Friday, June 27, 2008

Wimbledon Resorts to Having Pigeons Shot: Another Group that Uses Killing to Solve an Issue

Truly unbelievable that they’d allow this at Wimbledon. But then again, nothing’s too shocking anymore. Once again, a group resorts to killing to solve a problem. As stated below, a clear case of animal cruelty and breaking the law. “Since the use of marksmen to kill pigeons appears to have been carried out as a first, rather than a last resort, and not out of a concern for public health, but rather because the animals were deemed inconvenient by players, you appear to be in clear violation of the law,” PETA vice-president Bruce Friedrich said.

Article:

Jun 24, 1:03 pm EDT

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=reu-

wimbledonpigeons&prov=reuters&type=lgns

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Wimbledon came under fire from animal activists on Tuesday for using marksmen to shoot down dive-bombing pigeons.

The tournament employs two hawks to scare away pigeons who had become a pest swooping down on Centre Court and distracting players in the middle of tense matches.

But the hawks failed to keep the pigeons away from the players’ lawn and the open-air media restaurant so marksmen were called in.

“The hawks are our first line of deterrent, and by and large they do the job,” Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said.

“But unfortunately there were one or two areas where the hawks didn’t deter the pigeons, so it was deemed necessary to take a harder approach,” he explained.

The marksmen were summoned by Wimbledon as pigeon droppings on the restaurant tables were thought to be a health hazard.

The decision to call in the marksmen was condemned as “cruel and illegal behaviour” by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which complained to the tournament organisers and the police.

“Since the use of marksmen to kill pigeons appears to have been carried out as a first, rather than a last resort, and not out of a concern for public health, but rather because the animals were deemed inconvenient by players, you appear to be in clear violation of the law,” PETA vice-president Bruce Friedrich said.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Winners of Sexiest Vegetarians of 2008 Released: New Additions and Old Favorites

A very important event held yearly. The page can be found at http://www.peta.org/feat_sexiest_vegetarians_alive.asp

Why this event is so important is that it gives legitimacy to animal rights and vegetarianism. I think what really sticks out is the quote by Anthony Kiedis, stated in the article below - "I saw some documentary footage of what happens in the factory farming of cows ... It sealed the deal," he says. Also mentioned on the PETA site from – “Kiedis recently went vegan after learning about the worldwide depletion of fish in the oceans and after a doctor recommended a healthy vegan diet for his son.”

So what we have here then is exposure to the truth of such choices and the related benefits from people who can gain serious media exposure.

Also included in the article is a full list of vegetarian celebrities who were in the running. I pasted in their names below. Check out the list. Very interesting

Article:

http://omg.yahoo.com/lewis-kiedis-named-sexiest-vegetarians/

news/9928?nc

Pop superstar Leona Lewis and Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis were named the Sexiest Vegetarians of 2008 by tens of thousands of votes on PETA.org.

The unlikely duo beat out better known vegetarians including Kristen Bell, Emily Deschanel, Milo Ventimiglia, Casey Affleck, Abbie Cornish, Hayden Panettiere, and Jason Schwartzman for the honor.

"I am totally against animal cruelty," Lewis says. "I am vegetarian so I don't have clothes, shoes, or bags made from leather or suede or any animal products ... I'm on a mission."

Kiedis, for his part, is a vegan. "I saw some documentary footage of what happens in the factory farming of cows ... It sealed the deal," he says.

See the rest of the 200 celebs who were in the running here.

Previous winners of PETA's World's Sexiest Vegetarians contest include Carrie Underwood, Prince, Kevin Eubanks, Natalie Portman, Shania Twain, Chris Martin, Andre 3000, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone.

Below is the complete list of vegetarian celebrities who were in the running.

Women

Abbie Cornish
Aimee Teegarden
Alexis Stewart
Alicia Silverstone
Alyssa Milano
Amber Tamblyn
Ana Ortiz
Angela Bassett
Brigitte Bardot
Bryce Dallas Howard
Carolyn Murphy
Carré Otis
Carrie Underwood
Chelsea Clinton
Chely Wright
Chrissie Hynde
Christie Brinkley
Chynna Phillips
Daniela Sea
Daniele Gaither
Daphne Zuniga
Daryl Hannah
Diane Keaton
Diane Warren
Elizabeth Berkley
Elizabeth Reaser
Emily Deschanel
Emmy Rossum
Emmylou Harris
Erykah Badu
Fiona Apple
Gloria Steinem
Grace Slick
Hayden Panettiere
India.Arie
Jane Wiedlin
Jenna Jameson
Jennie Garth
Joan Jett
Jorja Fox
Joss Stone
Joy Bryant
Julie Christie
k.d. lang
Kaley Cuoco
Kelly Monaco
Kim Basinger
Kristen Bell
KT Tunstall
Lake Bell
Lauren Bush
Leona Lewis
Lindsay Wagner
Lisa Edelstein
Maggie Q
Marilu Henner
Mary Tyler Moore
Maureen Shea
Monica Potter
Naomi Watts
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Portman
Nellie McKay
Pamela Anderson
Perry Reeves
Persia White
Petra Nemcova
Pink
Princess Superstar
Rachael Leigh Cook
Radha Mitchell
Rosanna Arquette
Sadie Frost
Sami Lukis (MMM Brisbane)
Shalom Harlow
Shania Twain
Shanna Moakler
Shannon Elizabeth
Sheryl Lee
Sophie Monk
Stella McCartney
Summer Phoenix
Tatjana Patitz
Tatum O''Neal
Tea Leoni
Thora Birch
Traci Bingham
Vanessa A. Williams
Vanessa Ferlito
Wendie Malick

