PETA Global 2017 Issue 1

“ I can go on and on about this. The loss of human life, the barbarity in the name of valour, the retribution on a losing animal, jallikattu serving as yet another opportunity for caste-related violence, etc., etc. ” – Sundara Velavan, “Jallikattu: Ethics Versus Entrenched Traditions,” The Hindu

Shockingly, certain government ministers actually appear to have bowed to mob rule or are at least paying lip service to the protesters’ demand to shut down PETA India, despite its long history of working peacefully and lawfully to ensure that the country’s animal-protection laws are upheld. “Thanks to the use of bullying and force by jallikattu advocates to achieve their ends, it seems that many people in India – even good people who know better – are reluctant to voice an opinion against jallikattu, for fear of being criticized,” says Joshipura. Saving Animals for 17 Years While unprecedented in scope, this isn’t the first attempt by animal abusers to silence PETA India. One notable example is the case of Sunder, an elephant who endured years of physical and mental abuse and intensive confinement as a temple “mascot.” PETA India faced immense hurdles to free him – including court battles, unscrupulous behavior by those with vested interests to keep him at the temple, and government corruption – but it ultimately prevailed. On the day when he was to be moved, though, mobs spiked the tires on the transport truck and others had earlier tried to beat up his rescuers. But today, Sunder is free of his chains and is spending the rest of his life in a forest sanctuary with other elephants. compassionate businesses, and celebrities, it helped get cosmetics testing on animals, as well as the importation of animal-tested cosmetics, banned in India. Thanks largely to scientists from PETA India and its international affiliates, the Bureau of Indian Standards removed animal tests from the requirements for household product approval, and universities across the country stopped using animals for dissection. PETA India also rescued 37 monkeys and two goats from a laboratory and, with help from other Indian groups, saved 70 beagles from being abused in pharmaceutical experiments and placed them in loving homes. After PETA US investigated and exposed the cruelty in the Indian leather trade, dozens of companies – including Kenneth Cole, Gucci, Gap Inc., Nike, and Reebok – stopped selling products made out of Indian leather. PETA India has gone on to conduct groundbreaking investigations into India’s meat, egg, Despite uphill battles, PETA India has made enormous progress. Working with politicians, scientists,

BE THE CHANGE! “How can we remain silent while bullies call for the dissolution of a lawful organization with an impeccable record of good deeds?” Joshipura asks. “Make no mistake: In such circumstances, any nongovernmental and dairy industries and other areas where animals are used. Its findings have prompted India’s Supreme Court to call for a crackdown on illegal slaughter and the Indian Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries to support that humane castration methods must be used for cattle. It also successfully replaced the bullocks who were being used to haul heavy kerosene tanks in Mumbai with motorized vehicles. PETA India’s combination of investigations, challenges to illegal and cruel practices, court cases, eye-catching protests, celebrity-driven ad campaigns, meetings with government officials, youth outreach, and direct animal rescues – unique to India – has helped prevent, alleviate, or stop the suffering of many living beings. And it has also earned the organization some powerful enemies. But PETA India is fighting for its right to defend animals. There’s much at stake – both for animals and for Indian communities.

Cow Illustration: © iStock.com/Premiumstock | Background Illustration: © iStock.com/AlfaOlga

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organization or individual in India can face retaliatory action. Kind people must find the courage to speak out against cruelty and bullying before it is too late and they, too, have become victims.”

F I N D O U T W H A Y B A C K P G E • B E T H E C H A N G E ! • C N D O - T U R

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T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

Global 21