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PETA Save the Whales Ad: On Target or Over the Line?

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:30:10 -0700

The animal rights group PETA has never been known for employing subtle tactics, but they are known for showing some skin.

Their recently unveiled ad, a billboard in Jacksonville, FL, shows some flesh - that of an obese woman in a bikini and they compare her to a whale. Needless to say, people are outraged by fat shaming tactics being used to promote vegetarianism. PETA stands by their ad and here are excepts from their press release:

A new PETA billboard . . . reminds people who are struggling to lose weight - and who want to have enough energy to chase a beach ball -- that going vegetarian can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds that keep them from looking good in a bikini. The ad shows a woman whose "blubber" is spilling over the sides of her swimsuit bottom . . .

Trying to hide your thunder thighs and balloon belly is no day at the beach.

What do you think of their tactics?

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Che Guevara's Granddaughter Shows Skin For PETA Campaign

YumSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:35:58 -0700

PETA is targeting South America as the market for its latest campaign. The organization's spokesperson? None other than Lydia Guevara, granddaughter of Marxist leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. In the organization's first-ever South American campaign for vegetarianism, the scantily clad Lydia, a vegetarian, wears nothing but bandoliers of baby carrots and a red beret, in a reference to her grandfather, a revolutionary who contributed to Fidel Castro's rise to leadership in Cuba.

"It very much evokes the tagline of the ad, which is 'Join the vegetarian revolution," said PETA representative Michael McGraw. "It's an homage of sorts to her late grandfather." What do you think of the campaign? Does it get your attention in the right way, or it is too racy and politically charged?

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PETA Outrage: Real or Fake?

TresSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

When President Obama demonstrated his killer instincts this week by swatting a fly to death midinterview, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) took the opportunity to send the president a humane bug catcher urging him to have compassion for insects and refrain from "executing" them. The organization said it supports all animals, even the least sympathetic ones.

Stories like this give PETA a reputation for extreme, and sometimes comical, support of all animals. I've rounded up some other examples and mixed in some fake ones, too. Find out if you can spot the difference!

Question 1 of 5

PETA Asked Phish to change its name to Sea Kittens in order to raise empathy for fish.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Goes Antianimal, Hermes Goes Pro

FabSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:22 -0700

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has the pick of the litter when it comes to wearing sumptuous designer creations but her selection might be a little more limited now that she's vowed to be more animal friendly. "I do not wear, buy, or own fur or animal skin other than leather or skin of animals raised for feeding purposes. I am not a vegetarian and I don't find it illogical to wear skins of animals whose meat is also eaten." said Bruni-Sarkozy in a recent letter to PETA. Will Carla inspire others to do the same?

Meanwhile, Hermes has just announced it will start breeding its own crocodiles to keep up with the high demand for its iconic handbags. Despite the recession, Hermes produces 3,000 crocodile bags a year, which is not enough for the crazy waiting list - often several years long - of customers. "We cannot face demand. We have massive overdemand. The world is not full of crocodiles." said Hermes chief executive, Patrick Thomas.

Certainly two different views on using animals for fashion. Are you on team Carla or team Hermes?

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Fab Flash: Kanye West Doesn't Get Stella McCartney

FabSugarUK — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:00:53 -0700

Kanye West has spent a lot of time over the last few seasons getting involved in the fashion industry by attending shows and becoming a Louis Vuitton intern. However, it now seems that he didn't do his research as he might have severed all connections with the McCartney family. Pink has revealed in an interview with Australian FHM that Kanye was disrespectful at Stella's Autumn show as he sat in the front row beside Pink and PETA senior vice president Dan Mathews. She explained, "He just wouldn't shut up about how he loved fur. I mean, he's saying this to me, the PETA guy and Paul McCartney! I was just so grossed out by him. I'm like "You're an idiot!" I have one piece of advice for Kanye - know your audience!

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Is Nudity a Persuasive Method of Activism?

TresSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:00:00 -0700

A naked person might make you either look twice or cover your eyes; but activists in Spain hope it will persuade you to join their cause against bull fighting. Over the weekend, anti-bull fighting demonstrators in Madrid dressed themselves up in not much more than fake blood. They were trying to raise awareness about the animal cruelty involved with bullfighting.

