Jun22
Gearing Up for the Running of the Nudes
Posted at 05:22 PM | Permalink
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Comments (13)
Check out the gaggle of nearly naked PETA members who converged on the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. yesterday in a warm up for PETA UK’s sixth annual Running of the Nudes in Pamplona, Spain, to protest the cruelty of the Running of the Bulls. OK, so I guess this demo is more like the Running of the Almost Nudes since they were all rocking underwear, but still . . .
Of course in the real Running of the Nudes, most of those participants roll buck naked, save for running shoes and the red scarves that are traditionally worn during the bull run. And lots of body hair. Come on, it is in Europe after all.
Here’s the video from last year’s event.
Attention: Only watch this video if you are over 18 and if seeing naked people protesting cruelty to animals is legal where you live (the lawyers made me say that).
Click here if you want to get in on this year’s run in July.
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Comments
if i lived near spain i would so do this!
Posted by: max | June 22, 2007 06:44 PM
I believe us (USAns) are just to conservative about sex and human body; however, what good does sexing-up the protest do? Do others really critically examine the issue because they see young, in decent shape almost nude or nude covering up their private areas with signs stating their dislike of animals abuses?
Posted by: Jason 'Great White'-Shark | June 22, 2007 07:39 PM
Let's hope that also this year there shall be many participants! I remember 1987 demonstration in which I participated in Barcelona - at a time when there were no nude competitors. We were just 200 and in front of a bullfight arena we were almost butchered by the crowd and the spanish police: several animal protectors had to go to hospital! This year the pictures shall be sent to flickr! Fortunately these times are over and I remember that already one year later there were 2000 protesters in Madrid. Bullfights are a shame on this earth and have to disappear as quickly as possible!
Posted by: La San Felice | June 23, 2007 09:23 AM
Only my opinon: I think this "style" of protesting gives the wrong impression about animal justice activists, as if we lack more dignified ways and actually cheapens our intelligence....because it seems like it would only appeal to the ooglers just for "entertainment" and the protest would not be taken seriously. It's like why would the bullfights have reason to stop when the pro-bullfighters/ooglers know they will be continually "entertained" by beautiful, nude, smiling women?
Posted by: Ariel | June 23, 2007 09:47 AM
Damn! They've got balls!... and weiners
Posted by: K | June 24, 2007 03:33 AM
ariel-
good point- sex sells. naked people (primarily women) protesting in the street may be considered nothing more than part of the show. perhaps this particular form of protesting in this format should be reevaluated.
Posted by: nicole | June 24, 2007 11:17 PM
Ariel, I agree completely. what I am having trouble understanding is what message are the protestors trying to put across? "Stop Bullfighting! Run around naked instead!" the two don't really mix all that well.
Posted by: Shawn | June 25, 2007 11:08 AM
Shawn,
odd as it sounds -- that's exactly the point! PETA promotes an annual "nude race" in Pamplona as a compassionate alternative to the Running of the Bulls. It's a fun new tradition that thousands of people participate in, and it's getting more and more popular every year.
You can learn more at http://www.runningofthenudes.com
Posted by: Jack | June 25, 2007 01:09 PM
I agree with Ariel as well. I love the compassion that PETA represents and fully respect most of what they do to help animals...but couldn't they get their messages across better without EXPLOITING women?
Young women in bikinis holding up signs in front of KFC? In the middle of a Michigan winter? I stopped to talk to them and they said that I was the first girl to pay any attention. Hmm...I wonder how many of the men took a look at them and considered their eating habits.
Posted by: amber | June 26, 2007 12:01 AM
As an avid feminist AND animal rights activist, along with a true believer in human rights and equality, these "sexist" PETA campaigns really turn me off to this organization, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who sees this.
Your anti-bullfighting campaign posters also look like something ripped out of a porn magazine, and you expect anyone to take your message seriously?
Instead of a nude Pamela Anderson, which is what someone can get in Playboy, why not present her as a sentient, intelligent human being sometime instead -- where men and women can see she is more than her boobs and body ... where someone might listen to her instead of oogle her and dismiss the animal rights issue she is talking about?
More than anything, PETA needs to re-evaluate its use of sexist, nudist, pornified campaigns. They are the biggest bane of your existence, and they do nothing to further your true causes ... they sadly detract from it and show how ignorant you are when it comes to human equality.
This is coming from someone who fully supports ALL your animal campaigns.
Posted by: Michel | June 26, 2007 01:41 PM
How can this campaign be "sexist" if both men and women participate? The Chinese have a saying, "Food and Sex are human nature." Women drool over the latest "hunk" as much as men sometimes like to regardez les femmes.
Another saying, "Sex Sells". PETA didn't invent Madison Avenue, but you pretty much have to follow the established rules if you want to promote mass awareness.
Posted by: Mike | June 26, 2007 08:21 PM
I can't believe people would be offended by this! It's hilarious! Props to PETA for making fighting for the animals fun. I'm both a vegan and a feminist, and I don't think prudish behavior furthers either cause. Yah PETA!!!!
Posted by: Leah | June 27, 2007 12:48 PM
I feel that these nude campaigns are a little too much. The only time that I think that it makes sense and helps to drive the point across is when they do the fur campaigning. Otherwise it is indeed soft porn.
Posted by: Margarita Cisne | August 1, 2007 11:17 PM