When I lived in the Louisville area, there were several things I thought the city could've used—like more vegan restaurants or a more extensive public transportation system. But you know what Louisville—home to the headquarters of KFC—really needs? The city is sorely in need of our chicken statue, designed by award-winning children's book author and cartoonist for The New Yorker Harry Bliss.

We're asking Louisville's Department of Public Works to allow us to install the statue in downtown Louisville for three months, starting July 15. We hope that it will draw attention to the millions of chickens who are killed each year for KFC—chickens who live out their short lives in ammonia-ridden sheds locked in cages in which there's not even room to take a single step in any direction. At the slaughterhouse, their throats are cut while they are still conscious, and they are often scalded alive.

We submitted our permit request this morning—hopefully Louisville's downtown area will have an artsy new addition in just a couple of weeks!

Posted by Amanda Schinke

If you dig 60s pop art as much as I do, you're really going think this is boss. Forty-five years after being on display for just one day during the New York World's Fair in 1964, artist Robert Indiana's iconic EAT sign is blinking back into action. Part of a larger exhibition of Indiana's work, the oversized objet d'art will be up and illuminated all month at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine.

While the sculpture is pretty groovy as it is, we think that adding the word "VEGETARIAN" to it would make it full-on far out. That's why we wrote to Mr. Indiana and asked him to add our favorite "V" word to the piece for just one day. Imagine, if you will:

Andy Warhol's portrait of a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (which is vegan, by the way), might be "mmm, mmm, good," but this PETA-ized pop art is a mmm, mmm, masterpiece! What could be a better way to shine the light on a diet that's better for the Earth and all its inhabitants?

After all, it's time for the dawning of the age of asparagus.

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

San Francisco's gay pride parade—touted as the world's largest—got a healthy infusion of vegetarian pride on Sunday. Working with local group Bay Area Vegetarians, PETA showed up in full force—accompanied by more than 100 men and women who were eager to educate the public about the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

© Steve Sprang
Our float's Lettuce Ladies, Broccoli Boys, costumed animals, and sexy "strippers" caught everyone's eye.

© Steve Sprang
Chris P. Carrot made a star appearance and rallied San Franciscans to ditch meat.

© Steve Sprang
We can't argue with that.

© Steve Sprang
What's sexier than one vegetarian girl? Two!

Obviously, everyone who participated in the parade had tons of fun—but the icing on the (vegan) cake is that more than 500,000 people attended the event and learned that by cutting meat out of their diets, they could be healthier, reduce their carbon footprint, and save over 100 animals' lives per year.

Check out even more pictures of the parade here.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

animalvegetablemiracle / CC

Then, in February, a grand jury handed down 19 indictments, including 11 felony charges, against three former Aviagen workers, marking the first time in U.S. history that factory-farm employees have faced felony cruelty-to-animals charges for abusing birds.

Fast forward: Two of the three ex-employees, Scott Alvin White and Edward Eric Gwinn, recently pleaded guilty to cruelty charges. On June 8, White was sentenced to serve one year in jail—the maximum period permitted by law! Today, Gwinn was sentenced to serve six months' home confinement—the maximum period permitted by law—on each count, concurrently, and is banned from living with, owning, and working with animals for five years. The case against the third ex-employee, Walter Lee Hambrick, is pending.

Can't get enough? In September, a grand jury in neighboring Monroe County, West Virginia, may well issue further felony indictments against White and Hambrick.

These historic victories by no means even the score for the turkeys who were punched and thrown or the many other birds who suffered when they were forced to watch as other turkeys were abused at Aviagen. After watching our undercover video, animal behavior expert Dr. Lesley J. Rogers stated, "It is now known that when social animals, like turkeys, see and hear other members of their species under stress or suffering physical injury, their levels of stress become elevated. Hence, the behavioural stress is widespread in the birds in the vicinity of those that have been injured and/or handled roughly."

Still, these convictions will remind workers on other factory farms that if they don't clean up their acts, PETA investigators (and the whistleblowers who tip us off) will have their eyes on them.

Posted by Karin Bennett

PETA's bikinied beauties are on a mission to help residents of the fattest cities in America shed some weight. First stop: San Jose.

What better way to encourage locals to adopt a vegetarian diet than to give them a sampling of delicious, nutritious vegetarian cuisine? Though our beauties may be decked out in nothing but lettuce leaves, vegetarian means more than just salad. So, behold! The veggie hot dog:

Phew, talk about putting the "hot" in hot dog.

One veggie-dog virgin was so impressed with the taste that he double-checked with our Lettuce Ladies to make sure that his meal was meat-free.

Whether they were served up plain or with all the fixin's, our veggie hot dogs proved irresistible to passersby. San Jose locals scarfed down more than 400 of them!

Meat consumption has been directly linked to obesity, but adult vegans are, on average, 10 to 20 pounds lighter than adult meat-eaters. If that isn't enough to make even the most die-hard carnivore go vegetarian, maybe knowing that ditching meat will also help fight heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and certain types of cancer will.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

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Accompanied by their adopted mom, Jana Clairmont, Carlita and Alex visited the facility to cheer up residents. The plucky pair were treated like rock flock stars and basked in the attention as people cuddled with and cooed over them. That's why we wrote to Polson officials and asked them to chuck the chicken meat off the menu—out of respect for Carlita, Alex, and the billions of smart, interesting birds just like them who are abused on factory farms each year.

In return, we're willing to supply Polson with oh-so-yummy Gardein mock-meat products—approved by Carlita and Alex! Check back to keep abreast of our Polson poultry plea.

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

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Of the defendants—Richard Michael Ralston, Alan Bruce Rettig, Greg William Hackler, and Jordan Michael Anderson—Ralston, Rettig, and Hackler have pleaded guilty, been convicted, and sentenced to two years in prison, which has been suspended. Anderson accepted a deferred entry of judgment allowing him to have the charges dismissed if he completes a period of good behavior. All four have all been ordered to pay fines and other fees, and they have been placed on probation for periods ranging from one to two years.

Most importantly, three of the men have been barred from working with animals for the duration of their probation. Only Anderson will be allowed to do so. Despite an assurance in October from Audubon-Manning Veterinary Clinic President Daryl Olsen, D.V.M., that Anderson “has been suspended from working with livestock pending the outcome of the charges,” a whistleblower told us that Anderson is currently employed at a hog-confinement facility that Dr. Olsen reportedly owns. Dr. Olsen has not answered our inquiry regarding Mr. Anderson. If you would like to ask him to confirm that his company does not pay admitted animal abusers like Anderson to work with live animals, please contact him here.

Pork magazine called our investigation footage a "wake-up call" for the pork industry. We hope that these convictions serve not only as another wake-up call but also as a lesson to anyone working in this innately cruel industry: Neither the courts nor the public have a stomach for such malicious cruelty to farmed animals.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

With all the post-Twilight buzz, movie critics are all over the news that Kristen Stewart (along with costar Dakota Fanning) has taken on a leading role in a new film, The Runaways, about iconic female rock star—and vegetarian extraordinaire—Joan Jett.

As the executive producer, Joan has been closely involved in the making of the movie. But we know that she never lets her busy schedule interrupt her dedication to animals. While recording her most recent album, she recorded a "veggie testimonial" for PETA, and now she's found time to visit some sanctuary friends.

We're sure that a movie about this trailblazing rocker will be a hit with both animal and music lovers alike. Now, turn up "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" on your stereo and leave a comment below to let us know which other animal rights icons' lives would make for an inspiring movie.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

The following is a guest post from peta2's Marta.

I'm pretty excited about the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen tomorrow, since word on the street is that the movie has a positive animal rights message in it. There's even a scene set in a butcher shop, where Megan Fox's and Shia Labeouf's characters learn that every animal you eat had a story. We hear them on that.

In honor of the release of the movie, we're transforming the classic Transformers tagline into "More Than Meats the Eye" for the title of our top-five list that takes a closer look at the meat industry. Most people never take an up-close look at the food they're eating. I mean, seriously, who wants to think about their food actually looking like this (even though it does)?

Click for larger image

Want seconds of this fatty blob of nastiness? *Shudder!* Anyway, here are the top five foods that I think are "More Than Meats the Eye":

1. Jell-O: How does Jell-O stay firm but wiggly? You can thank gelatin (aka the ground-up skin, intestines, and bones of animals) for that jiggle. Who doesn't like bones in their fruity snacks?
2. Hot Dogs: These are made from mechanically recovered meat, which Wikipedia describes as, "a paste-like meat product produced by forcing beef, pork, turkey or chicken bones, with attached edible meat, under high pressure through a sieve or similar device to separate the bone from the edible meat tissue." If you're in the mood for tails, bones, and anuses topped with relish at a ball game, steer clear of the veggie dogs, since they're mostly just made of plain ol' boring soy protein.
3. Milk: Pus doesn't exactly conjure up the most pleasant of images, but if the idea of a tall frosty glass of pus sounds good to you, by all means, feel free to down a glass of milk. That's right, milk can legally contain a somatic cell count (that's pus, people) of up to 200 million per liter.
4. Twinkies: Where does that fatty flavor come from? Beef fat, of course! Sponge cake + creamy filling + cow fat = the classic truck-stop snack. Yum.
5. Cheese: Rennet, found in many cheeses, comes from the stomach lining of slaughtered calves. I personally try to avoid baby cow stomach on my nachos, but maybe that's just me.