Men

A.J. Calloway
Alec Baldwin
André 3000
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Peeler
Bob Barker
Bryan Adams
Carl Lewis
Casey Affleck
Chris Martin
Corey Feldman
Damian Marley
Damon Dash
Dan Abrams
Dave Meyers
Dennis Kucinich
Don Imus
Ed Begley Jr.
Edward Furlong
Eric Stoltz
Forest Whitaker
Fred Schneider
Geezer Butler
Grant Aleksander
Greg Cipes
GZA
Ian McKellen
James Cromwell
Jared Leto
Jason Schwartzman
Jerry Stackhouse
Jeru the Damaja
Joaquin Phoenix
John C. Reilly
John Feldmann
Jonathan Safran Foer
Justin Theroux
Keenen Ivory Wayans
Kevin Eubanks
Kevin Nealon
Kristoff St. John
KRS-One
Leonard Nimoy
Little Richard
M-1
Mac Danzig
Masta Killa
Michael Ausiello
Michael Bolton
Michael Franti
Michael Stipe
Mike White
Milo Ventimiglia
Moby
Morrissey
Mos Def
Nick Zinner
Noah Wyle
Orlando Jones
Paul McCartney
Peter Dinklage
Phil Collen
Prince
Prodigy
Q-Tip
Raja Bell
Richard Linklater
Rick Allen
Rick Rubin
Ricky Williams
Rikki Rockett
Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
Rob Zombie
Ruben Studdard
Rupert Everett
Russell Brand
Russell Simmons
RZA
Salim Stoudamire
Sean Astin
Serj Tankian
Stephen Marley
Steve Jobs
Thom Yorke
Tobey Maguire
Todd Oldham
Tony La Russa
Will Estes
Woody Harrelson

Friday, June 06, 2008

Indiana Jones Star Harrison Ford Speaks About the Evils of Illegal Animal Trafficking and How You Can Help to Stop It

As I’ve said before, it’s always positive when famous people dedicate themselves to causes greater than themselves. In this case, it’s hard to find a bigger movies star than Harrison Ford.


Harrison does an excellent job of stating what should be simple – that purchasing products that look like they contain rare animal products (such as skin and fur) likely come from an endangered species. In addition, when you buy these products, then the cycle continues. More will be killed.

As he states in the article below: "Many of the world's most magnificent animals are being pushed toward extinction by the illegal trade and products made from their body parts….When you travel abroad you may be offered some of these products. It might look nothing like the animal itself but don't be fooled. An animal has been killed to make one of these."

Article:

Harrison Ford Warns Against Illegal Animal Trafficking

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=5001932&page=1

'When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too,' Actor Says in PSAs

By KIRIT RADIA

June 5, 2008

When moviegoers settle in to watch the new Indiana Jones movie in theaters, they may first see an unexpected message from its star, Harrison Ford.

Before Indiana Jones tries to save the artifacts in the movie, Ford will tell the audience to save the animals.

"Our endangered animals are being destroyed by illegal wildlife trade. It's up to us to stop it. Never buy illegal wildlife products. When the buying stops, the killing can too," the actor says in one of three public service announcements taped for an international campaign to curb illegal animal trafficking.

Ford has teamed with the U.S. State Department and the nonprofit organization WildAid to promote the message around the world.

"Many of the world's most magnificent animals are being pushed toward extinction by the illegal trade and products made from their body parts," Ford says in another ad, standing among alligator coats and holding snakeskin boots. "When you travel abroad you may be offered some of these products. It might look nothing like the animal itself but don't be fooled. An animal has been killed to make one of these."

Ford is an avid environmentalist and is the vice chairman of the group Conservation International's board of directors.

"People pay attention when someone like Harrison Ford delivers the message so we're lucky to have him do the ads," Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans Environment and Science Claudia McMurray told ABC News.

The State Department said it will distribute the ads through more than 30 of its embassies around the world. Already, they have been shown on television and in movie theaters in India and Brazil, some of the most populous countries that also happen to be the origin for many of the poached animals.

"Given the global nature of this campaign, I think we have the capacity to reach millions of people," McMurray said in a phone interview from New York, where she will unveil the ads at the United Nations alongside actress and animal rights activist Bo Derek, who has also served as the secretary of state's special envoy for wildlife trafficking issues.

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