Dec18
Are Your Shoes Leather?
Posted at 04:44 PM | Permalink
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Comments (75)
For anyone who's done animal rights protests before, you'll know that—no matter what the issue—the first thing anyone ever asks you is whether your shoes are leather (seriously, the question is almost a reflex for some people—I've heard of people being asked that at naked demonstrations). So it's always a bonus when the demonstration is focused on the treatment of cows in the leather industry—at least then, you can stay on topic.
And this particular topic is an exceptionally gruesome one in India (which, along with China, provides most of the world's leather), as today's protest in Bangalore showed to dramatic effect. The powerful demonstration was staged by a pair of PETA India members (in what appear to be canvas shoes, in case anyone's wondering) and was covered widely in the Indian media. Great work, guys.
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Comments
Great job, PETA India! Leather is totally disgusting.
Posted by: Canaduck | December 18, 2007 05:22 PM
Hi jack, here's some trade statistics on leather:
http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ep611.htm
One is imports and you can click in top rh corner for exports. I realise it is in dollar terms where value adding would skew results, but China imports twice as much as it exports and you would expect she is a big value adder.
Anyway basically India and china combined export about half the amount from Italy.
Posted by: rojo | December 18, 2007 05:35 PM
Last week I bought my first non leather shoes, the cost like five times less, and are easier to clean, besides less toxic chemicals. The only bad thing is that I had to quit wearing my favorite brands.
Posted by: Steven | December 18, 2007 06:01 PM
An excellent demonstration! I can't tell you how many times I've been asked if my shoes are leather. NOT! I wear boots that could pass for leather, but they're microfiber. From good old Payless. But it's a "gotcha" type of question, asked when someone is trying to trip you up on your vegan stance, as in "aha!" The question to ask them: "do you eat poop?" or "did your dinner have a face?" It usually grosses them out, but they get the point.
Posted by: Susannah S | December 18, 2007 06:08 PM
My wife and daughter just got back from Bangalore last week. The people are just great there, and it's not full of tourists so it's representative of the real India. Although as s foreigner you get charged about 3 times what a Indian pays for things. And we worry about discrimination! Even then things are inexpensive.
Cows are everywhere, in the streets, grazing median strips on multi-lane roads, and in the parks. They are generally respected. Now I don't know anything about their transport and slaughter practices, and I'll take peta's at it's word, and condemn those methods. No animal should be killed merely for it's skin, and definately not in pain.
The thing is peta-India is preaching to some of the poorest peoples on earth. Over half the population survive on less than a dollar a day. There are beggars in the streets, some with missing body parts, notably hands and feet. "Beggar Masters" basically pimp beggars for a commission, and I'm told have been known to disfigure children(like chopping off feet) to increase "sales figures", more income. There are people living in wooden crates by the streets and families under tarps. And thats all in Bangalore, one of the major business hubs in India.
The moral to my story, such that it is, is the majoriy of Indians face such hardship(quite happily I might add) on a daily basis that would make this demo look like a picnic in the park to them. Peta India should put their efforts toward education on treating the animals better in their final days, and not futiley expecting their own people to give up some of their already meagre incomes. Stamp out leather production in the wealthy western world first, then progress to India and the like.
Posted by: rojo | December 18, 2007 06:46 PM
IT'S SO SAD THE TREATMENT TO ALL THE ANIMALS, I HATE THE LEATHER TOO. GOOD THAT THESE BOYS SHOW TO THE PEOPLE THE REALITY.
Posted by: liliana | December 18, 2007 08:36 PM
Plants have feelings too you crazy plant murderers...
Posted by: Brent | December 18, 2007 09:22 PM
Awesome! The fake calf looks so real! PETA need to expose the truth behind the Indian & Chinese Leather Industry. It is really horribe to kill someone to turn them into shoes, wallets & belts! We humans need to be comfortable in our own skin & let the cows keep theirs!
Posted by: Niranjan | December 18, 2007 09:35 PM
One comment/question I always get thrown at me is something about abortion: I should be helping to stop all the babies being killed, blah blah blah...must be a Bible-belt thing.
My stock answer:
"Pro-Life is Pro ALL (I emphasize the "ALL") Life."
Shuts them right up. Every time.
Posted by: Tamara | December 19, 2007 01:59 AM
Canvas shoes my ass. They're leather shoes.... then again, I own leather shoes. Who hasn't at some time in their life? Also... Peta, very rarely are animals killed "for their fur" as they are killed primarily for their meat. Thank you.
Posted by: Harley | December 19, 2007 05:28 AM
Isn't it also true that China uses dogs for leather? Ugh, gruesome.