Do some of these sound a bit … unappetizing? Try vegan versions! Grab soy milk the next time you hit the grocery store or give a homemade snack cake a whirl. You can still enjoy all the flavors you love while cutting out the cruelty and crap!

Which foods do you think are "More Than Meats the Eye"?

Posted by Marta Holmberg

Chick-fil-A founder and lifelong Southern Baptist S. Truett Cathy wrote the book Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, but at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, PETA's "Jesus" and a "Chicken" were there to inspire people to eat no chicken—or any other animal.

PETA immersed convention attendees in our pro-vegetarian message, which is based on biblical teachings of love and compassion. "Jesus" carried a sign reading, "For Christ's Sake, Go Vegetarian," while the "chicken" reminded people that "Jesus loves me too." They also offered conventiongoers free copies of our "Vegetarian Starter Kit" as well as leaflets relating vegetarian living to Christian teachings.

On a related note, our Sexiest Male Vegetarian of 2009, Monty, grew up eating meat in a Southern Baptist household—until he saw the light and announced to his family that he refused to eat abused animals.

I'm a believer—that many conference attendees will alter their diets to be more compassionate by going vegetarian.

Posted by Karin Bennett

nydailynews / CC

Over the course of two years in college ball, Griffin showed tenacity around the hoop and a willingness to bang down low—he even got himself a concussion to show for it. He simply dominated in the tournament this year, dropping 33 points and 17 rebounds on Michigan in the second round. He's energetic, a ferocious rebounder, and has unleashed some straight-up highlight-reel dunks that'll get you humming the SportsCenter theme song while you watch him on YouTube.

And all that? Powered by tofu, of course.

According to yesterday's SportsCenter, the Clips are as impressed with Griffin as everyone else is. In an attempt to make the Oklahoma boy feel "at home" during a pre-draft meeting with team brass, they took him out to a steakhouse in New York City. Looks like they should have done a bit more homework—they have vegetarians in Oklahoma too, y'all!

No word on what Blake ordered from the steakhouse menu, but as SportsCenter pointed out, he'll have no lack of great vegetarian restaurants to choose from in the city of angels as he attempts to become the latest savior of the NBA's most troubled franchise. Best of luck, Blake. You're gonna need it.

Posted by Dan Shannon

Members of the lunch crowd at a McDonald's in Providence, Rhode Island, probably weren't expecting to be greeted by a giant "chicken" bearing "Unhappy Meals" when they headed out on their lunch breaks. But hardly anyone could resist the lure of our chicken, and word is that almost every driver stopped to talk with the big bird and his posse. Many people even went elsewhere for lunch once they learned how countless chickens are forced to suffer painful broken bones, bruises, and scalding—while they're still alive—at slaughterhouses run by McDonald's suppliers.

None of this chicken's relatives were harmed in the making of our "Unhappy Meals."

It's hard to tell by her shocked face if she's opening one of our "Unhappy Meals" or a far more gruesome McNugget box.

I'm not sure what a "Brownie Meit" is, but I'm sticking with Allison's Gourmet's vegan Brownie of the Month, regardless.

Demonstrators are revved up to distribute leaflets all summer long. Get in on the action and help bring McDonald's to its knees. Sign up for our Action Team today!

Posted by Karin Bennett

We warned you that Andy Dick was going to make an appearance in Chicago dressed as "Ronald McDonald" to scare McDonald's executives straight and try to convince them to switch their current method of chicken slaughter—which often involves scalding live birds to death—to controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK).

Yesterday, Andy delivered on that promise and was out in front of the Clark Street McDonald's theatrically slicing demo posters in half with his "knife" and making menacing faces for the photographers. Check out the raw footage and some images of the protest below.

Andy's "Ronald" sure is scary, isn't he? I'll bet he has McDonald's head honchos shaking in their boots.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

"The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall."
—Che Guevara

Well, it looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Che Guevara's granddaughter, Lydia Guevara, is following in her revolutionary granddad's footsteps by calling for a vegetarian revolution.

"PETA's fight for animals was one of the reasons why I went vegetarian," Lydia told the Spanish news agency Efe. "Moreover, this lifestyle has become a true revolution that is attracting more people and is an alternative that is healthier for the planet and for humankind."

The ad was shot in New York this week by top celebrity and fashion photographer Gavin Bond—look for it this fall.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

animalrights.change / CC

PETA wants to lease the Portsmouth facility (located just across the river from our headquarters in Norfolk) and turn it into a Cow Empathy Museum, which would enlighten visitors about how cows and their calves suffer on dairy farms. The museum would offer interactive displays so that visitors could be hooked up to a milking machine or crammed into a small crate to give them a taste of the dairy industry's routine cruelty to animals. They'd also learn "cowlture" facts—for example, cows form social hierarchies within their herds, and many cows who have been separated from their calves will do anything they can to find their babies.

Once they are done learning about all the reasons that dairy is a downer, visitors could order soy ice cream treats and other tasty vegan foods in the Cow Empathy Restaurant. And everyone 12 years old or younger would receive a plush toy cow with a tag reading, "Cows Are Cool! Dump Dairy!"

Fingers crossed that the laid-off dairy employees will soon be toasting in celebration of their new jobs at the Cow Empathy Museum, with an ice-cold glass of Silk.

Posted by Karin Bennett

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignited controversy when he made a speech in which he ostensibly endorsed Palestinian statehood. Unfortunately, the speech didn't go over so well with the Palestinians, who decried it as an empty offer because of the strings he attached to his endorsement.

While Palestinians and Israelis can't seem to agree on where to draw the (geographic) line, we thought the time had come to remind them that there's one thing we can all agree on: Cruelty sucks.

That's why we're bringing back our "Give Peas a Chance" ad, which we had previously proposed placing along both sides of the barriers that run through the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This time, we've turned it into a billboard that we will be trying to place throughout the region.

Wish us luck! After all, hummus is a universal symbol of peace, right? No? Hmmm, I could swear I read that somewhere.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

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Yep, the trick to improving erectile projectile apparently has to do with consuming plant foods rich in anti-oxidants.

And, while I'm not quite sure what constitutes "high quality" semen, my guess is that it has something to do with men's lil' guys' being strong swimmers. So, fellas, think of it this way: Would you rather eat your veggies and have sperm that swims like Michael Phelps or chow down on burgers and have sperm that flails like a toddler in his floaties?

The choice is yours, boys.

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

Now that the World Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak "a pandemic," I'm going to predict that PETA's "flu prevention" mask will sneak past blinged-out cell phones as the must-have accessory this summer. I have a feeling that fashionistas and health officials all over the world will soon agree with me.

Despite denials issued by big pig farms and the change in the name of the illness, funnyman Jim Carrey hit the nail right on the head when he said, "There wouldn't be a swine flu if we treated the pigs better!"

PETA's swine flu mask will serve as a reminder of that.

Posted by Karin Bennett

"In the way that slavery, once a broad social norm, later became an unthinkable crime, we can expect to see a similar shift once meat-eating disappears from our planet. Perhaps, some day, the very idea of eating animal flesh will seem as remote as the idea of owning humans does now."
—Jim Motavalli, ForeignPolicy.com

Seems like the folks at ForeignPolicy.com—as well as many others—are starting to realize that the meat industry isn't just bad for the environment and our health, it's an industry based on exploitation and cruelty.

Maybe … just maybe … they got the idea for their article from our Animal Liberation Project display in Washington, D.C., or our recent setup in New York City's Battery Park.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

missbakerbiologyclass / CC

Ah, horny manatees. Conan O'Brien loves 'em, and after a late night tryst of that, ahem, magnitude, is it any wonder why? They are vigorous vegetarian lovers, after all.

In fact, I'd like to think the manatees came ashore to demonstrate their vegetarian vitality to onlookers and inspire them to rev up their love lives by swapping steak for seitan and cows' milk for soy milk. After all, a vegetarian diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps keeps the blood flowing through all the arteries.

Say, "So long, Viagra!" and "Viva, veggie Viagra!"

Conan O'Brien, if you're out there—we'll keep our eye out for more manatee love sessions, and you just let us know if you need info to include on your Web site.

Posted by Karin Bennett

The swine flu epidemic has hit Asia—and so has PETA Asia-Pacific's intrepid team of biohazard-suited protesters. They gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila to point out the fact that factory farms are breeding grounds for deadly diseases such as swine flu and avian flu.

Thanks for the guard detail, boys! We'll take it from here.

[Heavy breathing] "Luke, I am your father. Stop eating meat, Luke."

Want to help prevent another swine flu outbreak? Click here to send a message to your Congressional representatives. Oh, and don't forget to go vegetarian.

Posted by Lianne Turner

igougo / CC

Instead of just feeling bad that meat production leads to more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the vehicles with engines in the world combined, these good folks decided to act. They'll get things rollin' with their city employees and then spread the good behavior on to school children come September.

Delighted at this news, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk penned some letters of encouragement to a few cities stateside in an effort to nudge them forward in the fight against climate change. This simple step—not eating meat for a day—literally saves hundreds of lives.

Care about the planet? Check out the many reasons why "meat's not green" on our YouTube channel, then go on and give a vegetarian diet the old college try!

Posted by Missy Lane

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A new study has revealed that North American mockingbirds can distinguish one person from another and that they single out persistent intruders for retribution. Regular encroachment on their territory is met with screeching, dive-bombing, and sometimes even a swift graze across the heads of intruders.

