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'''People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals''' ('''PETA''') is a [[liberal]] "[[animal rights]]" organization  focusing on what it calls the four main areas of [[animal]] suffering ([[factory farms]], [[animal testing]], [[clothing]] trade, and the [[entertainment]] industry), as well as other individual issues<ref name="petafaq">''PeTA's Mission Statement'' [http://www.peta.org/about/]</ref>. It was founded in 1981 by [[Ingrid Newkirk]].

'''People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals''' ('''PETA''') is a [[liberal]] "[[animal rights]]" organization  focusing on what it calls the four main areas of [[animal]] suffering ([[factory farms]], [[animal testing]], [[clothing]] trade, and the [[entertainment]] industry), as well as other individual issues.<ref name="petafaq">[http://www.peta.org/about/ ''PeTA's Mission Statement'']</ref> It was founded in 1981 by [[Ingrid Newkirk]].

PETA essentially believes that human beings are animals, and that (non-human) animals should have most of the same rights as [[human beings]].<ref>

PETA essentially believes that human beings are animals, and that (non-human) animals should have most of the same rights as [[human beings]].<ref>

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has said, “When it comes to pain, love, joy, loneliness, and fear, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values his or her life and fights the knife.” [http://www.peta.org/about/WhyAnimalRights.asp PETA: Why Animal Rights?]</ref>

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has said, “When it comes to pain, love, joy, loneliness, and fear, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values his or her life and fights the knife.” [http://www.peta.org/about/WhyAnimalRights.asp PETA: Why Animal Rights?]</ref>

While not proposing a ban on keeping pets, PETA believes:

While not proposing a ban on keeping pets, PETA believes:

:that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed.<ref> [http://www.peta.org/campaigns/ar-petaonpets.asp Animal Rights Uncompromised:

:that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed.<ref>[http://www.peta.org/campaigns/ar-petaonpets.asp Animal Rights Uncompromised: PETA on 'Pets']</ref>

PETA on 'Pets']</ref>

PETA opposes the human ownership of animals as [[work animal]]s.<ref>On Newkirk's view of Seeing Eye dogs

PETA opposes the human ownership of animals as [[work animal]]s.<ref>On Newkirk's view of Seeing Eye dogs

"She regards the use of Seeing Eye dogs as an abdication of human responsibility and, because they live as 'servants' and are denied the companionship of other dogs, she is wholly opposed to their use."</ref> It proposes that people stop eating [[meat]]; see [[vegetarianism]].

"She regards the use of Seeing Eye dogs as an abdication of human responsibility and, because they live as 'servants' and are denied the companionship of other dogs, she is wholly opposed to their use."</ref> It proposes that people stop eating [[meat]]; see [[vegetarianism]].

==Activism==

==Activism==

PETA achieves its goals through "public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns,"<ref name="petafaq" /> but they are best known for their provocative advertising and protests. For example, they often use nude women to protest the wearing of fur.<ref>''PETA: Dominique Swain is a Class Act for Animals'', [http://www.peta.org/feat/swain/] (contains risque image)</ref> They have also had controversial public education campaigns, including comparing [[Jewish]] ritual slaughter to the [[Holocaust]]. <ref>[http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=3021 PETA'S "HOLOCAUST ON YOUR PLATE" NATIONAL TOUR COMES TO NEW YORK], PETA Media Center, October 9, 2003</ref> <ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43035 PETA's dirty war against Jewish ritual slaughter], Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, [[WorldNetDaily]], February 25, 2005</ref> "On May 5, 2005, however, PETA issued an apology for its "Holocaust on Your Plate" exhibit, which traveled to more than 100 American and foreign cities. The exhibit compared the treatment of farm animals to the victims of the Nazi concentration camps. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said she realized that the campaign had caused pain: 'This was never our intention, and we are deeply sorry.'" <ref>[http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/holocaust_imagery.asp Holocaust Imagery and Animal Rights], [[Anti-Defamation League]], August 2, 2005</ref> In addition, PETA members have camped out in front of public schools and handed out [[propaganda]] "comic books" entitled "Your Mommy Kills Animals" to children as young as '''six years old''' in their attempt to manipulate children into blindly believing their lies. <ref>[http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/2537-peta-denies-traumatizing-kids ConsumerFreedom.com]</ref>