Posted by: Terriers Rule | December 19, 2007 07:37 AM
You have got to be joking. My shoes are leather. Now What, This makes me sick. What are you teaching our youth? That everything we eat and wear is wrong? Last time i checked this is USA. I have an idea for everyone that is a peta lover. Go fight for our Country. Thats if you want to do somthing that matters. And stop crying about people eating meat and what we wear.
Posted by: Chad | December 19, 2007 07:53 AM
You guys are nuts. Completely nuts...which is the reason why you WILL never ever gain popular support. I mean does your FAQ site seriously tell me that animals should be respected, treated, and cared for, just like mentally ill people are respected, treated, and cared for? What type of moron insinuates that mentally challenged people and animals...ANIMALS you fucking nuts, are one in the same. GET THAT OFF YOUR FAQ dumbfucks. There has to be another way to state it than to compare a dog to a mentally handicapped PERSON!
Posted by: Jeremy | December 19, 2007 09:01 AM
If you guys cared this much about people imagine the difference you could make.
When did animals become more important than people? One last question, do you go after aniamls that abuse each other, because thats about as stupid as what you guys do now.
Posted by: Human | December 19, 2007 09:43 AM
Since I turned veggie, I feel like I have been under a big microscope.
People are so quick to try to catch me at fault with something, anything... Well, what about your shoes, I bet they're leather (Nope, check them out, all man made materials, nice right?) Oh, well, what about milk, surely you drink milk (Nope, I drink Soy milk and actually they make soy everything now); Well YOU PEOPLE just pick animals over humans, what about the starving children in Africa!?!? Ofcouse, when they start talking about starving children, I love to let them know just how meat based diets take away food from those hungry poor little children they are so bravely fighting for.
Meeat eaters can be such bullies!!!
Posted by: Jaclyn | December 19, 2007 09:49 AM
This is awesome! Leather is destructive to people, non-human animals, and the environment --> I'm excited to finally see a demonstration against it! Compassionate people love learning the big impact that simply buying (less expensive) non-leather products has! :) GREAT WORK PETA!
Posted by: Kelsey | December 19, 2007 09:57 AM
Good job PETA !
Posted by: Anonymous | December 19, 2007 09:59 AM
Peta India is so cool!!!!
Posted by: Jaclyn | December 19, 2007 10:04 AM
Chad -
Since when is loving America synonymous with killing things????? Iraqis, animals, or otherwise? FYI, I am a Vietnam vet - US Marines, and saw quite enough of how wonderful your approach to patriotism is.
Harley-
Up to 30% of the profits from slaughterhouses come from selling the hides for leather. It's not a trivial byproduct.
Posted by: Good Dog! | December 19, 2007 10:05 AM
Its amazing to me that when I tell people about my views on animal rights the first thing they say is "what about humans" or "there are better things to worry about". Think about this...What is the first thing doctors tell you to give up when you have high blood pressure, high cholestrol, or a heart attack? Thats right meat! What the biggest contribution to the loss of natural resources in the world? Thats right animal manufactoring for consumption! Who can eat more a cow or a person? Thats right so why not give the vegetables to more people than 1 cow? Whats the first sign of serial killer? That he tortured animals as a child. With that said animal rights is about human rights. Learn more before you critize.
Posted by: Leo | December 19, 2007 10:25 AM
Dear Jeremy, and all of you who posted here about humans taking precedence over animals:
There was an article in the Sunday New York Times called
"Our Decrepit Food Factories" by Michael Pollan, where he discusses the new virulent strains of MRSA that are killing more Americans, now, than AIDS, and that these strain is antibiotic resistent. One of the reasons why, he asserts, is that 70% of antibiotics in this country go to factory farms to keep the animals from dying of infection in their crowded conditions. Because of the heavy use of these antibiotics,(the same ones used for people), new bacteria have developed that are resistent to ALL KNOWN antibiotics and when you eat meat and drink milk, you ingest these antibiotics,along with the bacteria which are resistent to them, which makes it hard to impossible to find some way to treat YOU if you become ill from these infections. He suggests that the MRSA outbreak is directly related to factory farming. So, even if you can't come up with any compassion for animals, maybe you can recognize in this a reason to require better living conditions for them? It's in OUR best interests to take good care of animals, (and in theirs)of course. What does this have to do with the cows in India? You were talking about the extreme crowding there. What do you think the effects are on such crowds when hundreds of cattle are slaughtered for their skins and then the rest of the cow is sold for cheap meat that is riddled with infection and disease? What affects the animals and the eco-system ultimately affects US, too! What goes around, comes around. If we don't stop mistreating animals in the name of the almighty buck, WE are the ones who will ultimately pay for it. So if you can't show a little mercy, at least have enough awareness to be worried about YOURSELF! Wise UP!
