Kategorie: Animals

Why should we care about animal rights? For one, other animals want the same things that we do. We want to spend time with family—like cows, who often cry out for their babies after the dairy industry forcibly takes them away. We want freedom—like orcas, who suffer inside cramped, barren tanks at marine parks. We want autonomy—like monkeys, who often go insane in laboratories, where experimenters subject them to painful, invasive surgeries. And like all animals, we don’t want to suffer.

Latines have long been driving home that message. Icons like César Chávez were pro-animal “influencers” long before that word was ever coined. Today, from the highest level of the Vatican to the silver screen, Latines continue to push back against speciesism. Here are 17 inspiring quotes from Latines that will motivate you to take action for animals.

Alba Flores

“I think that your food doesn’t have to be the cause of suffering and exploitation of animals.”

Patricia De León

[On bullfighting] “Tradition is not an excuse for cruelty.”

Kate del Castillo

“It doesn’t matter if we have fur or feathers or fins; the shape of our face; or the number of legs—we’re not different in any important way. We experience ourselves as separate from the rest, but none of us deserves to be treated with less respect.”

Yennifer Martinez

“To dissect the systematic and structural powers of oppression. That means breaking down barriers, not giving up, caring more than anyone else, and coming together to build a better world, one in which we don’t have to kill one another. One person can make a difference, but a group of dedicated people, working together. That makes an impact so large we just might change the course of the world.”

Gabriel Ochoa Uribe

“I’m convinced that the only way to redirect the course of history and have a possibility of a future, is through equity and consideration towards others, even the smallest ones, in every aspect, and that includes all species.”

Joy Huerta Uecke (of Jesse & Joy)

“In order for us to try and make this world a better place, it has to start with us. You can still be cool without being cruel. … Whenever we say that we should give a voice to the voiceless, it annoys me and it makes me mad because every single living creature has a voice. We’re just not listening to them.”

Pope Francis

“[L]et us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.”

María Celeste Arrarás

“They call bullfighting [a] sport. It’s not [a] sport. It is cruelty. It is abuse.”

Ricky Martin

“Two years ago if you would have asked me, ‘Would you become a vegetarian?’ I would’ve been like, ‘You’re crazy! I love meat!’ … I am not eating meat at all, and I feel amazing. … My cholesterol is stable …. My head is clearer, I sleep better, my energy is where it needs to be.”

Kat Von D

“We are living in amazing times right now where technology is making it so easy to make compassionate choices in the products we purchase, without having to exploit animals.”

Michelle Renaud

“It is cruelty, not ‘culture,’ and bullfighting is a ‘tradition’ that deserves to die.”

Daisy Fuentes

[On orcas at marine parks] “We are all aware of the tragic sadness and harm inflicted upon these majestic, highly intelligent, endangered creatures in captivity. We now know it’s not entertainment. It’s just wrong.”

César Chávez

“Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a civilized society.”

Christian Serratos

“I’ve always been opposed to slaughtering, eating, [or] wearing carcass. ”

Dulce María

[On bullfighting] “As a Mexican … I [can] tell you there are beautiful traditions [in Mexico] that [are] worth promoting and that transcend from generation to generation. But there are things that I believe, that as human beings, we are evolving in the consciousness .”

Eva Mendes

“I remember having my first premiere in New York City and being so naïve that I didn’t have a coat with me. My stylist sent me a … fur wrap for the evening, and I ignorantly wore it. PETA then wrote me a beautiful letter commenting on my less-than-educated choice. I was so impressed that I vowed to them and myself to NEVER wear real fur on the red carpet or in my life again.”

Andrea Meza

“Let us remember that [Earth] does not belong to us […] it is in our hands to generate change & stop the deterioration of our environment.”

Join These Inspiring Figures and Take Action Today!

You can join PETA’s movement against speciesism, too. Help end the exploitation of other animals for food, fashion, entertainment, and more by offering a donation to PETA:

Donate now!

The post ¡Mira! 17 Quotes From Latines That Will Inspire You to Take Action for Animals appeared first on PETA.

A “code red for humanity”—that’s what we’re facing if humans don’t take immediate action toward widespread reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions, according to a recent climate report issued by the United Nations (U.N.). But we have the power to do something about it, by going humane against methane.

PETA has been given the funds to distribute 10,000 Methane Offset Starter Kits to some of the most climate change–vulnerable cities in the U.S. so that people can take personal action now.

Going Humane to Save Humanity (and Animals!)

Because the U.N. has identified animal-based agriculture as a leading cause of greenhouse-gas emissions, the shelf-stable kits contain a block of tofu, seeds to grow soybeans (100 calories of which have 13 grams more protein than 100 calories of beef), nondairy creamer, recipes, and PETA’s vegan starter kit—enough to start anyone on the road to environmentally positive living and healthy, humane eating. PETA is sending kits to cities that are expected to face increased flooding, hotter days, more rain, and more floods as well as to cities that are experiencing more wildfires.

These environmentally friendly necessities don’t come from the exploitation of mother cows, who are separated from their babies for dairy; chickens, who are tightly packed into dark, filthy sheds with no room to roam for eggs and meat; or others exploited by the animal agriculture industry.

Animal Agriculture Is Adding Fuel to the Fire—Let’s Work to Put It Out

The U.N. has reported that a global shift to vegan eating is required to combat the worst effects of climate change, with animal agriculture alone responsible for up to nearly one-fifth of all human-induced greenhouse-gas emissions. Clearing land to raise animals and grow crops to feed them is a leading cause of deforestation, including in the Amazon, and animal agriculture uses a massive amount of water, contributing to droughts and the spread of wildfires.

