The manipulation of the common marmoset genome is reminiscent of scenes in Planet of the Apes or Frankenstein. This is not science fiction but real experimentation with deadly consequences, simply for mere curiosity. It’s absolutely reprehensible and unethical to tamper with animals’ genes and rip babies out of the womb, only to kill them and cut off their heads. Although the leading authors of the absurd study are from the Max Planck Institute, all the experiments were carried out in Japan—where experimenters “self-regulate” and veterinarians aren’t required when using animals in experiments. This is “ethics dumping,” a disgraceful practice in which experimenters mutilate animals in countries that have comparatively weaker ethical and legal protections for them.
Regardless of where these experiments are taking place, they must be stopped immediately. Scientists from PETA Germany, in cooperation with their international partner organizations, have developed a comprehensive guide to ensure a sustainable exit from animal experiments: the Research Modernization Deal.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.
COVID-19 vaccine news has been dominating headlines—but some news outlets apparently missed the memo that words matter, referring to humans participating in vaccine trials as “guinea pigs.” And as the authors of the list of animal-friendly idioms that broke the internet in 2018, we have to admit that it was disappointing to see journalists perpetuating speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview.
“Arizonans Among COVID-19 Vaccine Guinea Pigs,” read one title. “Becoming a Coronavirus Vaccine Guinea Pig,” read another. And in a third instance, “Is It Worth Carrying On as a Guinea Pig, if a Vaccine Has Already Been Found?” one journalist pondered.
What do all these headlines have in common? Whether or not their authors realize it, they’re examples of prejudice and discrimination. Humans consent to participating in COVID-19 vaccine trials—guinea pigs (or “lab rats”) being confined to barren cages, socially isolated, psychologically traumatized, cut and burned and tortured and experimented on in other deplorable ways, and eventually killed do not. Using vulnerable guinea pigs in laboratories as a synonym for these humans is speciesist, it trivializes cruelty to animals, and—not to feed a fed horse but—PETA isn’t here for it.
Humans can consent to being experimented on—guinea pigs can’t.
Like other forms of supremacy, speciesism is ingrained in humans: Most of us grow up being taught that we’re entirely different from and superior to other animals, which lays the foundation for exploiting them. But changing how we speak about other species is a great way to start to overcome this destructive way of thinking.
Guinea pigs are as individual as you and me. Guinea pigs put you through an approval process, just as humans do when dating or meeting potential new friends: “[Y]ou have to convince your pigs to like you,” a PETA staffer and adopted guinea pig guardian admitted. Another PETA staffer described her two adopted guinea pigs as “adorable, sweet, and funny.” And when these three words can be used to described a person, we shouldn’t be locking that person or others like them in a cages or hurting them.
Instead of “Arizonans Among COVID-19 Vaccine Guinea Pigs,” just call a spade a spade: “Consenting Arizonans Among COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Participants.” Our understanding of social justice issues like speciesism can’t evolve until we’re prepared to allow our language to evolve with it. Using words that recognize that all sentient beings deserve respect and compassion is a simple task for us, but it can mean a world of difference to our fellow Earthlings.
Do you live in Alaska? Do you dream of sleeping in an Icelandic igloo? Do you spend more time than the average human searching through the freezer for vegan ice cream? (Am I projecting?) Well, regardless, brrr.
When it’s excessively cold, you may start to second-guess your animal-friendly stance, thinking, “I don’t want animals to be killed for wool, fur trim, or down, but it’s gonna be so cold ….”
Vegan winter wardrobes are real, and they’re spectacular. Here are some of our favorite finds for staying warm in the face of wicked weather:
Jackets, Coats, and Parkas
Canada Goose? Gag. Anyone who’s opposed to looking like an evil doofus wouldn’t be caught dead framing their face with animal fur or covering their body with birds’ feathers. You can’t pull it off, hunni. It’s not OK for companies to support the torment and deaths of animals for jacket materials (or for any reason)—and even when you require heavy-duty winter gear, you can still refuse to pay for animal abuse. These compassionate brands have got you covered with all the cute and cozy options you need:
Some well-known brands, like The North Face, also offer warm, cruelty-free jackets—just make sure you check the tags and only buy items made of 100% vegan materials before purchasing. (Check out this page for help figuring out which materials to look for and which to avoid.)
Sweaters and Other Knitwear
Sweaters can take you from zero to snuggly in the blink of an eye, and that’s why they’re considered essential from early fall until the flowers start to bloom the following year. You can find wool-free knitwear just about everywhere, but these stylish brands have a special place in our wardrobes:
We know your li’l piggies need to stay warm ‘n’ toasty, too, while you trek through the tundra. So let’s talk about UGG: It’s a greedy company that profits from animal suffering, and to that, we say #boybye #boycotted. Look for vegan boots from these brands instead:
Scarves are so cute. #AmIRite? But hey—you know what’s not cute? Putting tight bands on lambs’ scrotums until they become necrotic and fall off. We didn’t make that up—the wool industry actually does this to sheep. Let’s skip the gruesome castrations this winter, shall we? Try some vegan scarves, like ones offered by these brands:
Socks, especially ones marketed as “extra-warm,” can have wool in them sometimes. But hello—in this millennium, we use technology (not animals) to get the job done, and socks are no exception. Your search for comfortable, durable, sweat-wicking socks that keep your feet warm and dry without the use of animals ends here:
Darn Tough Vermont: The Coolmax Zuni Micro Crew Cushion Sock is designed for hiking but works well for winter walks around town, too. (Available in men’s and women’s)
Wrightsock: The Adventure Crew Hiking Sock is a double-layer sock made of Dri-WRIGHT polyester. The two layers help prevent blisters and wick sweat. (Available in men’s and women’s)
Gloves
You’ll need full use of your phalanges if you get caught in a blizzard and need to send an SOS text (or more importantly, post pictures of your vegan hot chocolate on Instagram)—so keep them from freezing with these vegan gloves:
Outdoor Research Gripper Sensor Gloves (available in men’s and women’s)
Your head is a fairly important part of your body, so be nice to it by keeping it warm—and be nice to animals by not paying for them to be killed. Here are some good options:
Staying warm doesn’t have to mean condemning animals to hell on Earth—the cruelty and exploitation inherent in the wool, fur, and down industries mean that buying winter gear made from animal parts is never the way to go. These recommended items should help you narrow down your choices in the seemingly endless sea of fashionable, warm, animal-friendly options.