Posted by: Susannah S | December 19, 2007 10:33 AM
Great demo! Non-leather shoes, bags, belts, etc are becoming more available and there is no reason to wear leather at all. There was a time when non-leather items were ugly and felt like plastic, not any more. People cannot believe my bags are not made of leather!
I recently bought my hubby a non-leather briefcase from Matt and Nat. It's awesome.
http://www.mattandnat.com/
Posted by: Nancy | December 19, 2007 10:59 AM
Jeremy and Chad: here is our support for PETA because of their great ad: We swear that we shall never again put leather shoes all our life! That's it!
Posted by: Nico, Giovanni, Earl | December 19, 2007 11:44 AM
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Those of you who swear and put others down for what they believe in are very immature and cruel. I hope that someday you will find something meanful in life and embrace it.
I respect the work PETA has done for animals and will continue to do so. PETA shows the public what really happens and its shocking, but it works to spread the word. If only other organizations would do the same....
Posted by: Tracy | December 19, 2007 12:16 PM
To Brent, Harley, Chad, and Jeremy: I can't help but notice that you are all male and have been well programed by apparently undereducated, and compassionless role models. Everyone has a right to express themselves but I wonder why you bother posting here. Ten percent of Americans are pro-animal rights, plants don't have feelings, millions of animals are killed exclusively for their fur, and the UN states that our consumption of animals is one of the 3 highest threats to the planet. If you have the guts, watch some videos. If that doesn't change your mind you must be either immune to compassion or inherently cruel by nature or nuture. Grow up and by the way, go away.
Posted by: Marceles Fisher | December 19, 2007 12:28 PM
People eat cows, big deal. Lions eat cows, why aren't you protesting them?
Guys, humans are predators. We have sharp, tearing teeth like a predator; we have sharp nails like a predator; we have eyes in the front of our heads like a predator.
Guess what -- predators eat prey.
Posted by: Paul | December 19, 2007 12:48 PM
Hang in there PETA India!! Keep up speaking for the cows! The leather industry is "SICK" there. They tie them up by their noses and together, body, by body!! No regard for their well being, not to mention the suffering that goes on behide the open doors! What makes matters worse is that these animals are so docile there is no need for this inhumane treatment to ever be part of their daily life, Shame on those life forms called humans!!
Posted by: Carla | December 19, 2007 12:52 PM
Not just shoes but handbags, cell phone cases, digital camera cases, and the like. It is a mess out there with all the leather products. Wonderful demonstration! We change minds one at a time.
Posted by: Ricky | December 19, 2007 12:53 PM
Eating animals make people angry just like you are
Posted by: brody | December 19, 2007 12:55 PM
Wow Chad and Jeremy you have very strong views.
I'm not sure if you know this or not, but when yelling at people for being "fucking nuts" and "dumbfucks," it may help our your cause if you didn't act like one yourself.
And to every person out there not in Iraq, GO FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY. Everyone, right now, leave your jobs, drop what you are doing and lets go fight for our country.
If you have a life and if you have an opinion, drop everything and lets go fight for our country.
LOL!!
Thanks Jeremy and Chad, you gave me a good good laugh. I needed to laugh!
Posted by: Jaclyn | December 19, 2007 02:29 PM
You're one small step from being the same as abortion clinic bombers. Extremists.
Posted by: Mio | December 19, 2007 02:38 PM
I hate leather. But,I have a 12 month old baby and would love to find cloth soft soled shoes for my little boy.I haven't had any luck. I hate having him wear that nasty stuff, especially when he keeps trying to chew on them,Yuck!! Any suggestions? Help!
Posted by: Melissa | December 19, 2007 03:14 PM
Peta, you guys are ridiculously excessive. No matter what you do people will NEVER stop eating beef. What do YOU suggest they do with all the skin that they take from the dead cows? Waste it. You're so radical.
P.S. That Mike Vick snowglobe is in such bad taste. he's already serving Jail time for his dog fighting, so was that really neccesary. And you gfuys wonder why you will never get mainstream support.
Posted by: Renee | December 19, 2007 03:19 PM
hahaha. you guys are losers. seriously,im from india. we dont kill just for leather. we use ALL of the animal! especially for a certain thing called FOOD! if you eat meat, who cares what kind of shoes you have on! ALL of my shoes are leather and i look damn good in them!!!! lol. idiots
Posted by: ambesh | December 19, 2007 03:34 PM
Jeremy:
Can't you express yourself and write with some class? Why all the "F" bombs.