All that just for getting a touch too close to their nests? Imagine what vengeance mockingbirds would cook up if we stuffed them into cramped, filthy cages and barns, like factory farmers do to chickens and turkeys.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

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J.T.'s good looks, southern drawl, and sickeningly friendly disposition pegged him as the token "nice guy" this season—but it was always hard for me to figure out how much of his charm was real and how much was a sneaky trick to win $1 million.

After all, cattle ranching is directly connected to cruelty to animals, life-threatening diseases, and the destruction of the environment, so it's pretty obvious that any real "nice guy" would never make ends meet by exploiting cows.

J.T., now that you've got a chance at early retirement, how about letting the cows on your ranch retire as well? If you ditch the cattle farm and opt for a humane lifestyle, you'll prove that you truly are a nice guy. Plus, you'd definitely get my vote for PETA's 2010 Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door competition.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

Why has Cheers star Kirstie Alley packed on 83 pounds after her widely publicized diet as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig in 2007?

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She told People magazine, "A vegetarian would probably be eating vegetables. But to me being a vegetarian meant I'm going to eat enchiladas with no meat, and I'm going to eat lots of bread, lots of carbs."

Hey, Kirstie: put the slimy, butter-slicked fork down! Vegans are, on average, 10 to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters are, so we promise you'll see results!

If Nia Vardalos can drop 40 pounds by kicking cheese, Kirstie surely would slim down if she said, "Bye, bye, butter!" and gave vegan fare a shot. To help her in this endeavor, a copy of Skinny Bitch is on its way to her, courtesy of PETA.

Posted by Karin Bennett

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In that same "spin in haste, repent at leisure" memo, Smithfield claimed that "there is no evidence that any of the people affected had contact with pigs." But, as we reported last month, several news reports indicate that La Gloria—a Mexican village near the enormous Smithfield-owned Granjas Carroll factory pig farm—is home to the first confirmed case of swine flu and may have been ground zero for the outbreak. Apparently, the family of Judy Trunnell—who was a pregnant special education teacher in San Antonio, Texas—has seen those reports too.

To get an idea of just how foul and disgusting Smithfield's Granjas Carroll factory farm is, check out these photos, which were reportedly taken there.

Right now, we still don't know for sure where the swine flu outbreak originated or how it spread. Hopefully, this lawsuit will shed some light on that.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

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With that in mind, have you heard the news out of Maine? It's the sixth state to pass legislation significantly changing rights for state residents.

No, not that. I'm talking about this recent legislation, which bans the use of veal and gestation crates statewide.

That's right. As of January 1, 2011, calves will no longer be immobilized in tiny stalls for the production of veal, nor will mother pigs be trapped in gestation crates, on factory farms in Maine. Woo hoo!

And, of course, this follows news that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine co-sponsored a resolution urging Canada to end the seal slaughter.

Maine's state motto is "Dirigo," which means, "I lead." When it comes to protecting animals, that certainly seems to be true!

Posted by Jeff Mackey

Two things we at PETA never pass up: vegan ice cream and opportunities to educate others about the benefits of a vegetarian diet. (I call it giving them a "vegucation.")

Pro-life Catholic students and faculty at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., are in a tizzy about President Obama's scheduled commencement address on Sunday. So, of course, we're erecting two pro-vegetarian billboards this weekend at Notre Dame to remind both sides of the abortion debate that a diet free of slaughtered animals makes sense for everyone.

One person can enjoy better health and save 100 lives each year simply by going vegetarian.

Choose compassion over cruelty to animals and improved health over heart disease and cancer—go vegetarian!

Posted by Karin Bennett

This week, we approached the city of Ashland, Ohio, with a little business proposition after we learned of the city's efforts to find a more cost-effective way to run its curbside recycling program.

We sent the director of city services a letter offering to offset the program's costs by paying to place our Lettuce Ladies' "Vegetarians Do It to Save the Planet" ad on the city's recycling trucks:

With all the bottle-sorting going on in Ashland, its citizens might be interested to learn that they can cause far more damage to the Earth with the foods they eat than they can by chucking some bottles onto a garbage heap. In fact, the production of 1 pound of meat generates the same amount of greenhouse-gas emissions as does driving an SUV 40 miles. Of course, we're not suggesting that anyone stop sorting those bottles, but why not also try a meat-free diet that won't hurt animals or the environment?

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

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Now that Manny has been hit with a 50-game suspension for failing a drug test—allegedly because of an impotence treatment to counteract the, um, negative side effects of steroid use—Boston fans can rest a bit more easily knowing that the Red Sox made the right move shipping him off to L.A. last summer (Jason Bay slugging .667 through 32 games doesn't hurt, either). But we here at PETA are left wondering: Why would Manny turn to pharmaceutical "performance enhancers" when the best way to combat impotence is a healthy vegetarian diet?

Most people these days understand that the saturated fat and cholesterol in meat, dairy, and eggs clogs the arteries to your heart, leading to an increased risk of heart disease. But eating meat actually impedes the blood flow to all your organs—including the one that comes with a Y chromosome. And the best way to be sure that organ will continue to come through for you is to go vegetarian.

With that in mind, PETA is urging Manny to consider switching to a vegetarian diet so that he can continue to come through in the clutch without failing any more drug tests. You can read our letter here, and you can learn more about the performance-enhancing benefits of a vegetarian diet here.

Posted by Dan Shannon

Not only is Owain Yeoman one of the hottest males ever to come out of Wales, he also stars in the hottest new show on TV and is married to the hot and humane Lucy Davis. (Who can forget the Office star's sexy teddy ad?) That said, you can only imagine how psyched we were when Owain signed on to do a pro-vegetarian print ad and PSA for us.

You can also imagine how psyched he was when dropping meat from his diet helped him drop a few unwanted pounds—a "tight-abs testimonial" to the slimming powers of a vegetarian diet.

Now, it doesn't take a mentalist to sense that you'd like to see a bit of Owain, so I'll leave you with these for-PETA-Files-eyes-only exclusive videos:

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

The following is a guest post from peta2's Ryan.

Rory Freedman

Best-selling author Rory Freedman has already spared millions of animals from unnecessary deaths in slaughterhouses simply by promoting a healthy and cruelty-free vegan diet in her iconic book Skinny Bitch. But now she's taking her compassion to the next level!

You see, rather than buying her mom another meaningless foot massager or something this Mother's Day, Rory has offered to donate $5,000 to peta2 in her mom's honor—but only if you follow her example!

Here's how it works: Rory is going to match donors like you dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 total. So, for example, if you donate $20 to peta2, she will also donate $20 to double the impact! As Rory said in an e-mail to peta2, "Show your mom who you are and how well she raised you—that you know what is really important."

Thanks to Rory, your donations—no matter what the amount—will go twice as far to help us raise awareness and combat cruelty to animals raised for food, clothing, experimentation, and other industries.

Your support helps us win countless victories. From convincing top retailers such as J. Crew and Urban Outfitters to go fur-free to pushing for the first-ever felony charges of cruelty to factory-farmed birds, peta2 is changing how the world treats animals, but we can't do it alone!

Take Rory's challenge and have your donation doubled!

Posted by Ryan Huling

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When a cow named Molly escaped from a New York City slaughterhouse on Wednesday, she managed to get a mile away before she was corralled and brought to Animal Care and Control to await her fate—but don't worry! Fate was smiling on Molly. The lucky lady, whom some feared might be sent back to the slaughterhouse, has instead been sent to a farm sanctuary on Long Island, where she will be able to live out the rest of her days in peace.

Inspiring, no? Of course, we already know just how amazing animals are, but thanks to Molly, even more people are making that discovery—including none other than Barbara Walters! On The View Thursday morning, Barbara said that Molly's adventure has inspired her to lean even more toward a vegetarian diet—and that she'd be bringing her own veggie burgers to the next White House dinner.

This is, of course, awesome—although I do hope that the White House will be able to offer up something a little fancier! Hmm…maybe it's time to hook them up with our Fine Faux Foie Gras challenge…

Posted by Amanda Schinke

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1. Pigs snuggle close to one another and prefer to sleep nose to nose. They dream, much as humans do. In their natural surroundings, pigs spend hours playing, sunbathing, and exploring. People who run animal sanctuaries for farmed animals often report that pigs, like humans, enjoy listening to music, playing with soccer balls, and getting massages.

2. Pigs communicate constantly with one another; more than 20 vocalizations have been identified that pigs use in different situations, from wooing mates to saying, "I'm hungry!"

3. Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers' voices and to recognize their own names. Mother pigs sing to their young while nursing.

4. According to Professor Donald Broom of the Cambridge University Veterinary School, "[Pigs] have the cognitive ability to be quite sophisticated. Even more so than dogs and certainly [more so than human] 3-year-olds."

5. Pigs appear to have a good sense of direction and have found their way home over great distances. Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11 miles an hour.

6. Professor Stanley Curtis of Penn State University has found that pigs can play joystick-controlled video games and are "capable of abstract representation." Dr. Curtis believes that "there is much more going on in terms of thinking and observing by these pigs than we would ever have guessed."

7. Pigs do not "eat like pigs" or "pig out." They prefer to eat slowly and savor their food.

8. Suzanne Held, who studies the cognitive abilities of farmed animals at the University of Bristol's Centre of Behavioural Biology, says that pigs are "really good at remembering where food is located, because in their natural environment food is patchily distributed and it pays to revisit profitable food patches."

