WTF! The son of the most notorious terrorist in the world is trying to orgainize a peace event and you find something to gripe about! The riders in these events aren't trying to torture their horse, and they certainly aren't try to kill them either. I don't think you are giving horses enough credit here, they are pretty tough animals. This is not torture.
It still amazes me that you would bitch about this, when there is so much more at stake here!

Posted by: Kurt K | February 6, 2008 12:16 PM

Kurt K

It's obvious by your comment that you simply don't get it. North Africa is not conducive for a horse race for various reasons. Of course, horse racing is of no benefit to any horse (Barbaro) only to those making $$$$ from their misery (forced to race under grueling circumstances). Peace should be brought about through dialogue and various activities designed to include only people.

Posted by: Ana | February 6, 2008 01:01 PM

Good grief, it's an Iditarod for horses! I'm sure that Mr. and Mrs. bin Laden mean no harm, but if horses die while running a mile around a race track, they would surely die while toiling 3,000 miles across a desert. Here's hoping they have the good sense to call this crazy race off.

Posted by: Lacey | February 6, 2008 01:31 PM

It scared me for a moment Bin Ladens' wanting peace... Wonderful! BUT a 3000-mile race involving horses in a desert with tempertures reaching well over a 100 degrees and without rest, not a good idea! Of course there will be casualties in that place!! I sure hope they will consider a more appropriate form of peace. Not unless it's someone who would be willing to risk their own lives and not that of others!

Posted by: Carla | February 6, 2008 01:57 PM

How can you bring about peace through suffering?

Posted by: Vicky Van Hentenryck | February 6, 2008 01:59 PM

kurt k: i don't agree with you at all, even if in my present statements i try to be more polite. this horse race through north africa is a deadly trap for horses, even for camels who are much more resistant in such ralleys. when i was young and stupid i did horse-ralleys myself but on a short distance and in a european climate and already then i saw horses bleeding from their nose! a 3'000 miles horse race through north africa means a cruel death to many of these participating horses - even if they are arabians or berber horses! sand deserts are for camels because they can stock water reserves in their body, horses not! anyhow - i'm against any kind of animal race! the people should go to run outthere - then they would see what it means to starve in the desert! when you have a chance to see the movie 'hidalgo' by viggo mortensen you would understand the problem! for this movie the horses were not abused but they were shown how it feels like to race through the desert! if this bin laden would have balls he would call his father and ask him to stop violence at once or he would not want to be called his son! did he do this? no - he just wants to make money for his clan and the region or what the hell ever??? this is not a peaceful solution - this is just causing another stressful situation!

Posted by: animalfriend | February 6, 2008 02:15 PM

Animal Welfare is universal.
People talking to people.
This helps to get the message out, being a kinder world.
I hope they forget about this race, horses will die.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | February 6, 2008 03:47 PM

I agree with those who have posted comments--peace is not a good goal. We should be much more worried about forcing people to stop putting pepperonni on their pizza!

Posted by: Mabel | February 6, 2008 04:01 PM

i agree with Kurt K. they are trying to promote peace.
ana,
in other cultures talk isn't enough. they need action and suffering to prove what they will go through for peace.
Carla,
Yes horses will die and it sucks. people might also die. but they are dying for a much biggre purpose.
Vicky,
without suffering how could there be peace. I would shoot myself if it meant that the world would be in peace. and many people will look upon me and smile for what i did for them. after all the suffering is done there can only be peace.
animal friend,
family should be your number one concern. in other cultures it is much higher than any thing in the world, even 3000 dead horses. if its to promote peace between countries or cities let it happen. this way less people will suffer. if it aint the horses its our brothers in the army.
this is political people. this isn't about animals. this is about peace. some must die, so that others may live...

Posted by: james | February 6, 2008 05:02 PM

Mabel, go find your own pizza fav! This is a Blog for all kind to be "KIND" to "ALL"!!

Posted by: Carla | February 6, 2008 05:22 PM

Just on another tack., has anyone viewed the video on the HSUS., web site, of the horrific abuse of downed cattle, awaiting slaughter. It just beggars belief in human kind.

Posted by: keith | February 6, 2008 05:23 PM

James did you just say that it sucks that horses will die but they are dying for a greater purpose? So maybe the more horses that die, the more peace will be promoted?