Clever!
Posted by: Jodi | December 19, 2007 03:57 PM
I hate leather. But,I have a 12 month old baby and would love to find cloth soft soled shoes for my little boy.I haven't had any luck. I hate having him wear that nasty stuff, especially when he keeps trying to chew on them,Yuck!! Any suggestions? Help!
Posted by: Melissa | December 19, 2007 04:00 PM
Frick you, ambesh! I'm not saying anything against your culture BUT for the animals sake, change your ways! They were "NOT" born for you people to treat them like you "own" them, they deserve respect like "US" humans do!! You and I alike!!
Posted by: Carla | December 19, 2007 04:04 PM
Obviously there are some really backwards arguments here. Some seem to think that animals should prove themselves worthy of being treated with compassion by being more like humans or children.
We need to learn the correct way of thinking: the fact that humans ARE more intelligent and DO have a more complex brain means that we have an obligation to use it.
What good is a more evolved brain if all we do is feel entitled to bad behavior? The fact that we are so blessed with technology and an advanced civilization means that we need to step up and be better beings for it.
Children do not suffer because of their cerebral cortex. That is the thinking part of the brain. Children suffer because of the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for primitive responses, such as the ability to feel excruciating pain and fear. That, my dears, is a part of the brain we share with most animals.
We don't suffer because we can write poetry, but because we can feel the same things animals feel.
Humans do not, in fact, have carnivorous teeth. We do not have "canines", as they are called. We are perfectly well adapted to be vegetarian if we choose. There goes that argument out the window. And animals, by the way, do not have the ability to feel reason or compassion towards their prey. Take some classes if you don't believe me.
Remember this: "To whom much is given, much will be expected".
Show some appreciation for your privellege on this Earth, people.
And here where my degree comes in handy:
Signe: Maya, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, Certified Veterinary Technician, Candidate, Wildlife Biology.
Posted by: Maya, Master's candidate, wildlife biology | December 19, 2007 05:53 PM
Susannah,
This article states no known cases of MRSA from food animals, and cases found in animals have come from humans.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7527/1219?ehom
If Michael Pollan had a medical or scientific background I'd be more inclined to believe him.(that doesn't mean he's wrong).
If his brother in law Michael J Fox says it, I'll believe him because he's a celebrity. Well, maybe not.
Posted by: rojo | December 19, 2007 06:04 PM
Wow it us so pathetic how all these people put down PETA. At least they have something better to do than put people down for believing in something.
Its really pathetic when an 18 year old girl (me) is more mature and centered than a grown man/woman. Keep it up PETA, you inspire me!!!
Posted by: Whitney | December 19, 2007 07:42 PM
Paul,
You're delusional if you think your piddly fingernails and teeth come anywhere near a real predator's claws and fangs. Have you never owned a cat? If you have teeth like that you're a freak. True carnivores can't develop atherosclerosis—humans seem to have no problem.
Also, FYI, there are vegetarians that have forward-facing eyes such as sloths, gorillas, Colobus monkeys, langurs, etc.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 19, 2007 08:10 PM
What do you use then, petroleum?
Posted by: Caboose | December 19, 2007 08:47 PM
I am constantly amazed at the people who are so vocal and PROUD about how they LOVE their leather and how they will keep supporting the killing of animals, and then they tell animal rights supporters that we are crazy, extremist (though that one is not really an insult...), losers, and dumbfucks.
Well, I am just not sure how you can say this about a group of people who are COMPASSIONATE about animals (and usually also about humans!!), who are dedicated, who are often involved in the fields of social services, health or education as a career or as volunteers, and who are VERY strong and intelligent.
I think that PETA India has done another outstanding job with this demonstration (they always have kick-ass demos!). There is just NO excuse for wearing leather. The leather is not something that just happens to be lying around after the animal is slaughtered for food. There are animals who are used primarily for their leather (and the rest of them probably ends up in "meat" soups, stews or hot dogs - eww!) and they are treated horribly. The chemicals needed to preserve the leather (yes, it is the skin of a corpse, so it basically needs to be embalmed, just like a dead human being does when being prepared for burial) are harmful to the environment. There are PLENTY of alternatives out there, and they are usually WAY cheaper than the leather versions (Payless is a great place for footwear and handbags).
Just watch the video footage, or watch "Earthlings" - if you dare...