9. Pigs are clean animals. If given sufficient space, they will be careful not to soil the area where they sleep or eat. Pigs don't "sweat like pigs"; they are actually unable to sweat. They like to bathe in water or mud to keep cool, and they actually prefer water to mud. One woman developed a shower for her pigs, and they learned to turn it on and off by themselves.

10. In his book The Whole Hog, biologist and Johannesburg Zoo director Lyall Watson writes, "I know of no other animals [who] are more consistently curious, more willing to explore new experiences, more ready to meet the world with open mouthed enthusiasm. Pigs, I have discovered, are incurable optimists and get a big kick out of just being."

These are just a few of the many reasons not to eat pigs. Click here to learn more about pigs.

Posted by Heather Moore

The always-logical Vulcans are ethical vegetarians—they don't even eat meat that has been replicated. Ring any bells? PETA recently offered a million-dollar reward for the commercial replication of in vitro meat, which could spare billions of animals from suffering and slaughter.

PETA Trekkies will be sporting their specially designed "Live Veg and Prosper" tees at theaters on opening night, putting an animal-friendly spin on the Vulcan greeting made famous by Mr. Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy, himself a vegetarian), "Live long and prosper." You can too!

Posted by Karin Bennett

It's started grilling dead birds, as opposed to frying them, and so it's encouraging people to "unthink what you thought about KFC."

I can only assume that it's referring to our thoughts about how unhealthy KFC is—which, admittedly, is one of the things I think about KFC. Of course, I mostly think about its awful animal welfare record, which it doesn't appear to be asking us to "unthink." (Possibly because, well, it's still awful.)

Give me a break, KFC. You can put a shiny "Healthy!" sticker on it all you want, but cholesterol-filled, artery-clogging flesh is still unhealthy, whether you fry it or grill it—and grilled chicken has been shown to contain carcinogens. I think I'll pass on the three-piece breast and thigh meal with an increased cancer risk on the side. Thanks anyway.

I can think of a better response to KFC's new grilled chicken—how about we grill KFC? Click here to write to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and ask it to investigate KFC's false animal welfare claims.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

dogs.thefuntimesguide / CC

In a blind taste test, participants were given five food samples that included foie gras, pâté, liverwurst, Spam, and dog food. They were then asked to pick which one was the Fido fodder. Of the eighteen participants, only three were able to identify the dog food!

Can I get a “woof, woof”?! And of course some help banning this cruel product ...

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

Turn to PETA's Vegan College Cookbook and take your pick of 275 delicious vegan recipes. No space, equipment, time, or kitchen skills? This cookbook squelches any and all excuses for sticking with that boring ramen routine!

Today marks the official release of PETA's Vegan College Cookbook, but over the weekend, peta2's own Starza Kolman and Marta Holmberg jump-started the hype by signing copies at the Norfolk, Virginia, Barnes & Noble.

Today is also Cinco de Mayo, so why not celebrate with a tasty, festive seven-layer dip? It's just one of the many delicioso recipes offered in the cookbook.

Seven-Layer Mexican Dip

1 8-oz. package vegan cream cheese

1 Tbsp. taco seasoning mix

1 15.5-oz. can vegetarian refried beans

1 cup guacamole

1 cup chunky salsa

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 cup shredded soy cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp. dried chives

1 small can sliced black olives

• Mix the "cream cheese" and taco seasoning. Spread onto the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate or other dish.
• Layer the beans, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, "cheddar cheese," chives, and olives over the "cream cheese" mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 8 servings

Posted by Karin Bennett

last.fm / CC

"Since becoming a vegetarian I've felt a new openness and lightness," he writes. He goes on to explain his objection to killing animals for food, saying, "Once a life is taken, that's it, it's over, it doesn't come back. To kill an animal is the end, the animal does not grow back and [he or she] is not replaced. There is no sense of gratitude that can equal the taking of a life." You can read the rest of Brian's vegetarian musings here.

Brian's not the only "veg-head" in the band, mind you! Guitarist Nick Zinner happens to be an outspoken vegan who provided the music for our infamous "Milk Gone Wild" commercial.

Everything I learn about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs makes me like them even more—and considering that I named my kitty companion, Dracula Mappington, partly after one of their songs, that's saying a lot.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

The Montreal Canadiens' star enforcer, Georges Laraque, is brawny and brainy. He's vegetarian and steers clear of pigs, chickens, and other commonly consumed animals, a decision he made after seeing the animal-friendly feature film Earthlings. Not only that, but he teamed up with dozens of members of Concordia Animal Rights Association (CARA) this weekend to protest outside the North American Fur & Fashion Exposition of Montreal.

CTV News (CFCF), CJAD radio, and Montreal Mirror lined up to talk to the hockey star about the notoriously cruel fur industry.

Georges needed our PETA Logo tee in size XXL to cover all those muscles!

Posted by Karin Bennett

babble / CC

We can tell you firsthand that Christina truly is beautiful inside and out. When she was 15, she learned about the horrors of the fur industry, and a few years later, she was caring enough to strip down for a PETA anti-fur e-card.

So congratulations, Christina! You deserve it. You are a beautiful person, with no lack of either passion or compassion.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

Bruce was able take a minute away from his vital work for animals to answer a few questions for The PETA Files. I'm hoping that you find his responses as motivational as I did (be sure to check out the most memorable campaigning answer—it's my favorite).

Here Bruce is in his own words:

Your dedication to animal rights is inspiring. Where do you look for inspiration? To activists in the field, holding down full-time jobs and still finding time to leaflet, hold demonstrations, keep "Vegetarian Starter Kit" stands stocked, write letters to the editor, post links to videos online, and so much more.

What's one of your most memorable campaigning stories?My wife, Alka Chandna, and I used our Christmas vacation in 2003 to do a string of anti-KFC protests. On Christmas Day 2003, we dropped off big bags of coal at the homes of KFC's CEO, president, and senior VP for public affairs because they'd been naughty to animals. An over-zealous police officer arrested us for trespassing, even though we were just walking up to the door—like Girl Scouts. The guy was screaming at me about trespassing, and I kept saying, "There's no sign saying we can't be here, we're just knocking on his door to ask him to be nice, rather than naughty, this year." The entire thing was caught on the squad car's video system, and the officer was wearing a microphone, so I have a video of the arrest, and it's just too funny. This was trespass number one, so it's the equivalent of a minor speeding ticket. The guy was behaving like Rambo over the equivalent of going 56 in a 55 zone.

If you had the power to change one person's stance on animal rights whose would it be and why? I'd change Bill Gates into a hardcore animal rights activist, so that he would dedicate most of his billions to promoting animal rights. Everyone agrees that causing animals to suffer needlessly is immoral. Of course, eating or wearing animals is absolutely needless. All we really need to do is get people to live according to their values—to be consistent. But we need to educate people so that they think about this reality, and if we had billions of dollars to dedicate to the cause, we could create a vegan U.S. in a very short period of time.

What's one campaigning moment that made you want to say FML? I have a selective memory that focuses on the positive and forgets the negative, so Ingrid calls me Bruce Poppins. Anyway, I can't think of anything other than glorious campaigning moments. Even when things go wrong (like when our Japanese intern who spoke almost no English ended up in the back of a squad car at a demonstration—she was subsequently released without charge), I tend to find that funny rather than dispiriting. I ran into a tree on my bike commute into work today and got a massive gash under my eye and on my shoulder, and all I could think was, "I sure am glad I still have my eye."

Is your family supportive of your animal rights activism? What would you say to someone who feels his or her family isn't supportive? My family is very supportive. I would say not to worry about your family. So many people spend inordinate amounts of time trying to change their family, even when it's clear that they are not going to change. Two things: 1) every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It's only natural that if you're pushing your family, they may push back, for a variety of reasons—they feel judged by you, they don't understand how you could make such a big change without them, whatever. Once you stop focusing on them, you may find that your family finds it easier to pay attention and come along, because once you stop pushing, they stop pushing back. 2) If you convert one person to vegetarianism, you save 100 animals per year, whether that is a family member or some stranger on the street. Take the energy you would have spent on your family and go convert 10 other people who aren't pushing back instead.

How hard is it to find vegan food on the road? What cities do you like or loathe because of their food options? I mostly eat from grocery stores, and I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mixed nuts, bananas, and bags of pre-washed greens. I can find that stuff anywhere. The only place where I know the restaurants at all is D.C., where I've lived for most of the past 20 years, and I don't know too many here.

If you weren't working for animal rights, what would you be doing? Teaching disadvantaged kids in the inner city or running a homeless shelter (which I did for six years before I joined PETA) or working for Doctors Without Borders or some other global relief organization.

What is the most valuable piece of advice that you could give to someone who wants to start getting active? One person can make a massive difference, and that's deeply empowering—if you convince one person to adopt a vegetarian diet, you've just spared 100 animals per year from misery that is beyond our worst imaginings. A few hours spent leafleting, one letter to the editor, one good conversation, one vegetarian hotline bumper sticker on your car—there are so many things you can do, little and big, that will mean life or death for thousands of animals. Do it!

Looking for a bit more Bruce in your life (after that interview, aren't we all)? Head on over to our Action Center and listen to him on PETA's podcast. Oh, and then buy his book.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

Sometimes, Mother Nature isn't entirely on our side when it comes to outdoor demonstrations. Luckily for us, caring citizens don't let a little rain stop them from getting the word out about animal abuse. Just check out all these pictures that were sent to us this week:

Rain check? Not for these seal lovers!