If you decide to stray from this list, just be sure to look out for and avoid animal-derived materials that you might see listed on labels. These include alpaca, angora, calfskin, camel hair, cashmere, down, fur, leather, mohair, pashmina, shearling, sheepskin, silk, suede, tweed, and wool.
Opt instead for vegan materials like Tencel, modal, bamboo, and viscose (which are highly sustainable) as well as acrylic, corduroy, cotton, cotton flannel, denim, elastic, faux fur, flannelette, imitation leather, leatherette, linen, moleskin, muslin, nylon, polyester, polyester fleece, rayon, rubber, Spandex, Ultrasuede, velour, and velveteen. And if you see felt, flannel, or fleece on the label, make sure it’s vegan—sometimes these materials are animal-derived, and sometimes they’re not.
One of the greatest joys in life is sharing experiences with your animal companions. Of course, it can be challenging at times to adapt to all their quirky habits. If you share your home with cats, you probably know exactly what that means. Cats are curious investigators—if you bring something new into your home, you can be sure they’ll inspect it. So decorating a tree during the holiday season might be a bit more difficult with a feline in your home. Cats may be enticed by a tall tree decorated with shiny objects and may even jump on them, knock them down, or make off with the decorations. Luckily, you can use a few simple tricks to help keep cats safe.
Buying the Tree
Consider a fake one. Real trees can be great, but pine needles can be dangerous for cats who love to chew on foreign objects. If ingested, they can pose a serious health risk. You can easily find a fake tree that still looks realistic, and you can use it year after year.
Go for smaller. A smaller tree is safer for your feline friends, especially if they try to make sneak attacks on it. If the tree falls over, it’s less likely to hurt them—and it’ll be easier for you to decorate and clean up, too.
Setting Up the Tree
Wait a minute. You might be used to busting out the ornaments as soon as you get the tree home, but it helps to give your cat a chance to get bored with the tree first. Set up the tree a few days before decorating it so that your companions can investigate it (and hopefully, soon lose interest in it).
Make sure that the tree has a solid base. As mentioned above, cats love jumping on trees, so be sure to set the tree up so that it won’t easily topple over. Securing it to a wall with some wire near the top can help keep it upright.
If you do opt for a real tree, cover the water bowl with a tree skirt and place presents on top of the skirt so that your cat isn’t tempted to drink the water, which could sicken them.
Keep the tree away from launching zones (e.g., furniture) that your cat uses, in order to reduce the temptation to pounce on your tree.
Steer your kitty away. Most cats hate foil and citrus scents, so wrap your tree trunk in foil, and place a few lemon or orange peels around the base. You can also place pine cones around the base.
Decorating the Tree
Focus on the top half of the tree. Place ornaments where it’s harder for your cat to reach them—at the top and toward the center of the tree (instead of on the ends of the branches).
Take care with lights. Place lights toward the center of the tree so that your cat is less tempted to chew on the wires and cover the end of the wire that plugs into the wall with a cord protector. Always unplug the lights when you’re not able to supervise your cat. If your cat tries to chew the wires, it’s better to take the lights off the tree than risk your friend being burned or electrocuted.
Tie ornaments. Your cat can be injured by the little metal hooks typically used to hang ornaments, so instead, try tying the ornaments to the tree. Make sure the ornaments are secure enough that your cat can’t just run off with them.
Skip the tinsel. Tinsel may be cheap and flashy, but it’s a serious hazard to cats, who often can’t resist eating it and therefore risk choking on it or getting it stuck in their intestines if they swallow it. Go for other types of pretty decor instead, such as paper, wood, or vegan felt decorations, which are less tempting than the super-shiny stuff.
Avoid other holiday hazards. Don’t risk using decorations such as real candles, small ornaments that your cat could choke on, or fake snow (which may contain harmful chemicals). And be sure to keep foods and plants that could be poisonous out of reach—or better yet, out of your house. These include chocolate, mistletoe, lilies, cyclamen, poinsettias, and amaryllises, among others.
Don’t Stress Too Much
Much like knowing that your cat will inevitably scratch your sofa at some point, it’s good to accept that some cats might climb on trees no matter what you do. So do the best you can to set up a beautiful (and safe) tree, but don’t fret too much if kitty decides to “redecorate.” Life is unpredictable with feline companions—that’s half the fun of it!
Now that you’ve got the tree decorating squared away, it’s time to get your holiday shopping started.
Here are some good options: