The truth about PETA?!!?!
The truth about PETA?!!?
I am somewhat frustrated now and confused. The other night I joined PETA because I thought they were about stopping cruelty against animals including killing them for clothing, experimenting on them etc. I did not know that it also was for those who don't eat meat so I felt like a bit of a hypocrite because I eat meat (that is the only thing that I do that might show cruelty support) but I can honestly say that I still love all animals and I don't believe in cruelty against them. That is why I joined. I read about how people are vegans and they speak out against eating meat but now I find out these people still keep their leather clothing when they're against wearing fur clothing (I don't wear either. I sometimes wear fake leather.) And now I hear PETA does not help at all. That they kill animals. So what is going on? The thing is to become vegan should be for me and my beliefs but after hearing people's messages I felt bad for not becoming vegan but now I don't know.What do you think?
Additional Details4 weeks ago
I am sorry to say this, but I feel like the poor animals don't have a chance at all. No matter what we do, it still won't stop all animal cruelty. But I don't think someone who eats meat (like me) is a bad person and can't be an animal lover or even an animal welfare activist. Not to get all religious on you, but Jesus was not a vegan. He eat fish but that don't mean he was a bad person. I think meat gives people protein so I am not sure if I am going to cut it out all together. I won't feel bad for it either especially not because others are vegans. If I feel bad, it's because I do love animals. I think for now I will reduce my intake. Like someone said, reduce it till I only eat it on occassions to the point where I won't eat it at all. I have seen the vagan menu, it is not that bad. So maybe someday I can do without meat. But that don't mean I am going to judge those who still eat mean. I am not the one to judge and it's not me anyways. So please, leave feedback (respectful plz)
Answers:
4 weeks ago
I am sorry to say this, but I feel like the poor animals don't have a chance at all. No matter what we do, it still won't stop all animal cruelty. But I don't think someone who eats meat (like me) is a bad person and can't be an animal lover or even an animal welfare activist. Not to get all religious on you, but Jesus was not a vegan. He eat fish but that don't mean he was a bad person. I think meat gives people protein so I am not sure if I am going to cut it out all together. I won't feel bad for it either especially not because others are vegans. If I feel bad, it's because I do love animals. I think for now I will reduce my intake. Like someone said, reduce it till I only eat it on occassions to the point where I won't eat it at all. I have seen the vagan menu, it is not that bad. So maybe someday I can do without meat. But that don't mean I am going to judge those who still eat mean. I am not the one to judge and it's not me anyways. So please, leave feedback (respectful plz)
First, let me say that I eat meat and wear leather, and that I respect your decisions in these matters. i don't wear fur, mainly because I can't afford it, but if I did it would be fake, or be someone's clippings from a salon fashioned in such a way as to look natural. Furthermore you should do what you feel is right, and not be guilted into anything by anyone.
I'm also sorry for the length of this answer... I like to try and help out as much as I can, it's just me.
PETA doesn't really make sense to me. I eat meat and am proud to do so, but I love animals and respect where the meat and leather comes from, so that at least the animal's death is not in vain. It was a great day for me when I discovered that it's not the cow that smells, it's what comes out the other end of the cow that smells. :P Being part of PETA should not require you to go vegan. They are, as their name says, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. If they were not so extremist and didn't have such a bad rep, I may have joined up at one point. After all, the way they kill cows isn't right... we need to either find a better, non-chemical way (because the chemicals will just make the animal unusable, making its death pointless), or just develop a way to respect the creatures.
But often times, it seems like PETA is very misguided and knows little of actual animal behavior. I'm sure that they do not intend to kill animals, but it seems like a lot of their membership is all do-gooders who know very little about animals. And their celebrities means nothing to me. Ask Pam Anderson what a pike is and shell probably tell you it's a tree. This lack of knowledge, of course, results in their death. It seems to me that many want to treat the animals as PEOPLE, which they are not. Animals need certain diets and environments to live. They even need certain predators to use them as food to keep from becoming overpopulated. You can't throw a fish in a forest and expect it to survive, or release a lobster tank in a grocery store and yell "Go! To The Ocean! You're free now!" and expect them to reach their destination (no matter how drunk you are when you do it).