Jaclyn, I know what you mean about the whole microscope thing. One of my best friends had not eaten red meat in more than 10 years, generally for health reasons. No one ever questioned her about it or inquired as to how she was getting her daily protein/iron needs met. Well, she became vegetarian this past summer, and immediately everyone was asking her "well, what DO you eat then?" and "is that healthy?" and "but do you eat fish?" It is ironic that the anti's often tell us that we are "forcing" our opinions on them, but when we make a change in our diet for the sake of the animals, suddenly everyone around feels like they have the right to inquire about one's health and tell us what WE "should" be eating. When a former co-worker of mine found out I had gone from being vegetarian to being vegan, she asked "did you research this?", "how are you getting your B-12?" and the best one of all: "does your doctor know about this?" She was never a close friend at all, just someone who sat in a nearby cubicle, and she was following the Atkins diet!! I wanted to tell her that her oh-so-wonderful diet was invented by someone who died of heart problems and was morbidly obese, but I held my tongue.
Posted by: Michele | December 19, 2007 08:49 PM
Why do people that hate PETA come to this site anyways? Just wondering...
Posted by: Tracey | December 19, 2007 10:02 PM
Renee are you really from India? I know many people who don't eat beef because it's a sacred animal!!! IDIOT if you fucking people think so negatively about peta why waste your time even visiting this site? animals are abused because of you cowards who don't have the guts to pick on someone your own size, so you pick one someone who can't defend themselves. Go get a life and don't waste time here. This is for supporters.
Go peta you've changed many people's lives.
Posted by: boo | December 20, 2007 12:07 AM
So... what about the animal in the picture...?
We should all wear crocs :]
Posted by: Sherry | December 20, 2007 10:29 AM
The human animal does has a relatively puny body compared to most predators. Each animal has evolved the ability to procure food with advantages specific to that animal. To try and prove or disprove our predilection to eat meat by comparing us to other meat eaters or vegetarian animals is always circular and pointless. As the continent of Africa dried up, and the forests were replaced by savanna the genus Homo separated from our Australopithecus ancestors around two million years ago and immediately began using it's much larger brain to procure both plant and animal foods with tools, not fangs or claws. Many scientists believe that the growth of our brains was promoted by a more animal based diet. One evidence for this is patterns of tooth wear in our small brained vegetarian cousins (other primates, not your aunts son) that differ profoundly from our direct ancestors. We do not have fangs and canines and we can't run particularly fast, but we do have giant brains. I contend that any use of said brain to procure food is the equivalent to any other animal using it's evolved advantages (fangs, claws, etc). I am a human animal and if I try to use physical advantages that I do not posses, I will starve. This does not mean that a human animal can not live healthily on a completely vegetable based diet, but this, as a result of our giant brain, is a technological construct. I believe strongly in following the owner's manual recommendations on what kind of gas to use in my car, so it follows that I would like to ingest the kind of food that I was designed/evolved to use. This is why I choose the diet for my family and myself that I do, as a lot education and study have led me to these choices, not because I enjoy killing things for the sake of killing or wish to promote suffering out of some pure inherited evil. I know who I am and I know that I am neither cruel, nor evil. All right now let's see if anyone can come up with something better than beating breasts and gnashing teeth because that gets boring.
Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | December 20, 2007 11:14 AM
Why is the first response of so many of you to attempt to kick off those with opposing viewpoints? It seems ironic that PETA supporters who pat themselves on the back ad nauseum for having "open-minds" can't handle opposition in an intellectual manner. Seeing as the title of this section is "Comments" and not "Comments in Support of PETA", it seems only logical that anyone can post here. Believe it or not, PETA and the animal rights movement is relevant enough for people to care about and to passionately disagree with. Not everyone who disagrees with PETA lacks compassion or nurture, by the way. Some people simply have the ability to watch videos of death and not respond with feelings of guilt. Those videos are intended to be shocking. and as such they are terrific marketing tools for PETA who can recruit those who are kneejerk, emotional respondents to join the cause.
Posted by: Jay | December 20, 2007 11:28 AM
Great post, Michele. For all the whining the antis do about having someone force their beliefs on them, I don't recall anyone ever being stopped from going into a grocery store and buying what they like.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | December 20, 2007 12:35 PM
As I read these comments I can't help but to be slightly amused by the Ego of the PETA critics-They so proudly leave their comments about how we should fight for our country or worry about more important things like humans- I bet after they click post they leave feeling like they won something,they "Showed Us"...do you guys feel vindicated now?Do you feel better about the mass murder of animals you contribute to? whatever helps you people sleep at night.....