PETA achieves its goals through "public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns,"<ref name="petafaq" /> but they are best known for their provocative advertising and protests. For example, they often use nude women to protest the wearing of fur.<ref>''PETA: Dominique Swain is a Class Act for Animals'', [http://www.peta.org/feat/swain/] (contains risque image)</ref> They have also had controversial public education campaigns, including comparing [[Jewish]] ritual slaughter to the [[Holocaust]].<ref>[http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=3021 PETA'S "HOLOCAUST ON YOUR PLATE" NATIONAL TOUR COMES TO NEW YORK], PETA Media Center, October 9, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43035 PETA's dirty war against Jewish ritual slaughter], Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, [[WorldNetDaily]], February 25, 2005</ref> "On May 5, 2005, however, PETA issued an apology for its "Holocaust on Your Plate" exhibit, which traveled to more than 100 American and foreign cities. The exhibit compared the treatment of farm animals to the victims of the Nazi concentration camps. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said she realized that the campaign had caused pain: 'This was never our intention, and we are deeply sorry.'" <ref>[http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/holocaust_imagery.asp Holocaust Imagery and Animal Rights], [[Anti-Defamation League]], August 2, 2005</ref> In addition, PETA members have camped out in front of public schools and handed out [[propaganda]] "comic books" entitled "Your Mommy Kills Animals" to children as young as '''six years old''' in their attempt to manipulate children into blindly believing their lies.<ref>[http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/2537-peta-denies-traumatizing-kids ConsumerFreedom.com]</ref>

Many prominent celebrities support PETA, such as [[Bill Maher]], [[Richard Gere]], [[Alec Baldwin]], [[Paul McCartney]], and [[Russell Simmons]].

Many prominent celebrities support PETA, such as [[Bill Maher]], [[Richard Gere]], [[Alec Baldwin]], [[Paul McCartney]], and [[Russell Simmons]].

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

PETA receives criticism from many different groups, including researchers, consumer advocates and others who claim that PETA's goals are not animal rights, but total animal liberation,<ref name="acmain">ActivistCash.com [http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21]</ref> which would mean no meat, dairy, hunting, fishing, circus animals, aquariums, or even pets.

PETA receives criticism from many different groups, including researchers, consumer advocates and others who claim that PETA's goals are not animal rights, but total animal liberation,<ref name="acmain">[http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21 ActivistCash.com]</ref> which would mean no meat, dairy, hunting, fishing, circus animals, aquariums, or even pets.

Critics also chastise PETA for some of its methods of action, including stalking, attacking and harassing those in the food or medical research industries<ref name="acmain" /> and supporting violent animal rights and environmental groups such as the [[Earth Liberation Front]] and the [[Animal Liberation Front]]<ref>ActivistCash.com [http://www.activistcash.com/organization_blackeye.cfm/oid/21]</ref>. Many of PETA's advertisements also contain [[nudity]] or other shock tactics.

Critics also chastise PETA for some of its methods of action, including stalking, attacking and harassing those in the food or medical research industries<ref name="acmain" /> and supporting violent animal rights and environmental groups such as the [[Earth Liberation Front]] and the [[Animal Liberation Front]].<ref>[http://www.activistcash.com/organization_blackeye.cfm/oid/21 ActivistCash.com]</ref> Many of PETA's advertisements also contain [[nudity]] or other shock tactics.

There have also been several accounts of PETA killing animals when they could not find homes for them. From July 1998 through December 2005, PETA killed over 14,400 dogs, cats, and other "companion animals." That's more than five creatures every day. PETA has a walk-in freezer to store the dead bodies. <ref>PetaKillsAnimals.com, ''PETA's Dirty Secret'' [http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petaKillsAnimals.cfm]</ref> The stated rationale is that a swift death is better than long suffering, but critics point out that PETA commands significant funds and presumably could have cared for the animals if they so chose.

There have also been several accounts of PETA killing animals when they could not find homes for them. From July 1998 through December 2005, PETA killed over 14,400 dogs, cats, and other "companion animals." That's more than five creatures every day. PETA has a walk-in freezer to store the dead bodies.<ref>[http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petaKillsAnimals.cfm PetaKillsAnimals.com, ''PETA's Dirty Secret'']</ref> The stated rationale is that a swift death is better than long suffering, but critics point out that PETA commands significant funds and presumably could have cared for the animals if they so chose.

PETA only adopted a mere 24 animals in 2011, as opposed to 1,911 that were euthanized. This is a euthanization rate of over 95%. <ref>http://bloggingfoodforthought.blogspot.com/2012/03/peta-posts-shameful-euthanasia-rate.html</ref>. It could be deemed illogical that a group calling for "ethical treatment" would be so quick to euthanize animals rather than giving them adoptive owners.   