If you want to continue to eat meat, by all means do so. You can still fight against cruelty by researching and buying specific meat products to fit with your lifestyle, instead of the manufactured meat most stores sell. Being vegan is something you should be careful about. Meat has a number of proteins that you can only otherwise get from vitamin supplements. I had a teacher who saw the "cow murder" video when she was in school and stopped eating meat. Many years later, she changed her mind about her lifestyle, and almost died when she tried to eat some steak. This was because her body no longer had the bacteria necessary to digest the meat. She has lost the choice of eating it because of that. Also, you will eventually need supplements for iron and other minerals such as calcium that are found in meat and animal products in necessary amounts but not so in plants. This will all affect your immune system, your energy through the day, and your weight, to name a few. Also, I hear that it will make pregnancy a lot more difficult having to take supplements, and then the child that is born of said pregnancy, if it is going to be raised vegan, will need supplements as well. Recently a couple was convicted of murder because they were trying to raise their baby in their vegan lifestyle, and the baby died of malnutrition. Simply put - people are BORN to eat meat, and it is unnatural to go without. So if you are planning to have children after making your choice remember to consider that, as your child may not want to be vegan when they grow up but would have no choice if you raised it as such from birth because, again, they won't have the ability to process it.
So please, don't take becoming vegan very lightly. Do some research, and if it's not for you, I'm sure there's an alternative out there that will still allow you to fight animal cruelty.
As for members of PETA and self-proclaimed vegans wearing leather, it could simply be that they're wearing old clothes from when they were NOT vegan and have yet to find alternatives. Others might simply not realize that what they're wearing is, in fact, real leather, whether it be from a cow or a sheep. And, even further, remember how I said to do research into humane meat farmers? Well, all parts of the animals are used when they are killed, so it's possible they are wearing leather that comes from a reputable source. Again, though, be careful of what you buy - plastic shoes and pleather (plastic leather) might sound like a great animal-saving idea, but these things are not biodegradeable and require petrochemicals to make, which is not good for the environment and hurts other animals in the long run.
That is all I can think of right now. Like I said, do some research. And do not feel hypocritical for joining PETA and then choosing to eat meat if you do so. As I said, there are alternatives out there, you just need to find them.
And, if you're not liking how animals are getting treated by PETA, you can always try out the ASPCA. They have a program that works similar to Christian Children's fund, where you send them a little bit of money every month and they use it to help out the animals they save from uncaring pet owners, and not just dogs and cats, but horses, cows, pigs... just about anything you can think of. There are many other charities out there too who may not be as big as PETA, but do a much better job at trying to help out.
I hope this helps you make you decision wisely. Don't feel bad about getting involved in PETA unknowingly though - I don't blame you, everyone makes mistakes, and I know you don't want to be involved in any of their foolishness... otherwise, you wouldn't have questioned your choice! Have a great day, and I wish you success in your endeavors.
See, you just learned a valuable lesson. Don't go with the 'in-crowd'. Do your own thing. If you feel animal cruelty is wrong, speak up. Put together a petition, hold a rally, etc.
Please go to this website!
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/...
Reality check, humans domesticated animals for food, clothing and to assist with farming. All this BS about cruelty is just that...B.S. If the vegans had their way, we'd all be up to our eyeballs in chickens, pigs and cows and their filth.
If you'd rather wear clothing made from petroleum products that require the production of tons of poisons and polutants to be pumped into the atmosphere, go for it!
If you'd like to believe that plants don't feel pain when you cut them out of the ground, fine. If you never drink another glass of milk, eat another egg or enjoy another cheese burger, great...more for me. Always inform yourself about what organizations you're joining before you take the plunge.
PETA are one of the most ludicrously ill-informed, media-motivated, publicity-seeking bunch of know-nothings around.
If you want to do something about animal welfare then you'd do better with a proper charity. As you are a meat eater how about finding out about issues surrounding the creulty involved in intensive farming techniques?