The push against climate change starts with us—and we need to act now. You can join PETA’s work to help animals and the planet by going vegan today:

order a free vegan starter kit!

The post Amid Threat of ‘Code Red for Humanity,’ PETA to Send Out 10,000 Methane Offset Kits appeared first on PETA.

For World Plant Milk Day (August 22) and given that the demand for dairy-free milk shows no signs of falling, PETA sent a letter to New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid this afternoon asking him to change Buttermilk Falls State Park’s name to Plant Milk Falls State Park at least for that day. The group has offered to contribute to the cost of new signage and to send delicious vegan milks for park visitors to enjoy if he agrees.

“Words matter, and the current name of this beautiful park is linked to an ugly industry that takes mother cows’ babies away from them so that the milk the calves themselves need can be sold,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA hopes park officials will embrace a new moniker that celebrates today’s ever-growing taste for plant milks.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Kulleseid follows.

August 9, 2021

The Honorable Erik Kulleseid

Commissioner

New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Dear Commissioner Kulleseid:

I’m writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide—including hundreds of thousands in New York—with a request: As more Americans fall for vegan milks and the number of vegans continues to climb because of ethical, environmental, and health-related concerns, will you make a bit of a splash by renaming Buttermilk Falls State Park as Plant Milk Falls State Park on World Plant Milk Day (August 22)? If you agree, we’d be happy to contribute to the cost of new signage and to send delicious vegan milks for park visitors to enjoy on that day.

We’re not trying to sour anyone’s day, but words matter and have the power to change lives. Humans are the only animals who drink the milk of another species—or who drink milk at all beyond the age of weaning. Cow’s milk is a primary cause of food allergies among children, and millions of Americans—approximately 65% of the population—are lactose intolerant. Studies have shown that milk from cows doesn’t actually build strong bones or deliver many of the other health benefits that the dairy industry has spent decades promoting in its misleading advertising. In fact, some plants—particularly vegetables like broccoli and kale—contain more absorbable calcium than cow’s milk.

Changing a name is a walk in the park compared to what cows endure in the dairy industry. As you may know, mother cows produce milk only after giving birth, so they’re repeatedly and forcibly impregnated to ensure that they maintain a steady supply of milk—only to see their beloved babies taken away from them within hours of birth. Cows are intelligent, sensitive animals who form close bonds with their young, just like human mothers. They’ve been known to search for miles and chase after vehicles, hoping to be reunited with their calves, and they’ve even hidden calves from farmers so that they wouldn’t be taken away.

Today, dairy-milk sales continue to decline, while plant-milk sales reached $2.5 billion in 2020—so we hope you’ll agree that it’s time to tell dairy to take a hike. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President

The post PETA Wants Buttermilk Falls State Park Renamed appeared first on PETA.

Now that the Cleveland Indians have scored a home run by pledging to change their name to the Cleveland Guardians, PETA sent a letter this afternoon to the team’s general manager, Mike Chernoff, asking him to continue the spirit of inclusivity by adding a vegan hot dog mascot to the Hot Dog Derby tradition. The group has offered to purchase the meat-free mascot’s costume and to treat all the players to veggie dogs, which are already sold at Progressive Field.

“Pigs, cows, and turkeys used for hot dogs value their lives and don’t deserve to become a stadium snack, so let’s go to bat for them,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA hopes the team will introduce a delightful vegan wiener in a win for animals, the environment, and the health of its fans.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Chernoff follows.

August 9, 2021

Mike Chernoff

General Manager

Cleveland Indians

Dear Mr. Chernoff:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, including thousands in Ohio and countless sports fans. Now that you’ve scored a home run by switching your team’s name to the Cleveland Guardians, we have a pitch that we hope you’ll embrace as a way to continue that spirit of inclusivity: Will you please add a vegan hot dog mascot to your Hot Dog Derby? If you agree, we’ll gladly buy the Veggie Dog’s costume and veggie dogs (sold in your stadium) for all the players.

I assure you, our request isn’t coming out of left field. In 2019, Progressive Field was ranked among our top 10 vegan-friendly ballparks, and over the last 15 years, the number of vegans in the U.S. has risen by 3,000%. Whether it’s for ethical, environmental, or health-related reasons, 57% of Americans now purchase vegan foods in place of meat and dairy, and vegan food sales have grown 43% in the past two years. Even Nathan’s Famous recently added a vegan dog!

Promoting a vegan hot dog is also a great way to be a guardian of your fans’ health—the World Health Organization reports that processed meats such as hot dogs cause cancer, and innumerable studies show that going vegan reduces the risk of suffering from cancer, heart disease, and strokes. And of course, there’s another reason to consider vegan hot dogs.

Pigs, cows, and other animals commonly used for hot dogs are sentient beings who enjoy life, form strong bonds with others, and experience pain and fear, just like dogs (and baseball players). Yet the millions who are killed in the U.S. every year are raised on filthy factory farms, where they endure extreme crowding and routine mutilations—without any pain relief—before they’re sent on a terrifying journey to the slaughterhouse and violently killed.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to step up to the plate by giving vegan fans someone to cheer for in your Hot Dog Derby and representation in Tribe Hot Dogs’ community outreach. Thank you for your time and consideration—I look forward to hearing from you. Best of luck this season!

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President

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