Posted by: Gemini | December 20, 2007 12:51 PM
I think sometims Peta is a little out there and that is why its not main stream. I get that. I know lots of animal lovers who think -- whew they are out there. BUT LET ME SAY -- I am an animal LOVER... I have a rescued shelter dog that I adore, I grew up with animals and love them. And lately though I do think some things are extreme, I have been watching and listening to what is going on in slaughter houses in a way I never did before and it makes me ILL. I loved meat. I am the first person to order a filet or make grilled chicken but I never THOUGHT about how it got to my kitchen. I never witnessed the slaughter. I am looking at this stuff and I feel SICK and ill and horrible and I want to rescue all these animals and take them in. I dont think anyone is bad for eating meat or having leather. I have these things too but now I am starting to realize HOW we obtain these things and this food and basically a sweet innocent animal has to suffer and endure pain and that sucks and its wrong. If you've ever loved a pet before, you wouldnt wish that on any living thing. And so for the first time in my life, I am going to see what life is like wihtout meat and without leather. Its not that hard I dont think. Im not sure how I'll do but it breaks my heart to see animals suffer like this. You dont have to love or agree with everything Peta does or all their tactics but I think if you are a human you have to appreciate and love an animal and you wouldnt want it to suffer so just at least watch a video or read about what goes on in slaughter houses and you might change your mind about wanting to eat meat.
I eat eggs from my moms little home farm. Her chickens are her pets. They are fed veggies and grains and live there forever. Let me tell you something -- THEY ARE THE BEST EGGS I have EVER tasted. You know why? They are all natural. Laid by healthy, happy chickens. They also have their own cute little personalities. I will not buy nasty store eggs anymore. Its worth the money to at least by cage free eggs when my mom is out. I encourage people to just expand your minds -- not be so insulted by Peta-- and find other alternatives to eating and find other ways to dress so that we wont torture and terrify innocent animals. This is coming from a person who EATS or ATE ALL meat and loves it. But after seeing this torture a few times and making myself see what REALLY goes on -- NO MORE. Its so WRONG.
And regardless of what people say -- I think Kudos for Peta for making people (or some people) aware of whats going on. Would you want your sweet pet dog or cat tortured and murdered? I would freak. So why would I let this happen to a sweet cow or chicken? Not COOL. TRY TO STOP BUYING LEATHER because its a good thing to do
Posted by: Jen | December 20, 2007 02:40 PM
Did anyone notice the nice suede sandels the guy in the right was wearing?
Posted by: Michelle | December 20, 2007 03:37 PM
Jay
Nothing wrong with emotions; it is what enables us to feel compassion for both non-human and human animals. My heart is big enough to feel empathy for both with or without videos. Tender feelings should be nourished not ridiculed.
Posted by: Ana | December 20, 2007 03:53 PM
Jus went over the comments....so for a few ppl i understand its jus hard not to cause pain to a living being, ppl grow up. There are so many good things to eat, not animals pls....jees ur eating some ones body parts, wat could be yuckier than that...don gimme excuses also don gimme "everybody has done it at some point" crap.Forget the past, start today. All praises to PETA. Save the planet.
Posted by: Scorpion | December 20, 2007 04:19 PM
I really don't understand the apeople that comment these things to talk Peta down or tell people they have leather shoes. It's not a shocker, no one could care less that you don't support. Quit being so close minded and silly. If you don't agree with it don't read it. I don't go on football sites to talk crap on sports or anything like that. You're not proving us wrong, you just make youself look ignorant.
Posted by: Jessica | December 20, 2007 04:31 PM
Christopher Cochran:
is it because of your giant monster brain that you are unable of any normally developed human feelings? I suppose that you are a hunter or a vivisectioner - i feel sorry - for you i mean!
Posted by: RAINBOW WARRIOR | December 20, 2007 04:47 PM
for anyone uneducated enough to think that carnivores have eyes on the front of their head, let me remind you of velociraptor, the nastiest, most dangerous carnivore of all time, it has eyes on the side of its head and could own T-Rex and his forward facing eyes anyday. and when a Lion kills its prey it does not hang it from wires or hooks, it does not cage them, or farm them so it can eat its offspring less than a year after they are born.
Posted by: ryan | December 20, 2007 04:53 PM
Sherry
Crocs dont protect feet very well.
Posted by: Caboose | December 20, 2007 06:48 PM
I am new at this...trying to understand the concepts PETA holds.
Please help me to understand why it is wrong to eat meat? I'm very much against the corporate farms and I have seen how horrible those are; I try not to eat meat from those kinds of farms, but to not do so is very expensive !
I guess not eating meat at all might be even less expensive, but do not humans require the protein in meat?
As humans we have always eaten meat, right. I'm on the edge here...trying to do the right thing with my 13 year old son.