We'll come in out of the rain when the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of baby seals stops.

Is that a banana, or are you just happy to see me?

I'm thinking the rain only made this demo sexier.

Not to rain on your parade, but ... Oh, sorry, it's too cheesy, even for me. Just boycott McDonalds, OK?

Thinking about getting active for animals? Well, don't let a gray day stop you! Check out PETA's Action Center and then hit the streets.

Posted by Lianne Turner

edf / CC

Before you race to the doctor for a Tamiflu vaccine, read this piece. You might think twice about helping Mr. Rumsfeld and his buddies at Roche pay for their vacations (surely they don't do Acapulco these days, maybe St. Barts though).

Flying Pigs, Tamiflu and Factory Farms

By F. William Engdahl

If we are to believe what our trusted international media report, the world is on the brink of a global pandemic outbreak of a new deadly strain of flu, H1N1 as it has been labelled, or more popularly, Swine Flu. As the story goes, the outbreak of the deadly flu was first discovered in Mexico. According to press reports, after several days, headlines reported as many as perhaps 150 deaths in Mexico were believed caused by this virulent people-killing pig virus that has spread to humans and now is allegedly being further spread from human to human. Cases were being reported hourly from Canada to Spain and beyond. The only thing wrong with this story is that it is largely based on lies, hype and coverup of possible real causes of Mexican deaths.

April 29, 2009 "Global Research" — One website, revealingly named Swine Flu Vaccine, reports the alarming news, ‘One out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus as Mexico City seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. As many as 103 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu so far with many more feared to be on the horizon. The health department of Mexico said an additional 1,614 reported cases have been documented.’ We are told that the H1N1 ‘shares genetic material from human, avian and swine influenza viruses.’¹

Airports around the world have installed passenger temperature scans to identify anyone with above normal body temperature as possible suspect for swine flu. Travel to Mexico has collapsed. Sales of flu vaccines, above all Tamiflu from Roche Inc., have exploded in days. People have stopped buying pork fearing certain death. The World Health Organization has declared a ‘a public health emergency of international concern,’ defined by them as ‘an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.’²

What are the symptoms of this purported Swine Flu? That’s not at all clear according to virologists and public health experts. They say Swine Flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. ‘So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma,’ says one doctor interviewed by CNN. ‘There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu.’ It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms. These are symptoms so general as to say nothing.

The US Government’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta states on its official website, ‘Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.’ Nonetheless they add, ‘CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.’³

How many media that have grabbed on the headline ‘suspected case of Swine Flu’ in recent days bother to double check with the local health authorities to ask some basic questions? For example, the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 and their location? The number of deaths confirmed to have resulted from H1N1? Dates of both? Number of suspected cases and of suspected deaths related to the Swine Flu disease?

Click here to read the entire article.

healthyschoollunches / CC

Wyntergrace has also written a letter to Sasha and Malia Obama asking them to join the campaign and sign her petition. She points out that while they are lucky enough to attend a private school where healthy options are available, most kids standing in line in public school cafeterias have to pick from fat-laden hamburgers, high-calorie chicken fingers, and greasy pizza.

What ever happened to equality?

We hope that Sasha and Malia join Wyntergrace in her fight. Congress has needed to step up on this issue for a while, and the support of the first daughters might be just what our representatives need to make them stop dragging their feet.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

aact / CC

You know who's to blame? Yup, filthy factory farms. A headline in Vera Cruz's La Marcha points the finger at gi-normous pig-breeding farms operated by a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, the world's largest hog producer. Local residents reportedly believe that feces from the pig farms has contaminated the water and the air, spreading the virus to people. Another article in the Huffington Post quotes La Jornada newspaper, which points the finger at a factory farm in La Gloria, saying, "Clouds of flies emanate from the lagoons where Granjas Carroll discharges the fecal waste from its hog barns …." Yup, knew all that.

Because human consumption of meat is the sole reason that these factory farms exist, PETA has fired off a letter to Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard urging him to encourage residents to go vegetarian, noting that such an action could help prevent future outbreaks. We're also shipping emergency Spanish-language copies of our "Vegetarian Starter Kit" in case residents need helpful tips when making the shift.

If you live in the U.S., encourage members of Congress to stop the spread of these diseases by ending factory farming.

Posted by Karin Bennett

Well, the new swine flu epidemic may already have killed more than 100 people in Mexico, and you don't have to ask us twice to point out what's responsible for all these outbreaks of animalborne diseases, one after another. Factory farming, of course.

We think that this billboard, which we're erecting in San Antonio, Texas, sums it up:

Cramming animals by the hundreds or thousands into gigantic, windowless sheds—in which the air is teeming with bacteria and the pigs' or chickens' throats are burned by the accumulated waste—is a recipe for spreading virulent diseases. Just last month, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote two articles about the spread of deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on pig farms.

No, Kristof isn't psychic. He's just paying attention—unlike the people at your local meat counter.

Bottom line: We can stop pigs from killing us if we simply stop killing them.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

Thank you Prolife Across America for your excellent billboard juxtaposition. We're always trying to remind folks that the squishy part of their Egg McMuffin is just a fried chicken embryo*. You've done future baby chicks everywhere a favor.

Still hungry for an Embryo McMuffin? Mmm … doubt it! We're definitely not lovin' it.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

*OK, not exactly an embryo because it's not fertilized, but "fried chicken period" ain't so appealing either!

Mayor Michael O'Brien of Warren, Ohio, is currently thinking about allowing us to fix his city's potholes, but he wants to run it by KFC before making a final decision. Hmm, is he trying to start a bidding war?

As a nonprofit, we might not be able compete with dollars against a money-hungry company that can't even spare a few cents out of each bucket of chicken bits that it sells to improve conditions for the very animals it profits from. That's why we've offered to "sweeten the pot," so to speak, with a free vegetarian meal for the road crew—on any day that Mayor O'Brien chooses.

If he agrees to this, the mayor won't just be doing right by 1 billion chickens; he'll show that he's invested in the health of his city's employees and the well-being of his city's environment. I can't think of a better ending to "Meat's Not Green" Week than that.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

Artist and designer Edgar Lituma Soto doesn't waste a moment in his stunning animated video short, "Chicken Hormonio," which makes it clear that chickens who are raised for KFC are bred and drugged to grow so huge that they can barely stand.

Posted by Karin Bennett

Forbes magazine recently unveiled its annual list of the country's top 10 most miserable cities, and the winners losers include Chicago, Illinois; Stockton, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Modesto, California.

The cities were graded on mood-killing triggers such as traffic, employment loss, crime rate, and, of course, weather. But what about the foods that the residents of these cities eat?

We're urging folks to turn their frowns upside down by adopting a vegetarian diet, and in Modesto we are pitching our new billboard, which features the message "Put a smile on your face. Go vegetarian."

We hope to make life a little easier on animals on factory farms as well as those humans who haven't realized that meat is a big fat downer.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

As a huge fan of Bones, I was giddy to learn that Emily Deschanel is an environmentalist who puts her money where her mouth is—literally—by eating a vegan diet.

We couldn't think of a better person to feature smack-dab in the middle of "Meat's Not Green" Week than Emily and, luckily, she was able to take time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Here Emily is in her own words:

Do you have any animal companions? I don't have any animal companions right now. My amazing dog Snookie passed away a year ago. She was 17 years old. I miss her. She was super sweet and smart. I'm not ready for another animal in my life right now, especially because I wouldn't have the time to take proper care of them (we work 16- to 17-hour days). I look forward to the day I can bring another animal into my home. They enrich our lives so much! Of course, I would adopt!

What made you decide to go vegan? In high school, a teacher screened the documentary "Diet for a New America" based on the book of the same name. It exposes the dirty business of factory farms: the cruelty that the animals experience, the dangers of a meat-based diet to your health, and the devastating environmental impact. I decided to go vegetarian on the spot with the intention to go completely vegan when I was ready. It took me two years. I've never looked back.

What are some of your favorite vegetarian foods? I love anything Dave Anderson makes at Madeleine Bistro in Los Angeles, and I love the food at Candle 79 in New York City. I'm obsessed with cookies from Sun Flour Bakery.

I don't really cook for myself right now since my schedule is insane. I look forward to the day I can pick up my Veganomicon cookbook and go to town!! I also indulge in raw chocolate on a daily basis.

If you could make people wake up to one issue involving animals or one particular form of cruelty to animals, what would it be and what would you wish for? In my experience, the issue that is avoided the most is [raising] animals for food, specifically factory farms. Nothing makes me more upset than when someone says they don't want to know about the horrors going on. Ten billion animals every year in North America have to live and die in horrible ways; the least we can do is hear about it. I have hope, though. More and more people are going veg and vegan. Look at the popularity of Skinny Bitch and PETA as an organization and how they have changed people's minds about animals and food. It is so much better than it was almost 16 years ago when I made the switch to being vegan.

Looking for a little more Deschanel? Check out her vegetarian testimonial and then click here to learn more about meat's impact on the environment.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

It seems like anywhere Mike Ness goes, he leaves his mark. As the frontman for Social Distortion, he's one of the most influential men in punk rock. As a solo artist, he's blazing a trail on the alterna-country scene. However, while Mike has made a huge impact on the music world, his impact on good ol' Mother Earth is smaller than most people's. That's because Mike knows that meat's not green and that by keeping animals off his plate he's doing the single most effective thing anyone can do to reduce his or her carbon footprint.

Mike Ness is the most recent celebrity to sit down with PETA for a "Meat's Not Green" photo shoot, and he even took the time to answer a few questions about why he's doing his part to make the world a better place. Check out his video below and then head over and check out the ad.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

subwaynorcal / CC

We're the last ones who want to hide slaughterhouses where nobody will have to think about—or actually see and hear—the animals they're blithely eating, so we've written to Buffalo to say that PETA supports the creation of this slaughterhouse, with just a couple of modifications: Erect a glass wall to allow the public to see the terrified animals who are being slaughtered, install a sound system to broadcast the animals' screams, and open the facility to school and other tours with an elevated walkway running right through it.

I suspect that this could hurt business at a lot of restaurants in the Greater Buffalo area. But buck up, Subway man. What you lose in meatball and cheesesteak sub sales, you gain on the Veggie Delite sandwiches and perhaps by adding a Gardein "chicken" sub or other super-delish vegetarian alternatives!

Posted by Jeff Mackey

abcnews.go / CC

With PETA faves Khloe Kardashian and Dennis Rodman already out the door, I was hoping that this vegetarian football hero would last until the end, but Herschel got the boot this week, with Trump professing his love, "I love you. I love you, Herschel. I love you. I'm not a gay man, but I love you. And you're fired."

Now that he's got free time on his hands, we're hoping we can ask Herschel for a vegetarian testimonial!

Posted by Christine Doré

sportsillustrated.cnn / CC

In an interview with our friends at The Discerning Brute, Jake said, "Well I'm a life-long vegetarian and the diet obviously works. I also have two brothers that are strong and healthy. But you do have to have a good balanced diet and eat healthy foods. There's plenty of ways to get protein other than eating meat."

Awesome athletes like Jake and his fellow fighter Mac Danzig are evidence that not only is a vegetarian diet a possible diet for athletes, it might even be the best diet.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments on this Win It Wednesday. The winners of the PETA Grocery Tote are Mariah Lacey, Joel A., and Alyson Paige Warren. Congratulations!

"Win It" Wednesday is coming a day early this week!

One of my favorite things about spring is getting to walk around outside without a jacket. The sun is out, there's a gentle breeze, and the birds are chirping their hearts out. What better time to leave the car at home and stroll to the grocery store? You can save money on gas, conserve our limited resources, and enjoy the weather while getting a little exercise.

As long as we're talking groceries, did you know that the easiest and most effective thing you can do to help save the world is to go vegetarian? What's the second easiest thing? Stuffing all your yummy fruits and veggies into PETA's canvas grocery tote, of course! So, in honor of "Meat's Not Green" Week, we're giving you the chance to win one free!

How do you win? Just tell us what steps you're taking to show the world that meat's not green! Whether it's passing out leaflets, talking to friends, or petitioning your school for vegetarian options, every bit helps. The three most creative comments will win our stylish and eco-friendly PETA grocery tote.

The contest ends on May 6, 2009, and we'll choose three winners on May 8, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Check back every Wednesday for new prizes. Good luck!

Posted by Lianne Turner

When I was 12, I won a fishing contest—something I haven't been proud of for a long time now. Back in the day, I was conditioned to ignore any qualms I might have felt about hooking fish, but I eventually realized how much suffering I was causing and put down my rod and reel for good.

What I've only more recently come to understand is that angling doesn't just hurt fish. Case in point: PETA staffers Hannah and Philip Schein were at Lake Kussharo in Hokkaido, Japan, when they saw a whooper swan who had a multi-pronged fishing lure embedded in her foot. She tried to remove it the only way she could—with her mouth—but the sharp hooks only became embedded in her beak as well. With her face now attached to her foot, the swan struggled in a twisted circular position, panicked and in pain:

Several people helped the Scheins catch the bird. Then Hannah and another person restrained the terrified swan while they carefully removed the hooks:

Freed from the deadly lure, the swan—no doubt relieved, but with good reason to be wary of humans—flew away with a vigorous sweep of her mighty wings:

Tragedy was avoided in this case, but not all victims of fishing tackle are so lucky. Countless water birds and mammals suffer, and many die, from injuries caused by discarded or lost fishing hooks, monofilament line, lead weights, and floats. Animals who become entangled in fishing line can be trapped underwater and drown or die slowly of starvation. The UK has banned certain types of tackle because of this problem, and other countries need to follow its lead.

Even non-anglers can help by skipping seafood. Commercial fishing boats haul in sharks, sea turtles, birds, seals, and dolphins who get tangled in nets and hooked by long-lines only to be thrown overboard to die of shock, blood loss, or predation.

If you find yourself craving cod or salivating over salmon, just picture a plate full of snared, scared swans. Then enjoy these cruelty-free recipes instead.

Posted by Jeff Mackey

For the next five days, we are going to present you with fun stuff: environmentally friendly blog posts that we hope will leave compassion as your only dietary option.

As you may have heard, raising animals for food is the number one cause of climate change and its frightening side effects. And that's not just meat production—the waste from which contaminates land, air, and waterways. Egg and dairy farms (which often rely on feeding animals to other farmed animals—bleh!) also contribute to the destruction of our ecosystem. With deforestation, desertification, and loss of potable water—and with 800 million people affected by famine—I'd say that a little restructuring is in order. And the most powerful tool we have is our very own fork.

Want to know how your diet is affecting the planet? It's as easy as punching your information into our carbon calculator. Then, if you've heard all you needed to hear—or if you just want to get a jump on things—click here and take the Pledge to Be Veg for 30 Days.

Posted by Missy Lane

Forget paying to check your luggage or being charged for an in-flight drink; if you're a passenger on United Airlines with a little extra "personal baggage," the airline might charge you double. United says that overweight passengers must pay for two seats instead of one.

That's why PETA is asking to put up a billboard at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport with this advice for passengers:

It's a fact: Vegetarians and vegans are, on average, some 10 to twenty pounds lighter than meat-eaters. So, switching to a vegetarian diet isn't just good for your health—it could leave you with some extra cash for cute souvenirs.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

mediabistro / CC

According to a recent piece in the New York Post, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid a visit to Morton's Steakhouse in downtown Brooklyn, "but refrained from eating any meat and was 'strictly vegetarian.'"

Think Bloomberg has been talking to our friend Chris P. Carrot? Chris P. and Bloomberg are both politicians fighting to make our planet a little greener, so it only makes sense that they would run in the same circles—or at least run into each other occasionally. I know Chris P. hasn't won any elections (yet), but there's no denying that the guy's full of great advice on the green front. Bloomberg might be paying attention to Chris P. when the über-tuber says that going vegetarian is one of the best things that we can do for the environment.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

stuffthathappens / CC

It turns out that spam has a heck of a carbon footprint. According to a recently released study producing the energy that was required to delete spam and search for actual e-mail that mistakenly ended up in junk e-mail folders during 2008 created greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to 3.1 million passenger cars using 2 billion gallons of gas.

That's pretty staggering, but what about another type of SPAM—the processed meat product from Hormel? Fact: Producing eight ounces of pork is the greenhouse-gas equivalent of driving a standard car 2.52 miles. Let's assume that, after you take all the water, salt, and et cetera out of a 12-ounce can of SPAM, there are 10 or 11 ounces of actual pork. So, producing a can of SPAM is the equivalent of driving more than 3 miles. Deleting one piece of e-mail spam, on the other hand, is the equivalent of driving 3 feet.

So, yes, a can of SPAM has a carbon footprint that is more than 5,000 times larger than that of a piece of spam e-mail.

On a related note, according to Live Earth, going vegetarian is the "single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint"—certainly more effective than installing a spam filter, anyway.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

moonbattery / CC

Well, that's what we think, which is why we've asked the mayor to ban the construction of new fast-food restaurants in Newark. Our reasoning goes like this: Studies show that people who live near fast-food restaurants have higher rates of strokes and obesity, and Newark residents have more than their fair share of both. Why not tackle both of those health issues—and beautify Newark at the same time—by banning golden arches and giant red-and-white striped buckets?

We think there's a chance that the mayor will go along with us on this one. Who knows—maybe Newark could become the next Akron, Ohio.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

smeis.files / CC

In support of the Health Council's action, we're proposing a plan to Dr. Alan Ingram, the superintendant of Springfield Public Schools, that is sure to have every kid passing their weight screenings with flying colors and trim waistlines. We've offered to hire a top vegan chef to help the cafeteria staff create first-class, meat-free meals that kids will love, to donate a "Vegetarian Starter Kit" for every kid in the district, and to provide health and nutrition teachers with a curriculum designed to educate them about the benefits of vegetarian eating. After all, the best way that these schools can help their students achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to drop the chicken nuggets and fish sticks in lieu of some real brain food: nutritious, delicious vegetarian meals.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

silverbearcafe / CC

1. Take the tribe on a trip. Nothing says "Thanks for being such an awesome deduction" like taking your dependents (er, kids) on a little family vacation. Getting great rates on hotels, cruises, and travel packages is as easy as joining the PETA Member Advantage Program. Plan your animal-friendly vacation by clicking here.
2. Buy a house. A doghouse, that is. Think the housing market is bad? Try being an outdoor dog. Every year, PETA builds and delivers hundreds of sturdy doghouses filled with straw for dogs whose guardians won't let them inside. Help us help dogs by sponsoring one of these doghouses. And don't worry—we're all about fixed dogs, not fixed rates …
3. Purge and splurge. Are there products that blind bunnies in your cabinets—or skeletons in your closet? Make over your make-up bag with cruelty-free cosmetics and personal-care products. Lose the gruesome garb (leather, wool, and fur) and stock-up on stylin' synthetics instead. While you're at it, get rid of those stirrup pants and that tired "U Can't Touch This" T-shirt. They may not be cruel to animals, but they are cruel to anyone who has to see you in them.
4. Plan a little R&R (romantic romp) at a B&B. Looking for something more stimulating to do with your refund or stimulus check? We've got you covered. From Victorian mansions to cozy cabins and oh-so-unique yurts (you haven't lived until you've loved in a yurt), you'll find your perfect getaway on our list of vegetarian-friendly bed and breakfasts.
5. Earn your wings (and a tax deduction for next year). Resist the urge to blow your money on a butterfly tramp stamp. Help real animals instead! Donate to PETA today.

