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PETA's Latest Ad Tries to Promote Veganism With an Injured Woman

Annie Scudder — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:10:26 PST

Nothing mixes like sex and veggies if you ask PETA. They anti-meat group isn't afraid to use sexualized women to promote its message. Not surprisingly, PETA's latest ad relies on sex again, but if you ask me, it makes veganism seem anything but appetizing. It features "Jessica," a pantsless woman wearing a neck brace. Jessica is suffering from "BWVAKTBOOM" (Boyfriend Went Vegan and Knocked the Bottom Out of Me), a "painful condition that occurs when boyfriends go vegan and can suddenly bring it like a tantric porn star." The imaging hints at sexual violence, even though I'd assume PETA is trying to characterize the sex as being consensual and rough. If you go to the website promoted in the video, it touts the "dramatic increase in their wang power and sexual stamina" that it says comes with giving up meat. Sorry, but painful sex that leaves you in a neck brace is not a turn on or funny.

A Look at PETA's Seriously Sexualized Stunts

Annie Scudder — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:06:22 PST

Whether or not you wear or eat meat, PETA's overtly sexualized publicity campaigns might leave a bad taste in your mouth. In addition to billboards featuring stars like Pamela Anderson and Olivia Munn going naked for the cause, the animal rights group often holds live spectacles in public places featuring attractive young women, models, or minor celebrities wearing little. For example, UK reality star Chantelle Houghton dressed up like a caged tiger in her underwear, black pumps, and body paint to protest the government's decision not to ban wild animals on cruises. She addressed a serious issue in what looked like an ambitious sexy Halloween costume.

Whether it's a nude girl-on-girl bath for World Water Day or a sexy pilgrim outfit for Thanksgiving, PETA has mastered the sexualized-woman-as-activism genre. Take a look at some of the most recent public displays and tell me if you think potentially objectifying women is worth the attention it brings to animals.

PETA Tells Mario to Ditch the Fur

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:40:07 PST

We may be excited for Super Mario 3D Land, but there's one group who certainly isn't. PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says that when Mario dons a Tanooki suit in the game, he's giving the green light to would-be fur wearers.

According to PETA: "Tanooki may be just a "suit" in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."

Mario's use of Tanooki is nothing new. First introduced in 1988 in Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario used the Tanooki tail to fly and do spin attacks. Since tanukis hold a place in Japanese folklore associated with good fortune, it could be argued that Mario is simply harnessing the spirit of the animal.

PETA's campaign against Mario even includes a (warning) rather gruesome 8-bit online game called Super Tanooki Skin 2D that looks like a variation of the Super Mario Bros. game in which you chase Mario to reclaim Tanooki's fur. What do you think of PETA's claims? Is it another PR stunt or do you agree it encourages fur wearing?

Source: Nintendo

PETA Plans to Launch Porn Site to Promote Veganism

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:29:23 PDT

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is no stranger to using sex appeal to get people's attention. In the past, the vegan activist group has used images of nude celebs, like Alicia Silverstone, in ads to convince people to give up meat, but now PETA is taking this tactic one giant step further. The animal rights' group plans to launch a pornographic website to promote its message about going vegan.

According to PETA spokeswoman Lindsay Rajt, the new website, peta.xxx, will feature "tantalizing" videos and photographs to get its animal rights messages across. Unfortunately, PETA has discovered that its racier ads and actions work best, and it's a surefire "way to get people to stand up and pay attention about the plight of animals."

November is the earliest that PETA can get approval for this controversial site, so don't try to visit the above address just yet (I don't blame you for being curious!). Critics think this is a bad move for PETA. Sure, it may get people's attention at first, but not the ones who care about animals. This new website could end up offending a lot of people who would otherwise love to hear about the ethical and health-related reasons people should go vegan. What do you think?

Source: Peta

Yummy Links: From Communal Tables to Bacon Cupcakes

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:40:12 PST

How do you feel about communal tables? - Inside Scoop SF
Do you know how much sugar you consume? It could be a lot more than you think. - Eater
Oprah and her 378 staffers are doing a week-long vegan challenge. - Huffington Post Food
Learn how Snoop Dogg makes seven-layer dip. - The Feast NY
Are you interested in Martha Bakes, Martha Stewart's instructional baking show? - Fork in the Road
Watch Peta's new porn-tastic veggie video. - Grub Street SF
Why the farm lunch is a necessity. - The Atlantic
Must make: chocolate cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting and bacon streusel! - Endless Simmer

Source: Flickr User bhamsandwich

Joan Rivers on Gay Animals

Tara Sharp — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:37:22 PST

"I just wish more animals were gay - people would pay more attention!"

- Joan Rivers in a letter she wrote on behalf of PETA supporting two animal-related bills to City Council President Christine Quinn, who not coincidentally is openly gay. Let's hope Quinn has a sense of humor!

Airport Security Is Not the Time to Recruit Vegans

Colleen Barrett — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:10:30 PDT

Two things that should never be sexed up are animal rights and airport security, but here we are. PETA's latest aggressive ad is of a woman's body in a bra and underwear, saying "Be proud of your body scan: go vegan." This makes two assumptions: first, deep down we care what TSA employees think of our bodies, and that fear is enough to change dietary habits.

Fortunately, New York's LaGuardia and JFK airports are grounding the idea. They rejected the ad, prohibiting its placement near airport body scanners. JCDecaux North America, the company in charge of the airports' advertising, says the decision is based on the company's policy against "nudity or political ads," not because it's that risqué.

I wouldn't say it's risqué either, but just a gross exploitation of two things that should never meet but have: body image and airport security.

Say What? Lady Gaga Is Crawling in Maggots

TresSugar — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:15:25 PDT

"Someone should whisper in her ear that there are more people who are upset by butchery than who are impressed by it. Meat is the decomposing flesh of a tormented animal who didn't want to die, and after a few hours under the TV lights, it would smell like the rotting flesh it is and likely be crawling in maggots - not too attractive, really."

- PETA's president responds to Lady Gaga's meaty VMA outfit, a look she may have borrowed from a 2008 episode of America's Next Top Model. I don't know what's more predictable: Lady Gaga's outrageous wardrobe choice, or PETA's outrage?

PETA Names Its Sexiest Celeb Vegetarians of 2010

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:47:33 PDT

Drumroll, please: actress Olivia Wilde and Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper have been named PETA's sexiest celeb vegetarians of 2010. The pair - who are both vegans - beat out other sexy notables like Joaquin Phoenix, Hayden Panettiere, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Here's what Olivia and Bob told PETA about living a vegan lifestyle.

Olivia on being vegan: "Beyond my desire to boycott the torture factories, I am also way happier when I eat a plant based diet, and I feel about a thousand times more energetic."
Bob on being vegan: "I enjoy living a plant-based diet because it makes me feel clear headed and strong, not to mention my genetically high cholesterol dropped more than 100 points . . . That was all the motivation I needed."

Past sexy PETA celebrity vegetarians include Leona Lewis, Kristen Bell, and Josh Hartnett.

Picture It: Not Down With Meat

TresSugar — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:00:32 PDT

UK reality star Chantelle Houghton lends what fame she has to a PETA campaign linking erectile dysfunction to eating meat. The group claims veggies are the new Viagra.