.”

Judging by some folks’ reactions, you’d think we had opened a can of worms Pandora’s box.

We figured that with so much negativity in the world, why not lighten up, smile a little more, and use language in a way that encourages kindness to animals?

But rather than seizing the opportunity to perpetuate positive attitudes toward others, some folks lost their damn minds. You’d think we had stolen their holiday cookies or something! Many resorted to bashing and attacking us. And then there were those who just completely missed the point.

Words Matter

None of us would support dogfighting. Yet people use the expression “I don’t have a dog in this fight.” And if people want to cling to phrases like “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” they should really consider that it makes most people cringe. And not only is hurling insults such as “pig,” “whale,” “snake,” and “dog” hurtful to humans, it also denigrates and belittles nonhuman animals, who are interesting, feeling individuals.

There’s Plenty of Kindness to Go Around

Our society has worked hard to eliminate racist, homophobic, and ableist language and the prejudices that usually accompany it, but we must also address the pervasive speciesism. Suggesting that there are more pressing social justice issues that require more immediate attention is selfish. We at PETA don’t subscribe to such speciesist thinking. Why would we postpone addressing any one of these issues?

But plenty of people ARE taking the rose by the thorns.

Countless took to Twitter to echo our sentiment and offer other kind options:

As BuzzFeed Opinion Editor Tom Gara said on Twitter:

“Our general culture around meat-eating is pretty clearly a thing future generations will look at with horror. It’s amazing that Twitter, where people are so inclined to write off previous generations for their badness, so gleefully dunks on PETA for being clueless.”

And as “vegan defender” Summer Anne Burton from BuzzFeed said:

“Deep down, most people know the way animals are treated by factory farms is morally indefensible. But it’s easier to look the other way and mock the kooky vegans.”

Animals are feeling, intelligent individuals capable of joy and suffering. They’re not here so that we can exploit them, and our language must evolve to reflect this.

Remove Speciesism From Your Daily Conversations

Cringeworthy words and phrases don’t belong in modern society. Our understanding has evolved, and our language should evolve with it.

Your words have the power to influence those around you.

We’re simply asking folks to use kinder words—don’t overthink it. Instead, click the button below for a few fun ideas:

Lacoste Joins 340+ Brands in Banning Mohair After Shocking PETA Exposé

After hearing from PETA France that goats are violently mutilated and killed for mohair, Lacoste agreed to stop using the cruelly obtained fiber, stating that the company is “very concerned with animal welfare.”

Famous for its crocodile logo, Lacoste boasts 1,200 shops and 10,600 outlets spread across 120 countries. It initiated its mohair ban after seeing our first-of-its-kind video exposé of the mohair industry in South Africa, where more than 50 percent of the world’s mohair comes from. The French clothing company previously committed to banning angora and fur following discussions with PETA.

As revealed in the exposé, sensitive baby goats cried out in fear and pain as they were sheared for mohair sweaters and scarves.

The exposé shows that shearers—who are paid by volume, not by the hour—worked quickly and carelessly, leaving angora goats with gaping wounds. Workers then roughly stitched the animals up without giving them any pain relief.

Unwanted goats died in agonizing ways: One worker slowly cut their throats with a dull knife while they were fully conscious and then broke their necks, hacking one animal’s head off. Others were hauled to a slaughterhouse, where they were electrically shocked, hung upside down, and slashed across the throat.

PETA’s exposé pulled back the curtain on the violent mohair industry, and now over 340 brands have implemented bans.

Lacoste has joined the growing list of fashion brands that recognize that today’s shoppers don’t support cruelty to animals. Other brands that have banned mohair include Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg, Gap, Banana Republic, H&M, Topshop, UNIQLO, Overstock.com, and Zara.

Let’s Keep Pushing: Urge Free People to Ban Mohair

It’s undeniable that when you speak up for animals—who, like anyone, only want to live free from torment—companies listen! Keep the pressure on: Use our form to encourage Free People to ban mohair now.

More Mohair Wins! Williams-Sonoma, zulily, Others Pledge to Save Goats

Make that 341! Retail giants Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.,  and Qurate Retail Group have banned mohair across their brands. Fast Retailing is one of the largest global apparel retailers, with brands that include Theory, Helmut Lang, and J Brand. Qurate owns QVC, HSN, zulily, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road, and Improvements, bringing the total to 341 clothing companies and retailers that have pledged to stop selling mohair after working with PETA.