I wish I had time to address everything about PETA, but all I can tell you is that they're a bunch of radical nutcases. And most people in this country know that they're a joke.
I went to petakills.com. It's gruesome.
PETA has euthanized animals,which is hypocritical, but they have helped animals somewhat. They have got several companies to stop testing on animals, and they help expose factory farming, I have used them as a resource before, they will give you free vegetarian starter kits, etc and they have plenty of info to help the transition. Truthfully I don’t know if I would even be vegan now if it wasn’t for PETA. Just because you cannot stop all animal cruelty,that does not mean you should not try to at least stop some of it. By becoming vegan or vegetarian you can decrease the demand for animal products, which means less animals kept in factory farms.You can eat meat and support animal welfare, but not animal rights. And nowhere in the Bible does it say Jesus ate fish, he multiplied it. And God’s perfect world, The Garden of Eden, was vegetarian. Protein is found in all foods, have you ever heard of anyone with a protein deficiency? You probably haven’t because in order to get one you have to be starving yourself or eating nothing but junk food. You can gradually become vegan or vegetarian. You can start buying soy milk instead of cows milk and stop eating eggs. Then you can have veggie burgers or mock chik’n patties instead of hamburgers and chicken patties. There is a lot you can do, and most of them are just minor changes that you can make that aren’t difficult.
Even if Jesus ate fish or even meat, being a vegetarian is in God's masterplan, as described in
Isaiah 11:6-9 (KJV)
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Actually PETA does more harm to animals than good. They don't understand animals or behaver. Like in united states good hunters only hunt animals that over populated and fees they give do it goes to buy land to protect the animals. Also they donate money to protect land so the animals still have a home and there all not killed by development down the road. Also peta stages a lot of animal snuff films killing and hurting live animals and posing it as something else's like fur industry etc when not actually how do things or them. For instants they skinned an animal alive on a farm very gruesome and made it look like fur industry did it my in reality they would never skin animal alive it ruins the fur, its dangerous and inhumane. Also peta made some people to stage a dolphin killing with a speer off south America and made look like local government allowing hunting of them and it was far from true. I'm getting 3 thumbs down because said i peta does snuff films wow and that fact i m sorry love animals don't want be tortured and killed for someone political purpose. Its is proven that did that and been arrested and charged for it.
I HATE PETA and I know that hate is a strong word but peta probably killed more animals (for educational purposes) than saved animals.
greenpeace is another evil organization that pretends to do good.
The videos and stories on PETA sites are very eye opening. It does provoke guilt, that's what they are going for... It makes people stop and think about what they are eating, which is good... They do undercover work and expose factories that work unethically. Also good.
I am personally a vegan and love it. My husband is not, though. In fact, he is a meat and potatoes kind of guy- practically carnivore, really. Our children are about half and half. I don't think I am a better person because I don't eat meat. It is a personal choice. I do feel healthier than before, and that was my main goal.
As for the Jesus issue, I don't think that being a vegan is a Christian or non-Christian decision. I DO feel that we have a responsibility to the animals, though. Watch the KFC video on PETA's site. Eating chicken is fine if that is what you want to do, but torturing them unnecessarily is mean and wrong. If they must die for your dinner, they ought to be able to die with dignity... Jesus did eat fish. He caught them himself off of a boat with a net. He did not raise them in small, confined spaces. Factory farms that raise chickens have them in cages no bigger than a shoebox where they are pumped full of hormones. I'm quite sure that this is not what God had in mind when he asked Adam and Eve to care for the animals...
You can prevent animal cruelty and still eat the animals. It's not hypocritical to look out for your fellow creatures. We are ALL animals, after all. Eating free-range, hormone free eggs, for example. These eggs are made my happier chickens- well fed, well cared for, un-medicated, and uncaged. Supporting farms like this may send a message to the factory farms that their services are no longer wanted. Buy your beef (or bison, if you can find it, is healthier than chicken), fresh from a local farmer so you can personally see how he treats his stock.