Posted by: Anthony Wrifford | December 20, 2007 10:19 PM
I have another question...please believe me, I'm just trying to understand certain things.
If an animal dies..then would it be okay in your organization's view to use its fur or skin for clothes/shoes? I'm not trying to be funny or anything; I'm really just trying to understand...thanks
Posted by: Anthony Wrifford | December 20, 2007 10:23 PM
I'm surprised that only a couple people menchend that humans are animals. I'm 12 and I was able to look at my morals and realize that eating animals went agenst almost all of them that was 2-3 years ago. Please think you are related to every animal so you are just hurting a reliting when you eat meat or buy lether. If you still don't care you have not love in your heart.
Posted by: Cannot say | December 20, 2007 10:27 PM
Anthony Wrifford, Please watch the footage... Go on Peta's home page at the top, click onto TV, then Video Archives. This may help you understand what animals in other parts of the country have to endure! And why we are here!!
Posted by: Carla | December 21, 2007 11:37 AM
Cannot say -
By your logic, then the wolf that kills the bunny should feel guilty as well. Or the cat that kills the mouse.
It's admirable that you have found your morals and beliefs, but your argument is a little askew.
Posted by: Kristina | December 21, 2007 01:19 PM
hi Anthony Wrifford,
every new person is welcome here and specially when they are so nice! i just try to do my best on this blog in order to give newcomers a warm feeling! concerning myself i'm a vegetarian since almost 40 years now and i never had difficulties with it! the reason why i became veg was among others a report in a journal here in europe about slaughterhouses with very cruel pictures. so i said to myself that complaining every day about this misdeed is idiotic and that i should take some positive steps myself towards a better situation for these poor creatures! but i know that we are still very few veg in this world compared to the others! i'm not so much into health but rather ethics because i think that humanity has come to a new turning point concerning our ethical lifestyle because the human being is not a predator and should protect all forms of life! if all this is still new for you so try to enter slowly into peta's daily program and watch and check out what's the best for you. as i see you know already about the cruelty towards animals and could take your personal responsible steps! but i'm just a blogger here and no spokesperson ! we got great bloggers here like ariel, ana, mike quinoa, judith, carla and many many others! you can read their statements and look the videos - study the peta files! ok?!
Posted by: animalfriend | December 21, 2007 02:40 PM
Cute!! Cannot say!
Posted by: Carla | December 21, 2007 03:07 PM
Anthony, it is refreshing to read your comments and questions here. There are so many close-minded individuals on these blogs at times that it gets very frustrating (like why are they here if they really are not interested in learning??).
Anyway, there is definitely a LOT of info on PETA's various sites and FAQs about being vegetarian/vegan, and you can also check out www.pcrm.org for nutrition and medical info.
Basically, humans do not need animal protein, and it is actually harmful to humans. There are so many fantastic recipes out there for foods that give you all you need for iron, calcium, protein, etc. If you are vegan, the only nutrient that is missing is vitamin B-12 but you can easily get that from a supplement or fortified foods like some soy milks (if you don't like the taste of plain soy milk, try vanilla or my favourite- chocolate!).
Other than veggie convenience foods, you can make veggie meals for way less $$$ than with meat and other animal products.
Anyway, best of luck with your endeavours, and hopefully you can learn a lot from PETA and the animal rights folks who comment on the PETAfiles.
To "Cannot say", I wish I had realized what you did at such a young age. I only became vegetarian at the age of 37 - I am SO glad that I did, but I feel guilty for all of the animals that had to die for my food consumption in the past. All the best!
Posted by: Michele | December 21, 2007 09:45 PM
Carla -
That is not 'cute' - that is blindly following the leader.
I thought the elders would want to 'educate' the younger. I use the term 'younger' in quotes because at this juncture, even someone who is 40 seems young and/or uneducated
Just because it is the LATEST BANDWAGON DOES NOt MEAN you need to sell your soul and/or mind to join.
Amazing how infurating the world is.
Anthony -
Do your research, learn and form your opinions for yourself. Pro-PETA and Anti-PETA will regurgitate their own agenda to make you join their side. Find your own path ... believe in what you want to believe in ...
Love, respect, laugh, cry, do what you need to learn about yourself and you will find your path. Just keep a clear mind and respect everyone - no matter how difficult.
You will be light years ahead of anyone on this blog. Good luck.
Posted by: Kristina | December 22, 2007 02:46 AM
animal friend (to Anthony Wrifford),
Thanks for mentioning me, but you also do a great job! You explained to Mr. Wrifford so beautifully about why you became a veg.