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

PS If you didn't get a tax refund, don't worry—hugs (and copies of our "Vegetarian Starter Kit") are still free …

Every year on tax day, I do two things:

1. Drag out the process of filling in my 1040 by surfing the Internet looking for tax day deals.
2. End up fuming because the only things anyone ever offers are cheap burgers and free tacos, and my 1040 still sits on my desk waiting to be filled out.

This year, instead of searching for (non-existent) free or cheap vegan grub, I'm procrastinating by contacting my Congressional representatives and asking them to tax meat (instead of me). There's already an excise tax on things like gas, tobacco, and alcohol, so why not meat?

As the number one cause of climate change and a contributing factor to the high rates of obesity in America, animal products that hurt our health and our environment (not to mention animals) should be outlawed. That probably won't happen, but a tax on meat would at least help cover the health and environmental costs that result from raising and killing animals for food—and (hopefully) it would encourage companies to give away 35-cent veggie burgers and free vegan tacos next year on April 15.

Now, what to do about filling out that 1040 sooner?

Posted by Shawna Flavell

Credit: Star Max Inc.

We’ve seen tons of stories and photos of Miley Cyrus stopping on the side of the road to rescue strays. So we weren't one bit surprised when we found out that she had rescued some chickens from the set of her new flick, Hannah Montana: The Movie.

Apparently, Miley fell in love with one of the chickens on the movie set and decided to take her and several others home because, according to the article, she thought "they were sad to be working." (Awww, of course they were―animals aren't actors!) The article also alludes to the fact that she may be asked to go naked for one of our campaigns—um, no. She's underage, for goodness' sake! Not that we wouldn't LOVE for her to star in any ad for PETA—Miley, in case you're reading this, we think you'd make a beautiful "Angel for Animals"!

When we find out about celebs (or anyone!) who do nice things for animals, we like to acknowledge it, so PETA is giving Miley Cyrus our Compassionate Citizen Award.

Posted by Patricia Trostle

dailymail / CC

Sir Paul beat out a list of Hollywood heavyweights to be voted Sexiest Sixty-Something.

Any man who spends his free time between benefit gigs and singing to his daughter (have you heard "Two Magpies"?) to urge Armani to go fur-free, razz Kentucky Fried Cruelty, or rile people up for a worldwide boycott of McDonald's is the sort of man you'd want to bring home for a bean casserole and chips. And his vegetarian lifestyle gives him good odds to outlive most of the other men on the list!

Posted by Shawna Flavell

In our fight to get KFC to enact minimal welfare standards for the more than 350 million chickens slaughtered for its U.S. restaurants each year, our supporters have helped us choose billboards and dressed up like the Colonel for Halloween. Now we'd like to ask your help with an even bigger task.

We're filing a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking it to take action against KFC for the chain's deliberately deceptive and unfair statements to consumers about the treatment of chickens raised and killed for its buckets and boxes. KFC allows its suppliers to house chickens in crowded sheds—with waste on the floor so thick that the ammonia burns the chickens' skin, feet, eyes, and throats. It allows its suppliers to use a slaughter method in which birds' throats are cut while they are still conscious. A company like that should not be allowed to claim a "commitment to animal welfare."

Please, take the time now to file your own, polite complaint with the FTC about KFC’s false claims of humanity and send this video to 10 friends so they can see just how "humane" KFC chicken really is.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

elephantjournal / CC

Unfortunately, no one driving through Colorado will be seeing the personalized license plate "ILVTOFU" anytime soon, thanks to the DMV's rejection of the message as "possibly offensive to the general public."

Wait, what? How is loving tofu offensive? (Aside from this video, of course.)

As it turns out, the license-plate approver had an entirely different interpretation of the message, as in I-LV-TO-eff-you.

While it's a creative interpretation, it's not exactly what the Colorado mother of three vegetarian kids had in mind. Hopefully, with a little explanation and maybe even a tasty sample of the jiggly white stuff, the rejection will be overturned and her car can become the vegetarian-message-on-wheels that it was meant to be.

How about you? Do you have a personalized plate with an animal rights message? Spill the details below.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

spokane / CC

As you might expect, we got in touch with Newsom's office to say that we'd been hearing from concerned folks. We let Hizzoner know that we were sure that once the issue was brought to his attention, he would want to make sure that PlumpJack pulls the foie gras—especially in light of the impending statewide ban and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' resolution supporting restaurants that shun foie gras.

Long story short, we got a quick call back from Newsom's sister—herself a vegetarian—assuring us that they've pulled foie gras from all their restaurants. Apparently, it was supposed to have been phased out years ago, but somehow it crept back in, so she thanked us for bringing it back to their attention.

No problem, Newsom clan. Thank you for being so ducky to ducks.

Posted by Jeff Mackey

sugarslam / CC

If there's one thing I like, it's a guy who knows how to work a microwave. That might sound weird, but hear me out. For the past many months, my friend Starza and I have been working hard to bring you PETA's Vegan College Cookbook: 275 Easy, Cheap, and Delicious Recipes to Keep You Vegan at School. Here's the really exciting part: The most complicated cooking contraption you'll need for these recipes is a microwave!

What does this all have to do with Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson? Well, as it turns out, the lovely Mr. Pattinson loves microwaves too. According to an interview with Pattinson in the April issue of GQ, "He explains that the place he's staying at in L.A. has a microwave, and that he's never had a microwave before, and that he spends a lot of time looking for new things you can microwave." Including a carrot! Talk about a match made in heaven (meaning Pattinson and the cookbook, not him and me—although, now that I think about it …).

Anyway, I can't imagine a more perfect gift for him right now than PETA's Vegan College Cookbook, which is exactly why we sent one his way today. After all, the cookbook is perfect for any busy person—whether you're a college student or a movie star. Wouldn't it be awesome if he realized how easy it is to be vegetarian and gave up the flesh?

Now, the cookbook doesn't come out until May, but here's a sneak peek at a recipe you can sink your teeth into right now!

Campus Streaker Sausage Dip

Great for when you're on the run.

14-oz. vegan sausage

2 10-oz. containers vegan cream cheese, room temperature

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, undrained

• Crumble the sausage as best you can and stir it into the cream cheese and tomatoes until evenly blended. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes or until hot.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 8 servings

Posted by Marta Holmberg

P.S. If you're as ridiculously obsessed with corny infomercials as I am, you'll love our cookbook infomercial!

Phew! We have so many great protest pictures to share that we decided to hit you with them all at once. Brace yourselves:

Animal defenders of all ages turned out for our protest against the (ab)use of animals in trauma training exercises at Fort Bragg …

… including baby McCartney (named after you-know-who).

Our gaggle of PETA chicks caused quite a stir in Youngstown, Ohio, where they told the "naked truth" to passersby outside a KFC. Even the manager of the KFC was sympathetic, telling them that his son had just gone vegetarian.

Mickey and Minnie are up to their old tricks, this time at a Lowe's in Houston, Texas. A construction-induced traffic jam proved to be a mouse's best friend, providing a captive audience who eagerly snapped up all our leaflets.

It was an embarrassment of riches for Houston, which was also blessed with one of our much-coveted veggie hotdog giveaways featuring PETA's Lettuce Ladies.

Deputy Dog, I presume?

More babies! This mother and munchkin who were passing by just happened to be wearing coordinating PETA T-shirts. What are the odds?

And finally, we travel to South Korea, where PETA Asia-Pacific stole all the thunder from Seoul Fashion Week.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

A record-breaking 200,000 votes poured in for this year's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door contest, and after four rounds of weeding out the hot from the super hot, we've finally selected the winners. As soon as we found out that Amber, the sexy photographer from Minnesota, and Monty, the globe-trotting filmmaker and artist from L.A., had won our contest, we just had to get their reactions. So here they are: The Sexiest Vegetarians of 2009, uncensored and off the hook.

Monty

So you've just been crowned Sexiest Vegetarian Boy Next Door. How does it feel? It feels GREAT! This campaign was such a wonderful experience for me because it created a unique way for me to engage my friends and family on animal rights/vegetarian issues. I am very grateful for the support, encouragement, and new vegetarians in the making!

Any big plans now that you have won this award? Yes, I plan to use this platform to reach out to people of color and help educate them on healthy eating, animal rights, and their personal roles in changing misconceptions within their communities.

Hufu, CloFu, or just plain tofu? I am going to stick with the tofu! It absorbs flavor very well and, though George Clooney's sweat may be desirable to some, I am fine with my tasty garlic-spinach-and-tofu dish that has my mouth salivating just thinking about it!