There are countless ways to promote peace without the abuse of animals. How much creativity do we lack that the only way to promote peace it to put a bunch of horses to run 3,000 miles in the desert?!?!

Given the organizers of this rally, attention will be given to them simply because THEY are organizing a peace demonstration, not because several horses are involved.

Posted by: Jaclyn | February 6, 2008 05:59 PM

Mabel, your sarcastic and negative comments help no one. not the horses. not people. not any other animals of the earth. please understand that peace is fine and dandy, but to bring about peace through cruelty to animals is just ludicrous.

Posted by: Vegancakes | February 6, 2008 06:11 PM

"War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength."

Posted by: Brandon Becker | February 6, 2008 06:15 PM

Well, James why don't you go and run the race without a animal to ride on?

Posted by: Aran | February 6, 2008 06:26 PM

To all those who spout off about dying for a bigger purpose, I suggest you volunteer your own life. You might not be as cavalier as when you are offering the life of another.

Posted by: Antigone1000 | February 6, 2008 06:51 PM

James-
Yes, peace is worth suffering for.
The important message that Peta and others are trying to get across is that the horses don't have a choice. Horses are already a peaceful species, they shouldn't have to suffer to solve our problems. It's not their fault or responsibility that we can't figure out how to get along.

Posted by: HH | February 6, 2008 07:40 PM

That Bin laden needs to do something that don't include the suffer of the inocents animales. When the people is going to understand that the animals feel pain, have feelings and want to live?
That Kurt only think about human pain,KURT be an animal for an instant then you know how that feel.

Posted by: liliana | February 6, 2008 07:49 PM

And if people are stupid enough to think putting innocent, unconsenting animals through a moronic race is going to promote peace, P. T. Barnum has got a word for you.

If someone really wants to prove his virility in extreme weather conditions, then he can run the Badwater Ultramarathon in July on his own two feet.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | February 6, 2008 09:02 PM

James, funny how you equate unnecessary death as a way of achieving peace... Also, funny how the humans who have a voice get to choose who must be sacrificed in the name of peace... Dying for a much bigger purpose? Suicide bombers would justify their actions that way. You sound like a terrorist actually.

Posted by: Michele | February 6, 2008 10:08 PM

That's BS james, There ARE other ways for peace, NO need to run horses for 3,000 miles to make peace, that's ridiculous.

Posted by: Deanna | February 7, 2008 12:56 AM

It's impossible to promote peace between people while those people are trained to exploit and kill other beings as a way of life.

Regardless, how the hell is running a bunch of horses from one side of a desert to another supposed to stop people blowing each other up. "Oh look, there's horses running; I suddenly tolerate all the differences between our cultures and I don't want to exploit you for oil any more." Yeah, right.

Posted by: DailyVegEditor | February 7, 2008 02:11 AM

james,
you have got to be kidding! not one of your responses was realistic. please tell us that you are only four years old and don't know about the suffering in other countries where there have been years of wars so far. to your way of thinking, it takes more suffering and killing of any species to bring peace. strange, very strange!

Posted by: Anonymous | February 7, 2008 08:40 AM

James what a drama QUEEN., shoot yourself for peace, who are you kidding !!

Posted by: Keith | February 7, 2008 09:03 AM

james

Then if it "isn't about the animals" as you say then no animals should be involved in the peace process. Humans start wars/conflict, then humans should end wars/conflicts. Animals have nothing to do human aggression that results in conflicts/wars. Keep the other animals out of men's hideous violent policies. Read history, dialogue was the only way to end wars/conflicts.

Posted by: Ana | February 7, 2008 09:07 AM

Unrelated to this blog post but Pedro Martinez of the NY Mets has been videotaped at a cockfighting event. He even went far enough to laugh as he himself released the roosters. Email everyone you can.

Send an email to the following:

Everyone please send the following email to:

fanfeedback@mets.mlb.com

The title of your email should read: Suspend Pedro!

After learning of and viewing the recent cockfighting that Pedro Matrinez participated in, I am calling for an immediate suspension of Pedro Martinez. His suspension should mirror that of Michael Vick due to his acts being just as despicable. Professional athletes are role models for children all over the world and paid and rewarded for their work. They should also be responsible for their actions of the field. By ignoring this, you would indeed aid in the harming of countless animals all over the world.

I appreciate your assistance in this matter! Your help will help to protect many innocent animals! Pedro needs to be suspended!

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Posted by: Mike Battista | February 7, 2008 09:12 AM

James - Its good to see somebody else seeing the bigger picture here! Instead of stopping the race you should push for watering stations throughout the race route.
Peace between humanity is the most important goal of all. Horses are great, I think they are some of the best animals. They can handle this race!

Posted by: Kurt K | February 7, 2008 09:15 AM

I sure hope the FBI is watching you, is there no limit to your madness i mean the son of the most wanted terrorist, now you gone to far, the more you read about peta the more you see its very near that you be blowing up a building to get your point out.

Posted by: jim | February 7, 2008 10:54 AM

well! those horses deserved to be saved.
it doesnt matter that hes the damned son of osama! crazy terrorist osama!
it matters that he is trying to promote peace.
but there are ALTERNATIVE ways.
try protesting...or getting naked.

hey, it works for PETA

Posted by: Amber Falobas | February 7, 2008 11:07 AM

Keith,
Yes, we called Hallmark slaughterhouse and sent a letter.
I live in Calif and the Cows are NOT happy cows.
They have been shut down.
These people are monsters, our Senators have also sent letters and are bringing this case hopefully to Congress.
Monsters, all of them...
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | February 7, 2008 11:56 AM

Why not have people who would be willing to endure the desert heat and its dangers race for peace instead of horses:)

Posted by: Peace to You | February 7, 2008 11:56 AM

Kurt K

What you wrote made no sense. A horse race=peace. Wow, why didn't Churchill Wilson, FDR, Truman, Nixon, Bush, Queen Isabel, George Washington, Abe Linclon think of this???

Posted by: Ana | February 7, 2008 01:14 PM

James: here we got another braindead! don't talk to me about family understanding: i'm a sicilian - caring for my 89 year old vegetarian dad and my lovely animals! 3000 dead horses don't mean peace but a cruel stupid war! killing animals never means peace - and as long as dumbasses like you misunderstand a cold wanker-peace among some human freaks - closing out the animalkingdom - you shall never know peace on this damned planet - by the way: the old bin laden is a skin tanner - and what is his son?????? a horse abuser!

Posted by: animalfriend (RAGE AGAINST RASCALS) | February 7, 2008 01:16 PM

Dear Ingrid Newkirk,

LOL.

Very Truly Yours,

Omar Osama bin Laden

Posted by: Omar Osama bin Laden | February 7, 2008 03:32 PM

another deranged idea.. and cruelly exploiting animals agian.. (of course..)..

if he’s so keen on this dereanged idea.. maybe he should run this race himself along with his other deranged cronies that hatched out this mad idea/plan..

puffing panting and sweltering.. htey wouldn’t even last 1/2 a mile let alone 3000 miles!!!!!!!

a callous and cruel idea.. if they’re so keen.. tell them to run this demented mad race themselves..

leave the animals out of it..

Posted by: gemmaC | February 7, 2008 04:21 PM

jim: you stupid ibf thumbsucker - i think that you don't read at all! illiterate blog-shitter!

Posted by: sugar candy | February 7, 2008 04:48 PM

Judith, (Freedom Fighter For Animals) many thanks for your efforts in contacting Hallmark, and providing the necessary information for myself.Keep up your brilliant work.

Posted by: Keith | February 7, 2008 05:29 PM

I say James and kurt go across the Sahara Desert to promote peace insted, now that they're so interested in "making peace." If you guys do you'll make the horses a HUGE favor.

Posted by: silvia | February 7, 2008 05:58 PM

Jim,

Your tin hat is crooked.

Of course, the FBI is watching PETA and other AR organizations. They have no idea where the true terrorists are, so they've got to make it look like they're doing something useful. In the best Orwellian logic, those that fight for peace for animals are deemed terrorists.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | February 7, 2008 06:16 PM

Ana
I'm glad that you got my point. I think horse races will cure all the worlds problems. It is a shame that all the leaders over the past 100 years didn't think of this.
Don't mock me! Is that how you talk to people who have different views, you spew idiotic rants and personal attacks.