I too became a veg. for ethical reasons rather than health reasons. For so many years, I always said I loved animals, but being raised to to eat meat, well it's not something we consciously think about. Then it either suddenly or gradually hits some if us that we are being hypocritical, especially when we learn more and more about the animals' life-long tortures and sufferings -who only end up to temporarily satisfy a habit.
And when we change that habit due to ethical reasons, it snowballs into even more beneficial reasons, such as a veg. diet is healthier, safer, and contributes to having a better world by having more compassion, sympathy/empathy for all living beings -including the environment. It really opens us up to wider and deeper views concerning this one world that we all share.
Although in itself, animal rights' is not particularly for and about people who love animals, it's about justice: realizing that no sentinent being should be tortured, abused, caged, exploited, or enslaved for mankind's unconcienable purposes.
As I always say, ALL life is inter-related, including the environment. And ALL of us are affected for the better or worse.
Posted by: Ariel | December 22, 2007 05:23 AM
Hi Anthony!
I'm sorry I don't represent PETA, but it's rare (although certainly not unheard of) that Jack responds to comments, I can tell you as an animal rights activist, though, my personal understanding of it.
If you look under PETA's FAQs, they very specifically say that they have no problem with native peoples (like tribal groups) killing animals for food and clothing and survival in general. The reasons are obvious: these people will die without this practice, and the animals live in freedom until the day they are killed.
Compare that with factory farming. It's wonderful that you try to buy from humane sources, but cattle also produce methane which creates more global warming than methane (although rice patty fields create even more methane).
Also cow manure pollutes streams and kills lots of habitat that is needed by endangered species.
If your son can tolerate it, a vegetarian diet is great. Consult a nutritionist - a good one. Be very careful. He's not at as much risk as a vegetarian reproductive-age girl, but he's still growing. Proceed with caution. And don't force it on him.
Going vegetarian yourself will set a good example. Again, consult a nutritionist first. Don't cheat yourself. I was a careless vegetarian for 23 years and now have a bit of heart trouble for it. Again, probably because I ignored my anemia for 15 years. But again, female.
My wonderful Native American Apache friend rehabilitates wildlife and if one of her patients passes away, she honors them by using their skins and feathers in ceremonies. It's beautiful. But she acquired those skins by doing everything she could to save them.
If a Native American kills an animal for food, they will thank it for its sacrifice (they do this with plants too!!) and do all they can to avoid polluting the Earth and they make sure the animal lives in freedom before its killed.
If you follow these ancient principles, you can't go wrong. Of course, those of us living in modern society would do well to consider vegetarianism first.
Great questions!!
Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | December 22, 2007 11:20 AM
Ariel
dont act as an environmentalist, PETA isnt meant for that.
Posted by: Caboose | December 23, 2007 12:44 PM
So. Let's review a moment. No killing of any animals, ever? Do you realize that we'd soon be over-run by them? There are too many people on earth for that to be plausible. The population should be kept under 500,000.
Ever heard of the "Georgia Stone." Google that. I've been there I saw it.
The man who bought it did so via a private holding company who gave the landowners alot of money for the land.
It was not coverage in the media very much at all.
How do we get from 6 billion to 500,000?
Alot of people are going to have to die.
Are you hearing me?
No one will talk about it..Even teachers. But I read book mu nephew have me (He's 35) called A People's History of the United state"...and I can't remember who wrote it.
It really made me think...not like school at all. By the way, I'm 13 now.
Posted by: Ian Wrifford | December 31, 2007 12:19 AM
Ian
No, thats not a good option at all. Strict birth control is better in the long run, and it shouldnt be kept to 500,000, but somethig much higher.
Posted by: Caboose | January 3, 2008 03:13 AM
There is no humane leather. Animals are being treated as products and that is wrong. They are living beings have have lives of their own...it is NOT our right as a species to enslave all the animals. Go vegan, it's the only way to save the world! Don't believe me? Just do some research, it's true!
Posted by: Tracy Martin | January 3, 2008 04:11 PM
Nature makes a perfect balance with population controls. It's humans that screwed up the whole system. Leave animals alone and let humans eat what they are designed to eat (plant food) not animals! We do need a huge reduction in the humane population to get everything back into balance...but that is a simple solution too just don't have kids! I don't and I won't and I have been vegan for 2 years now.
Posted by: Tracy Martin | January 3, 2008 09:15 PM
All you misguided people here, human beings are hunter gatherers, we have not evolved to be vegetarians. This is fact.
Leather is the by product of the meat industry and no one kills a cow for its leather.
Posted by: Spinoza | February 22, 2008 10:12 PM