©iStock.com/Byronsdad 

It hasn’t taken long. In May, The Washington Post broke PETA Asia’s disturbing investigation of the abusive mohair industry, and companies immediately stopped sourcing the material. They now know that hair was crudely shorn off goats who were punctured with pliers and cut open during shearing and whose gaping wounds were roughly sewn up with no pain killers. After all this, the animals were barbarically slaughtered on a farm or they were electrically shocked and their throats were cut at a slaughterhouse.

Goats don’t deserve this. No one does.

Let’s make it 342. Keep telling the market that you don’t want cruelly obtained mohair: Urge Free People to join compassionate retailers around the world in banning it.

For proving how powerful eating vegan can be – and encouraging people around the world to save the planet by ditching meat, eggs, and other animal-derived foods – newly crowned five-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has yet another title to add to his list of stellar accomplishments: PETA’s 2018 Person of the Year.

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk, a lifelong F1 fan, recognised Lewis’ commitment to animals:

Lewis Hamilton has proved to be not only a fantastic driver but also a force for good and a powerful ally of animals used for food. PETA is honouring him for inspiring his legions of fans to follow his lead, jump-start their own energy levels, and spare animals’ lives by going vegan.

Lewis, who often speaks about his vegan diet to the international media, has been open about his motivation for making the switch:

[T]he pollution [from greenhouse-gas emissions] coming from the amount of cows that are being produced is incredible. They say it is more than what we produce with our flights and our cars, which is kind of crazy to think. The cruelty is horrible and I don’t necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life.

The F1 champion also regularly shares animal rights messages and photos of protein-packed vegan meals with his 8.7 million followers on Instagram, where his official bio reads, “[Plant] Based Diet. Love Animals.”

His social media posts are also packed with pleas for compassionate eating, such as “Please find it in your heart to not support this horrific cruelty and go plant-based!”

What You Can Do
Inspired by Lewis? Try vegan for 30 days. We’ll send you plenty of information about delicious vegan products you can buy and easy recipes to make at home. We’ll be on hand to answer your questions, too.

Wildfire Heroes are All PETA’s 2018 Person of the Year

PETA is recognizing the efforts of countless fire departments, organizations, agencies, and individuals who helped rescue animals during the unprecedented 2018 California wildfires. Many lost their homes, sustained burns, and dropped everything to save the lives of humans and other animals—for those selfless actions, 2018 is dedicated to them.

PETA's 2018 Person of the YearSan Mateo Fire Department
Bernie was rescued by the San Mateo Fire Department from behind a home in Magalia. One fire fighter said, “The home and the entire neighborhood had burned to the ground. We are very fortunate Bernie survived.”

 

PETA’s awardees also include the numerous animal shelters that worked tirelessly to make room for companion animals and reunite them with their families.

California endured its most destructive wildfire season on record in 2018 as 7,983 wildfires charred over 1.8 million acres across the state.

PETA's 2018 Person of the Year

Sacramento Community Emergency Response Team 

The Northern California Camp fire stands as the single most deadly and destructive fire in California history, with a death toll of at least 88 humans. Meanwhile, the Woolsey fire in Southern California claimed at least three lives. We can only imagine how many animals—both wild and domesticated—were killed.

PETA is adding a leaf to our Tree of Life memorial dedicated to those who died during the California fires.

PETA's 2018 Person of the Year, Tree of Life

No matter the size of the rescue effort, PETA’s 2018 Person of the Year award is dedicated to everyone who helped save lives in California’s roaring inferno.

Click on the dropdown lists below to see the numerous entities we’ve recognized with this award, and of course, so many others deserve recognition as well:

The Camp Fire

Fire Departments and Other Agencies:

Veterinary and Animal Organizations:

Individuals:

The Woolsey Fire

Fire Departments, Agencies, Animal Organizations, and Individuals:

Be Ready When Disaster Strikes

Remember: The question isn’t whether a disaster will strike—it’s when. Animals must never be left behind. Just like us, our animal family members are terrified when natural disasters hit. It’s up to animals’ guardians to make sure that they’re evacuated safely. Anyone who evacuates and intentionally abandons animals to fend for themselves may be prosecuted.