Fur-Hag of the Year versus Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door. Who wins and why? That is no contest! I do not have to wear fur to make myself look better or to feel better about myself. My hard work, dedication, and compassion drape me like a suit of armor and I cannot be touched by those who choose to wear fur.

What's the wildest thing you've ever done in the name of animal rights or vegetarianism? After being raised in a Southern Baptist home centered around the "soul food" tradition, one day, I stood up and announced to my family that I could no longer eat animals. I talked about the animal abuse, I explained the effects on the environment, I discussed the health benefits, and I played PETA's "Meet Your Meat" video. My culture is deeply rooted in meat consumption and to go against that is the wildest thing that I have done in the name of animal rights/vegetarianism. It was also the most rewarding.

Do you have a favorite cookbook or recipe? At the moment, my favorite recipe comes from my favorite restaurant here in Los Angeles—Cafe MUSE. Most of the menu is vegan options. Every meat-eater that I have taken there is in awe of how good and healthy their meal was. As a matter of fact, all of them have been back!

My favorite recipe is tofu grilled with garlic, soy sauce, and red onion, with fresh tomatoes, avocado, and mixed greens in a spinach wrap. YUM.

As a traveler, what's one place in the world you'd like to visit? Thailand. I was supposed to go last December, but my flight was cancelled for an extended period of time due to civil unrest. I am hoping to get there before the end of the year. I have plans to spend time at the Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand, where I will shoot and produce a multi-media piece on the plight of the Asian elephant. Ultimately, one of my goals is to be able to travel all around the world doing this type of work.

Amber

So you've just been crowned Sexiest Vegetarian Girl Next Door. How does it feel? It feels amazing to be crowned The Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door! I am so happy and honored to be able to represent the vegetarian ladies this year.

Your husband was also a finalist in the competition. What was his reaction when he found out you'd won? He was thrilled! He knows how much I love being a vegetarian and love to spread the word about vegetarianism and animal compassion.

If you designed a vegetarian starter kit, what would you put in it? I would start with putting everything in a reusable cloth grocery bag, including the Real Food Daily cookbook, since they have so many amazing vegan recipes. I would also include statistics pertaining to animals, factory farming, and health for people to educate themselves with and use when others ask why they are trying this diet. I would put in samples or coupons of fake meat products, as well as a list of all the brands that make meat-replica foods. I would put in a quote or statistic from the Sexiest Celebrity Vegetarian and the Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door, and perhaps a helpful tip, to show them we all started somewhere.

How have you gotten sexier since going vegetarian? My body is slimmer and more toned, thanks to not eating any animal fats. I feel sexier and show off my physique more now. I also feel sexier knowing there is no guilt on my conscience or on my plate.

What's the wildest thing you've ever done in the name of animal rights or vegetarianism? The wildest thing I have done so far is protest at a Petland. I also made a shirt to wear to a 5K run on Thanksgiving morning that read on the front, with a photo of a turkey, "No animals died for my meal," and on the back, "Nice girls fake it: Wearing leather and fur kills animals." I got many looks that day and was proud!

Have your vegetarian ways influenced your friends and family? Yes! I have helped educate three friends on the vegetarian lifestyle. My friends are always asking how I stay in such good shape, and I tell them to cut the meat and dairy out of their diet and the weight will start coming off fast!

Did you know that the male winner of the contest this year is also a photographer? Bizarre. Why do you think that is? How cool! I did not know the male winner was also a photographer. Perhaps since we both see things with a closer, more critical eye, and know that taking 100 animals' lives a year isn't necessary to live and look good. Perhaps we both know how beautiful and amazing animals are, by being able to capture them on film.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

epets / CC

The biggest story came from NPR, which reported on our efforts to save animals from the humiliation of having losing sports teams named after them. Our joint effort with the Humane Society, "Stop Teams Everywhere From Animal Mascots (STEAM)," has reportedly supported legislation in Michigan, Maryland, and Tennessee.

Meanwhile, Tor.com discussed our indecision regarding the Furry community (Animal-friendly? Unfriendly? Too-friendly?), and Aero-News.net announced our intention to seek $250,000 in damages (as well as an apology) for the geese killed in the "Miracle on the Hudson."

Our friends at ecorazzi highlighted Al Gore's new and non-environmentally-hypocritical line of organic vegan frozen foods—first up, "Al Gore's Vegan Nubs." And Groovy Vegetarian lamented the sad news that our president, Ingrid E. Newkirk, was caught chowing down on a Burger King Whopper.

Now, come on, people, you didn't really believe any of these stories, did you? I mean, everybody knows that we'd ask for way more than $250,000 … I kid, I kid. So, yes—we found ourselves the subject of a number of April Fool's jokes. And don't worry, we had our share of the fun too. C'mon—squirrel underpants? Pheromone-fueled hunter-targeting snake attacks? A Photoshop job this bad on a PETA ad?

I hope you all knew better than to fall for that one!

Posted by Amanda Schinke

bensbiz / CC

Weighing in at a hefty 4 pounds, the Fifth Third Burger contains a whopping 4,800 calories. Between two 8-inch buns lie five 1/3-pound beef patties and enough fixins' to make even the heartiest eaters clutch their chests in horror: a cup of chili, five slices of American cheese, salsa, nacho cheese, Fritos, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream. And what do you get for finishing this artery-clogging sandwich? A T-shirt.

Well, PETA is challenging anyone who chows down on the Fifth Third Burger to take on a side order of all the resources it took to create the massive meal. Producing just one pound of animal flesh takes 16 pounds of grain and 2,468 gallons of water. You're probably busy gagging over the mere thought of this monstrous burger, so I'll do the math for you: on top of the 4-pound sandwich, you'll be required to shovel in 27 pounds of grain and wash it down with 4,000 gallons of water. Think you can handle it?

For those gourmands who are intent on ingesting several days' worth of food in one sitting, we're asking the Whitecaps to offer the Fifth Third Veggie Burger. Vegetarian burgers don't waste all the valuable resources that meat products do, so they're a guilt-free indulgence for baseball fans who care about animals and the planet.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

If you've kept up with our campaigns, you're well aware of the horrors of the factory farms and slaughterhouses that supply chickens to greasy fast-food joints such as KFC and McDonald's. After learning about the cruelty that goes into making every "Happy Meal" (more like Unhappy Meal), some PETA members took to the streets to turn the tables on old Ronald.

Check out these photos, and then send a letter to McDonald's and let officials there know that you won't stand for any more McCruelty.

Finally, the chicken gets revenge. He's boiling mad that his brothers were scalded alive.

So, Ronald, how does it feel to be on the other end of the knife? The chickens aren't too happy about it either.

Posted by Lianne Turner

gawker / CC

This week, we're giving away a copy of Majesco's Gardening Mama game for Nintendo DS to celebrate the game's U.S. release. Remember a few months back when we duked it out with Majesco over the lack of vegetarian options in its Cooking Mama game? We showed Mama that a Thanksgiving dinner full of blood, guts, and feathers is not the only option, and we helped her create a delicious vegetarian menu instead.

The new Gardening Mama game helps you plant, raise, and harvest produce in your very own garden. Hopefully, this game will lead to the development of the much-desired Cooking Mama: Vegetarian Kitchen.

How do you win? Post a comment letting us know which video game you'd like to see PETA parody next. The most creative answer will earn a copy of Gardening Mama.

The contest ends on April 15, 2009, and we'll contact the winner on April 17, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Check back every Wednesday for new prizes. Good luck!

Posted by Lianne Turner

Today, amid a flurry of tourists and cameras, PETA unveiled our new "Let Vegetarianism Grow on You" ad in Times Square. In the ad, the always witty Cloris Leachman wears a dress of red cabbage and leaf lettuce. The release follows last week's publication of the results of the biggest medical study ever to conclude that avoiding meat gives people a better chance of living longer. Who better to illustrate the point than Cloris, a vibrant 82-year-old vegetarian?

As if her performance on Dancing With the Stars wasn't proof enough that vegetarians age gracefully

For those of you who were unable to make the trip to the unveiling, no worries. We've got exclusive photos of the event as well as video of Cloris for ya.

Thanks Cloris—you're now in our Lettuce Ladies Hall of Fame!

Posted by Shawna Flavell

When public school systems fall on hard times, they know they can count on PETA to pitch in. Remember when we sent message toilet paper to a struggling Detroit school? So, of course, we jumped into action when we heard about a cash-strapped school in Idaho that's limiting how much writing paper teachers can use.

One of Pocatello High School's teachers has actually begun selling ad space on the writing paper he uses in his classroom—one pizza joint has already placed an ad. While we respect his initiative, we thought we could one-up him. So we've written to the school's principal, Don Cotant, offering to provide the whole school with an entire semester's worth of recycled writing paper printed with our snazzy Meat's Not Green logo on it.

We'll let you know if Pocatello High takes us up on the offer! It would definitely be a more eco-friendly way to ease the budget crunch than encouraging kids to spend $5 on a pus-laced pizza. Plus it would be one step in the right direction toward being listed as one of the most vegetarian-friendly school districts next year.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

The design for our pothole ad, which doesn't promote torturing chickens

KFC even hired a Colonel Sanders lookalike for the kickoff of the program in its hometown of Louisville.

KFC might concentrate instead on improving conditions for the chickens it abuses, but it won't, so we're offering to double the money that KFC offered the City of Louisville—if the city will use our ads against KFC cruelty on its potholes instead. After all, drivers have a right to hear the chickens' side of the story—and it isn't pretty.

Posted by Jeff Mackey