PETA only adopted a mere 24 animals in 2011, as opposed to 1,911 that were euthanized. This is a euthanization rate of over 95%.<ref>http://bloggingfoodforthought.blogspot.com/2012/03/peta-posts-shameful-euthanasia-rate.html</ref> It could be deemed illogical that a group calling for "ethical treatment" would be so quick to euthanize animals rather than giving them adoptive owners.   

PETA promotes the welfare of animals and insects yet is silent on the question of protecting [[abortion|children in the womb]]. <ref>[http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51096 PETA Wants Obama to Stop Killing Flies, But Won’t Take a Stand on Abortion CNSNews.com July 16,2009]</ref>

PETA promotes the welfare of animals and insects yet is silent on the question of protecting [[abortion|children in the womb]].<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51096 PETA Wants Obama to Stop Killing Flies, But Won’t Take a Stand on Abortion CNSNews.com July 16,2009]</ref>

PETA request that the [[Boy Scouts of America]] to retire the “Fishing” and “Fish and Wildlife Management” merit badges. ''"Promoting fishing teaches young people that hooking, maiming, suffocating, and killing is acceptable.”'' <ref>[http://www.peta.org/feat/merit/index.html Ask The Boy Scouts To De-Merit Fishing, PETA.org]</ref>. This is highly ironic due to their belief that Humans are nothing but animals. Essentially, they are saying that one "animal" should not hunt another even though meat is a natural part of a human's diet (given that Humans are omnivores). As such, this message is slightly hypocritical.  

PETA request that the [[Boy Scouts of America]] to retire the “Fishing” and “Fish and Wildlife Management” merit badges. ''"Promoting fishing teaches young people that hooking, maiming, suffocating, and killing is acceptable.”''.<ref>[http://www.peta.org/feat/merit/index.html Ask The Boy Scouts To De-Merit Fishing, PETA.org]</ref> This is highly ironic due to their belief that Humans are nothing but animals. Essentially, they are saying that one "animal" should not hunt another even though meat is a natural part of a human's diet (given that Humans are omnivores). As such, this message is slightly hypocritical.  

PETA have seemingly done everything they could possibly do to alienate the online community such as condemning ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' for having Batman kick vicious guard dogs in an act of self defence, making idiotic viral campaigns which equate the lives of animals to human beings, as well as making tasteless flash parodies of family friendly video games, such as: ''Super Mario 3D Land'', which became "Mario Kills Tanooki", ''Cooking Mama'', which became "Mama Kills Animals" and ''Super Meat Boy'', which became "Super Tofu Boy". These games contain excessive amounts of blood and grotesque imagery. The reactions to these games were almost universally negative. The ''Tofu Boy'' parody inspired the developers of the actual ''Super Meat Boy'' to add Tofu boy as a playable character who isn't very strong or fast.

PETA have seemingly done everything they could possibly do to alienate the online community such as condemning ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' for having Batman kick vicious guard dogs in an act of self defence, making idiotic viral campaigns which equate the lives of animals to human beings, as well as making tasteless flash parodies of family friendly video games, such as: ''Super Mario 3D Land'', which became "Mario Kills Tanooki", ''Cooking Mama'', which became "Mama Kills Animals" and ''Super Meat Boy'', which became "Super Tofu Boy". These games contain excessive amounts of blood and grotesque imagery. The reactions to these games were almost universally negative. The ''Tofu Boy'' parody inspired the developers of the actual ''Super Meat Boy'' to add Tofu boy as a playable character who isn't very strong or fast.

==See Also==

==See also==

*[[Previous Breaking News/PETA|Articles about '''PETA''' from previous "Breaking News"]]

*[[Previous Breaking News/PETA|Articles about '''PETA''' from previous "Breaking News"]]

*[[Alex Pacheco]]

*[[Alex Pacheco]]

*[[Humane Society of the United States]]

*[[Humane Society of the United States]]

==External Links==

==External links==

*PETA Website [http://www.peta.org]

*PETA Website [http://www.peta.org]

*[[Center for Consumer Freedom]] [http://www.consumerfreedom.com/issuepage.cfm/topic/8], a consumer advocate group

*[[Center for Consumer Freedom]] [http://www.consumerfreedom.com/issuepage.cfm/topic/8], a consumer advocate group