Posted by: Kurt K | February 7, 2008 06:44 PM

I happen to be an endurance horse racing person myself. (Don't chew me out yet!) I would NEVER push MY horse this hard. But I would like to point out that the horses that run in these kind of races are 99% of the time Arabians, my horse is an Arabian. They are cut out for this. This race is very harsh on the horses, but I don't find it cruel. Arabians were carefully bred and raised over thousands of years in the Middle East for endurance. They can go much longer without water, the heat to them is like your favorite climate, their feet are hard as stone, and the horses train for years before racing in this race. The only problem I see is a large one, and it's that they do not have spots set up with vets. In the US, they have established this program in endurance races where you stop at checkpoints, a vet examines your horse to see if it is 'fit to continue', if they don't think that, then you either have to wait or get disquaified. Arabain horses are very prideful and they do not tolerate abuse, if they didn't want to continue, they would not go. If the rider would beat them, they would run away. They are not forced because they don't feel the need to resist in the first place, based on the bond between horse and rider which requires complete trust. It is a very, very hard race for any horse, but Arabians can do this, they have been for thousands of years, if they were making like Shire or Fjords run this, I would find that cruel, but not for Arabians. Am I agaisnt this race? Yes. Am I against all endurance racing? No. Do I think this promotes peace? I don't know how the hell he came up with that.

Posted by: LuLu | February 7, 2008 10:18 PM

The Paris/Dakar and Plymouth/Banjul challenges are ideal for this type of charitable cause. People race cars to their destination and then the cars are auctioned off. Surely this is more reasonable than using horses in a climate to which they are unfamiliar and not acustomed.

Posted by: Nate | February 8, 2008 02:03 AM

kurt k,
one more time: the peta blog site is a pro-animal rights' blog site. you and the like can knock yourselves out, but nobody is going to change peta.
jim,
we know the fbi watches animal groups. but you should be watched too by somebody because you seem paranoid.

Posted by: Anonymous | February 8, 2008 11:36 AM

LuLu: never mind if the arabian horse is enduranced or what so ever! if this guy wants to make peace - why doesn't he do so! never before in all my life i heard that somebody who wants to make peace has to make a horserace! if i want to make peace with my teacher or father or friend i just start to talk with him and then shake hands - i don't have to make a dograce or a cockfight!

Posted by: Fernando Rojas | February 8, 2008 12:08 PM

Kurt K

Relax and take your meds!!!

Posted by: Ana | February 8, 2008 12:36 PM

Mike Q,
You are so right on.
You take the words right out of my mouth.
Jim, you need to invest in a shrink to help you with your delusions.
FBI and CIA are a joke.
Keith,
Thank you, you are wonderful.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | February 8, 2008 01:17 PM

To those who so easily swallowed the Osama is a terrorist stuff, simmer down. That connection has never been proven, and the "tapes" of Bin Laden that conveniently show up at politially correct times, do not even look like him, jewelry and all, and the bin Ladens have been in bed and business with the Bushes for many years.. In any event, Kurt and friends, animal issues are strictly that and should have nothing to do with political issues. Cruelty my friends, is just that and moronic "races" like this one and the Omak race in the U.S., are dreamed up by people who care nothing for the suffering of others, human or otherwise (rodeos, blood fiestas, dog fights). The pandemic of horrors for animals is without measure. If not for PETA and the tireless efforts for animals, as in this case, we and all creatures would be in much worse shape. Anyone who wishes to die for peace (misinformed soldiers and some here) knows what to do (without using an animal). Be my guest and let me know how long I will have to wait for that peace you died for.

Posted by: daytrip | February 8, 2008 03:42 PM

Anonymous -I agree. I don't think that this promotes peace at all. As I said, I do not understand how he came up with that. However he does want to truly make peace, and this is how he thinks it is going to happen, not everyone THINKS like everyone else. I don't believe this is going to make peace at ALL.

Posted by: LuLu | February 8, 2008 09:21 PM

I'm glad Ingrid keeps her ear to the ground to detect potential animal abuse (In this case horse hooves across hot sand)and pleads on behalf of the forced participants.

Posted by: lynda downie | February 9, 2008 01:07 AM

Kurt,

I completely agree that finding ways to peace is of utmost importance. However, please remember that humans are only limited by their imaginations!!

There are an UNlimited number of ways to promote peace, billions of creative ways to communicate.

I went to horse camp for ten years, cared for horses the whole time, worked with vets and now I am a vet nurse. I'm here to tell you, this race would literally be torture for a horse. Why do you think they called it a contest of endurance?

It's because they are going to push these animals until they drop dead. The only way to push a horse who's at its limits is to whip the poor animal until the pain of being whipped is too much to take.