Going naked or using sexy women to bring attention to neglected causes isn't new. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) routinely uses human flesh to get out its animal rights message; they even orchestrated a Running of the Nudes to protest the infamous running of the bulls in Spain.

Do you think nudity gets people to pay attention to important causes, or does it come off as a distracting gimmick?

View 5 Photos ›

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Oprah Stirs the Pot With Free KFC Offer

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:57 -0700

Two days ago, Oprah offered her viewers a free coupon for KFC's new grilled chicken - complete with sides and biscuit. The promotion took off, and by the next day, Oprah's KFC coupons were the fifth most popular search on Google. But rather than getting recognition for offering her viewers bargain bites, Oprah's fallen under fire for the move.

Last year, the talk show guru was named PETA's Person of the Year for exposing the cruelty of the factory farm industry. But KFC buys its meat from Tyson, a company that has come under attack for supporting CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations). This conflict of interest has sent environmental media outlets into outrage; sustainable food blog Civil Eats called the free KFC offer "Oprah's most hypocritical move yet."

Moreover, the free KFC coupons have caused upheaval in stores. The demand for free chicken has overwhelmed many KFC franchisees: one manager at a midtown Manhattan outpost told customers the promotion was over for the day, prompting patrons redeeming coupons to hold a sit-in, refusing to leave the store until they received free chicken.

After all the backlash, I can't help but wonder whether Oprah regrets promoting the offer. Did you partake in the promotion? Do you think the free grilled chicken giveaway was a mistake on her part?

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PETA Wants to Make Tofu Flavored Like George Clooney

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:30:22 -0700

PETA is running out of viable ideas. In yet another absurd turn of events, the animal rights organization wants to harvest - get this - actor George Clooney's sweat to create a new flavor of tofu.

The group obtained one of the actor's sweat-laced gym towels to raise money at a fundraising auction, but then decided it might be better off using the actor's perspiration in a food product. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk penned a proposal to Clooney himself, in which she discussed the invention, to be called CloFu:

The technology actually exists to take your perspiration and make it into George Clooney-flavored tofu (CloFu) . . . we would attract many people who don't try tofu because they worry that it would be bland . . . we hope this idea meets your approval.

The star's response? "As a mammal, I'm offended," he said. I second that. I mean, I love George Clooney as much as the next gal, but the entire concept is disgusting. By George, does PETA really think that consumers are so dumbstruck by stars that they would eat something like CloFu? Are you as horrified by the letter as I am?

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NBC Pulls PETA Super Bowl Ad For Being Too Provocative

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:00:36 -0800

Animal rights organization PETA has always produced campaigns that have been the subject of contention. And, with Super Bowl Sunday - the biggest day of the year for advertising - looming around the corner, the group has naturally found itself in a hotbed of controversy. NBC has rejected PETA's newest TV spot, aptly titled "Studies Show Vegetarians Have Better Sex." According to the network, the ad - which shows scantily clad women in salacious positions with vegetables - "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards."

The provocative commercial isn't PETA's first suggestive spot. Last year, PETA began its massive campaign linking vegetarianism to virility. Its ads included pictures of women in lingerie with the slogan "Get it up! Go vegetarian." Watch the clip of the banned commercial below, and tell me whether you think NBC was right to pull this suggestive ad.

Was a San Francisco Chronicle columnist on point when he insinuated that PETA is using porn to sell nature? Or is NBC out of line in banning the ad at a time when TV shows run rampant with violence and murder?

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More Bang For Your Buck, e.l.f. Is Cruelty-Free, Too

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:00:30 -0800

I know eyeliner belongs on my face and not on bunnies or kitties, but it's not always easy to decipher which beauty products aren't tested on animals. Love PETA or hate it, you've got to hand it to the group for its annual Proggy Awards, which highlights animal-friendly people and companies. This year's winner of the cosmetic category is New York-based e.l.f.

Short for "eyes, lips, face," it not only stands out in my mind for their animal-friendly achievements, but also because most products cost just $1 . . . and no, I didn't forget any zeros. Sold at major retailers like Kmart and Wal-Mart, you can check out its selection of brushes, makeup, and more online. The brushes get rave reviews from readers, and since they're animal-friendly, I feel OK using them on my face, too.