Your choice to eat meat is your own. If you want to go meatless, do it. But don't do it out of guilt. Do it because you want to. Otherwise, you can thank PETA for making you a more conscious consumer. It's never wrong to have a conscience.
In the bible it NEVER said Jesus ate fish, it said he shared his fish with others.
As for saving animals, anyone who is a TRUE Vegan saves 90 animals a year! It's better than nothing!
The only reason I think it is more difficult to be for animal rights/welfare and be a meat eater is because of the way the industry treats MOST animals. My boyfriend is an animal welfare activist and eats free-range meat. I choose not to eat meat at all because I can't afford free-range meat, and to be honest I don't miss eating meat at all so I probably won't eat it anymore anyway. Long story short, it is totally your choice and you don't need to defend yourself, BUT you sound like you're talking yourself into it. The factory farm industry is not a nice one and as an animal lover, I simply can't eat meat knowing that the animal died in a really terrible manner. That's just my perspective. Plus meat is not healthy anymore because it's pumped full of hormones and antibiotics that are messing up people's bodies. You can get protein in loads of other sources.
Just like you, I am conflicted on certain issues ... I'm not a perfect person. You asked for my personal opinion so I am trying to give it to you the best I can. Also, I am not a huge fan of PETA ... I like what they're trying to do, but since being on their mailing list, they are a little ... over the top. But I think what you are looking at about PETA killing animals is propaganda - there are a LOT of people who hate PETA. Even if PETA is killing some animals, wouldn't you have your pet put down if it was suffering really terribly? I think that's what it's referring to. I'm not 100% ... I'll have to look into it some more.
First off Petakillsanimals.com come is propoganda. You cannot beleive everything you read on the internet. Moat people that give out this site do not realize who puts out the information, which is the CCF.
The CCF is a corporate front group for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco industries. It runs media campaigns which oppose the efforts of scientists, doctors, health advocates, environmentalists and groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Anyone who criticizes tobacco, alcohol, fatty foods or soda pop is likely to come under attack from CCF. Its enemies list has included such diverse groups and individuals as the Alliance of American Insurers; the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; the American Medical Association; the Arthritis Foundation; the Consumer Federation of America; the Harvard School of Public Health; the Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems; the National Association of High School Principals; the National Safety Council; the National Transportation Safety Board; the Office of Highway Safety for the state of Georgia; Ralph Nader's group, Public Citizen; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The CCF is funed by tobacco comapnies, food industry, and and alcohol companies. They run bias campaigns to protect thier backers.
The CCF is run by Richard Burman who is a spin doctor, who provides misinformation, exagerated claims and down right lies. He has argued against a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) initiative to lower the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for drivers. He is against minimum wage, and opposes mandatory health insurance for workers.
The key to Berman’s aggressive strategy is, in his own words, “to shoot the messenger ... we’ve got to attack their credibility as spokespersons"
You know, I've read postings on here before that say PETA kills animals, but noone ever says in what way. Specifics please. From my experience, PETA is just like any other organization in that they can be a little over the top sometimes. Otherwise, I think there is good info on their website, and they have great anti-fur campaigns. Again, not sure what people are talking about when they say PETA kills animals since I've never seen anything that leads me to believe it.
If you no longer feel comfortable eating meat, then give it up! But don't let an organization you joined affect your diet. PETA does NOT care whether or not its members eat meat, though they do campaign for meat consumption to stop. They just want your money, like many organizations. You can go to protests that you agree with and ignore those that you don't, after all.
But it's true that PETA is a hypocritical and rather useless organization. They do kill the pets that they take in to 'find good homes for,' and turn more people away from cruelty free lifestyles than they convert. Even us vegans have mixed feelings about them- the theory is nice, but their tactics only offend instead of helping.
As a side note, about the leather thing- many of us believe that if we still have fully functional animal product items, there is no reason to waste the death of an animal just to make a point that no one will notice. We will wear our leather until it gets worn out, or give it to Goodwill if we are uncomfortable with advocating leather.