Top 4 Reasons to Add ‘Mowgli’ to Your Netflix Queue

Netflix’s Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle shows audiences that wild animals can wow on-screen—without ever being on set—thanks to the magic of computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Actor Andy Serkis takes the lead behind the scenes as the director of Mowgli, which, in addition to CGI stunners, also features powerful anti-hunting and anti-captivity messaging. Audiences may recognize Serkis for his onscreen work in epic films like Lord of the Rings and Planet of the Apes. He’s most famous for his brilliant motion-capture performances playing Gollum and Caesar.

‘Tis the season of lists, so here are four reasons why animal lovers should check out Mowgli when it drops on Netflix on December 7:

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

1. CGI Is Better Than Using Live Animals—Always

Mowgli‘s Shere Khan—the tiger who stalks the film’s protagonist—is no villain compared to the trainers who force real tigers to perform on camera. Wild animals are often torn away from their mothers shortly after birth, only to be sentenced to a life of captivity for which they’re deprived of everything that’s natural and important to them. Big cats are typically confined to extremely small cages and are known to have been trained through food deprivation, fear, and punishment with whips.

More and more filmmakers are getting wise to the various ways in which they can tell their stories without abusing animals. Mowgli features stunning motion-capture performances and uses CGI to portray all animals of the jungle, from adorable wolf cubs to majestic elephants. This means that audiences can enjoy watching wild animals in action without worrying about any abuse that may have occurred behind the scenes.

With voices supplied by big names like Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, and PETA’s 2018 Most Beautiful Vegan winner, Benedict Cumberbatch, the animals in Mowgli are expressive, are convincing, and—best of all—weren’t bred, raised in captivity, and forced to perform tricks for the camera.

peta review netflix mowgli 2018

Netflix, Inc 

Binge-watch with a clear conscience—avoid films and TV shows that use real wild animals.

2. Andy Serkis: Ally to Animals

As a pioneer in motion-capture and computer-generated special effects, Serkis proves that using real animals isn’t only cruel and outdated but also unnecessary. He even won a PETA Oscat for his motion-capture performance in War for the Planet of the Apes and has said that using real great apes for a film would be “intolerable and cruel.”

Hear more from Serkis about effective and humane alternatives to using real wild animals on-screen.

peta review netflix mowgli 2018

Netflix, Inc 

3. The Most Dangerous Animal of All? Us.

Mowgli shines a light on the horrors of hunting and the revolting practice of taxidermy as our hero begins to explore the human world.

As a friend to animals, Mowgli takes immediate action when he learns of human cruelty—and let’s just say that PETA isn’t too upset about the way things turn out.

There are plenty of real-life villains who find pleasure in killing animals for “sport.” Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Blake Fischer recently lost his job after posting horrific photos of at least 14 animals he killed in Namibia, including an entire family of baboons. Zimbabwe’s beloved Cecil the lion was savagely murdered by dentist Walter Palmer in 2015, sparking a sea of outrage around the globe.

Help spare other animals Cecil’s fate by telling UPS to stop supporting trophy hunts.

peta review netflix mowgli 2018

Netflix, Inc 

4. Animals Want to Be Free

Audiences are used to seeing Bagheera—the panther who acts as Mowgli’s guide throughout the film—on the prowl. But in Mowgli, we learn that he was previously held prisoner in a palace before escaping into the jungle. Like real animals forced to spend their lives inside cages or bound by chains at animal training compounds, roadside zoos, abusement parks, or circuses, he bears the scars from his former life in confinement.

Captivity can be so stressful to animals that there’s a condition called “zoochosis” that causes animals to sway, pace, and even resort to hurting themselves by chewing on their limbs or ripping out their fur or feathers.


Learn more about animals used for film on The PETA Podcast:

Listen to more episodes on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify! Subscribe for new episodes.

Knickers the Giant Steer Is Too Big to Eat, but All His Friends Will Die

Cows (and steers) are awesome and have the ability to experience a plethora of complex emotions. These gentle giants cherish their friends and mourn the deaths of loved ones. They may even shed tears when they suffer a loss.

So while it’s wonderful that the life of Knickers—the massive steer who has become a recent internet sensation—has been spared because of his gargantuan size, it’s horrible that his friends’ throats will eventually be slit in a slaughterhouse.