It's heartless, and I guarantee you Kurt, being a decent human being, you would never have the heart to torture a horse this way if you yourself were actually there.

Please trust me on this one. You know that I am being straight with you.

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | February 9, 2008 01:56 PM

When I first heard about this act of using a horse for a 3,000 mile run I was mad. Thank you for contacting them. There are other ways to promote peace perhaps he can have his father ride him on his back.

Posted by: Lisa | February 9, 2008 11:23 PM

There is nothing peaceful about running a horse into the ground and to his or her death.
It's horrific.
But if we can talk to these people and make them understand this, then I'm all for it.
People must talk to people.
And help them to understand that animals should not be ours to torture.
This is a great letter.
Great job, PETA.

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | February 10, 2008 04:30 PM

To Vicky regarding not being able to bring peace through suffering: See WWII

And just throw it out there, maybe horses are like people and they enjoy this type of thing?

Posted by: Travis | February 11, 2008 02:28 AM

To Vicky regarding not being able to bring peace through suffering: See WWII

And just throw it out there, maybe horses are like people and they enjoy this type of thing?

Posted by: Travis | February 11, 2008 09:52 AM

I think a lot of people on here cant see the wood for the trees! How is racing horses in such terrible conditions etc going to promote World peace-nothing will!If acts to bring peace worked then there would have been peace after John and Yokos time in bed to promote peace (they did it peacefully though) We are talking chocolate fireguard stuff here!! There will NEVER be peace-if people dont care about killing and making animals suffer then they do not care for anything/anybody.

Posted by: Anita | February 14, 2008 02:33 PM

Everyone,

Cool it! For what are weblogs – for arguing valid points, for debating pros and cons, for suggesting alternatives, or for (as you are doing) venting irrational feelings? We aren't here to snipe at each other until the sky falls on our heads, but to discuss matters at hand. It achieves nothing to help either horses or humans to call each other's opinions "delusions" (a very insulting word); drag tangent matters like the ancestry of a race's sponsor into the conversation; suggest that another writer suffers from "paranoia"; dismiss possibility of peace; scoff at each other's statements; use emotionally provocative terms like "unnecessary death"; ignore punctuation, spelling, and grammar; deny another's rights to place its opinions on this list; misinterpret each other's statements without bothering to analyze them; use dirty words (out of context at that); imply that another participant in the discussion is subject to psychotropic drugs; and in short, attack the speaker rather than the idea suggested. Quite the contrary.

We might carry this on in a less personal way. Calling another person's ideas "balderdash", or saying "that seems illogical to me" and adding the reason for which it does, would be less offensive than saying that the person itself is delusional or callous, because in the former case we are challenging the idea, not insulting its originator. There's a difference. In some cases it is conventional to challenge another person by insulting it, because in that case I am challenging the other to avenge the insult or else be thought a coward. However, weblogs are not for avenging one's wounded pride, but for (if I'm right) discussing a controversial topic. This one at least would seem to be so; yet by insulting, slandering, and traducing each other's moral fibers we do nothing to abet that purpose. If some of us fail to understand how horse races will aid the cause of peace (I admit that this premise is ill-defined), let them ask the explanation of others who do understand, rather than insulting what may be a strong zeal or devotion. Suggestions that some of us do this, that, and the other with ourselves are of no help, but serve only to be sarcastic in disagreement.

What we need to do is get back onto topic. Omar bin Laden has suggested a horse race as a way to promote peace – those are almost his exact words – now let me ask how this is expected to work. If any of you have a well-thought-out, honest, logical reason, show it. I may not see it, but others will, and they may contribute to the discussion.

If you dislike the method for its venue or its fashion, suggest alternatives. We need not accuse anyone of profiting from agony; we need only point out that North Africa may be ground contradictory to the race, and indicate the deficiencies in horse care – doing so without outright accusation or preconceived judgments, if possible.

If the race seems ineffective or ill-planned, what would be better? What would be better for a horse race? What would be better for a peacemaking gesture? Consider these questions well. No argument can be successful without appeal to its audience.

Posted by: Siddharth Mehrotra | February 14, 2008 08:51 PM

How sad that some people still don't seem to understand that animals are not meant to be at our disposal for whatever reason

Posted by: isabella | February 17, 2008 11:27 AM