It’s obvious that Knickers has a rich social life. The herd he lives with on a Western Australia farm follows his every move. As farm owner Geoff Pearson says, “They all look up to him … wherever, whenever [he] moves, they move … he’s … the leader of the pack.”

A herd of cows is very much like a pack of wolves, with alpha animals and complex social dynamics. Cows can recognize more than 100 members of a herd, and social relationships are very important to them. They consistently choose leaders for their intelligence, inquisitiveness, self-confidence, experience, and good social skills, while size and strength aren’t considered and tendencies to bully and be selfish aren’t recognized as suitable qualities for leaders.

Cows Are Someone, Not Something

Sure, it’s not every day that you see a cow who’s 6 foot, 3 inches and 3,000 pounds walking around. But just like dogs, cats, and humans, every cow is unique. Some learn quickly, while others take their time. Some are bold and adventurous, while others are shy and timid. Some are friendly and considerate, while others are bossy and devious. They’re even known to hold grudges against other cows who treat them badly.

Like all animals—including the ones reading this—cows value their own lives and don’t want to die. Stories abound of those who have gone to extraordinary lengths to survive. All of them deserve to live in peace, just like Knickers.

All cows are special—save as many as you can by going vegan today!

By living vegan, you can ensure that nearly 200 animals a year don’t end up on dinner plates. And that’s not to mention those who will be spared suffering and death in experiments and for the clothing and entertainment industries.

Click the button below to order a free vegan starter kit filled with recipes, shopping tips, and everything else that you’ll need to start your vegan journey:

Another Fashion Victory! Chanel Bans Fur and Exotic Skins

Written by PETA | December 3, 2018

Breaking news! The champagne corks are popping at PETA, thanks to Chanel’s announcement that it’s kicking fur and exotic skins—including crocodile, lizard, and snake skin—to the curb. For decades, PETA has called on the brand to opt for cruelty-free fashion that no animal had to suffer and die for.

Chanel is the first luxury fashion brand to join other labels such as Ann Inc., Arcadia Group (which owns Topshop), ASOS, bebe, H&M, L Brands (which owns Victoria’s Secret), Nike, Nine West, Overstock.com, PUMA, and numerous others that have already banned exotic skins.

The brand also joins Armani, Coach, Donatella Versace, Michael Kors, Gucci, Burberry, John Galliano, and countless others in committing to not using fur in its designs.

Tell Other Brands to Get With the Times

There’s nothing trendy about using stolen skins from tormented animals for clothing or accessories. Recent advancements in textiles have made faux fur and vegan leather nearly indistinguishable from animal pelts and skins, far more sustainable, and infinitely customizable, meaning there’s simply no reason to breed and kill animals for fashion. It’s clear that the time is now for all companies, like Louis Vuitton, to follow Chanel’s lead and move to innovative materials that spare countless animals a miserable life and a violent, painful death.

Click the button below to join PETA, Chanel, other top designers, and countless compassionate shoppers in opposing the suffering caused by the cruel exotic-skins industry:

Why Real Feminists Should Stop Eating Eggs

The human egg is tiny, undetectable to the human eye—and yet it’s a powerful, life-giving force that is still polarizing nations. Such an innocuous little ovum, yet it holds such an immense power to divide—and to divide people.

As the battle for control over women’s fertility and reproductive rights wages on, feminists are rising up against abuse and exploitation.

So what does it mean, then, when women take another female’s eggs from her without a thought and readily pay money for her eggs, knowing that she was imprisoned, her reproductive cycle was controlled and manipulated, and she was forced to bear young on someone else’s timetable?

Can we really call ourselves “feminists” if we eat eggs?

Some are quick to dismiss the suffering of female members of other species as unimportant. But let’s recall that human females, too, have been dismissed as not important, valuable, intelligent, or worthy of consideration. The justifications that people give for being unconcerned about chickens’ suffering and denying their basic rights are strikingly similar to the justifications that have been given for disregarding women’s suffering and denying their basic rights, all of which are false.

Chickens are inquisitive, and they can complete complex mental tasks, demonstrate self-control, worry about the future, and pass down cultural knowledge. In some aspects, their cognitive abilities exceed those of cats, dogs, and even primates. Like all animals (including humans), they love their families and value their own lives. They look out for their relatives and the other chickens in their group. They have complex social structures, well-developed communication skills, and distinct personalities, just as we do. If you’ve ever talked about a “pecking order,” “hen fest,” or “mother hen,” you were describing behavior that we have observed in chickens.

But chickens are arguably the most abused animals on the planet.

In the United States, more than 300 million hens are exploited for their eggs every year. The vast majority spend their entire lives in intensive confinement—from the moment they hatch until the day they’re killed. They never get to scratch in the grass, feel the sun on their backs, or breathe fresh air. They spend day and night in a feces- and ammonia-filled warehouse with the bodies of many of their dead and dying friends and family members lying on the floor or crammed inside a filthy cage so small that they can’t stretch even one wing.

Farm workers manipulate hens’ reproductive system using light and food to induce extra laying cycles, forcing them to produce as many as 300 eggs per year—far more than their ancestors used to produce in nature. Because of this, the birds often suffer from cysts, infections, ovarian carcinomas, and reproductive tumors, and sometimes multiple eggs become lodged inside them. Their bones often shatter from osteoporosis because their bodies are forced to produce massive quantities of eggshells.

Farms don’t see chickens as individuals—they see them as egg machines to be used, manipulated, and pushed beyond their biological limits in order to make money.

Chickens crowded into small space, patches of feathers missing
© iStock.com/takobchaiprakobkit 

If treated well, a hen’s life expectancy is about 10 years. On an egg farm, her body will typically give out after just two, if that. When her egg production drops, she is considered “spent” and is thrown into a truck full of other “spent” females, shipped to the slaughterhouse, and strung up by her legs so her throat can be slit or else gassed to death. Her body will likely be turned into chicken soup or food for companion animals, because her flesh is too bruised and battered to be used for anything else.

The hen has been turned into an egg machine. In previous eras, she embodied the essence of motherhood.The Roman historian Plutarch admired these animals’ mothering instincts, writing that he observed hens “drooping their wings for some to creep under, and receiving with joyous and affectionate clucks others that mount upon their backs or run up to them from every direction; and though they flee from dogs and snakes if they are frightened only for themselves, if their fright is for their children, they stand their ground and fight it out beyond their strength.”

The Renaissance writer Ulisse Aldrovandi said that mother hens present, in every way, “a noble example of love for their offspring.” These females represent the best qualities that any of us can hope to possess: selflessness, generosity, compassion, courage, and unconditional love. Shouldn’t we, as humans, be capable of the same?

PETA encourages everyone to stand up to the systematic abuse of females of all species. Widening our circle of compassion doesn’t hurt anyone—It only serves to end the cycle of oppression and suffering that results when one group seeks to exploit another that it has deemed inferior.

It Took a Village to Save This Cat

Winter has come early this year—much of the U.S. and Canada is already experiencing subfreezing temperatures. New England had its coldest Thanksgiving on record. Buddy, a Doberman pinscher belonging to a homeless man in Montréal, reportedly froze to death in the man’s arms.

So when a cat named Pumpkin’s guardians had the same argument that they had every year about allowing her to come indoors during cold weather, her “dad” decided that he couldn’t bear to watch her shiver on the porch through another winter and knew it was time to give her a chance at a better life.

Pumpkin, a senior cat rescued by PETA

There was just one problem: Garysburg, the tiny North Carolina town where they live (population: 943), doesn’t have an animal shelter for cats—just like many other small towns.

Rescued senior cat Pumpkin licking her chops

Call it a Christmas miracle, but Pumpkin had the good fortune to wind up at Garysburg Town Hall, and PETA’s fieldworkers frequently assist officials there with spay/neuter and other animal control services. A kind city staffer took pity on Pumpkin and held onto her until a PETA fieldworker was able to drive down to pick her up and deliver her to a foster home.

Rescued senior cat Pumpkin being held by PETA staffer

Pumpkin’s foster mom reports that the 10-year-old cat is just as sweet as the pie she’s named after. Like a jack-o’-lantern, the goofy faces she makes always light up a room. We know someone out there is eager to give this gourdgeous girl a place where she can put down some roots. If that someone is you, drop us a vine, er, line at [email protected].

Rescued senior cat Pumpkin looks out the window at PETA headquarters