PETA Global 2018 Issue 2

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INDIA

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk demonstrates the plight of elephants at India’s Amber Fort tourist attraction. PETA’s President Meets With Minister Regarding Elephant Abuse

A MESSAGE FROM Ingrid Newkirk PETA’s President

S ome years ago, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, I found a mother dog dying in a bush. I scooped her up and drove her to a veterinarian recommended to me by my hotel’s kind receptionist, who worried that this effort was ruining my holiday. On another occasion, this time on the Italian island of Sardinia, a sympathetic hotel employee helped me track down a shelter and sterilization services for 22 starving cats and kittens abandoned on the seashore. She, too, was concerned that all this effort was interfering with my R&R. Not so! I was very glad to help these deeply distressed animals. Doing so meant the world to me as well as to them. My message today is my message every day: When we see an animal in trouble anywhere, we must never assume that someone else will come to the rescue. We must act, doing everything we can to help, right then and there. We can’t simply imagine that there’s already help on the way to stop abuse. We must always be seen and heard and never shrink from suffering but rather, as Tolstoy advised, move closer to it! Then, we must do all we can to stop it. From hands-on rescues to leaving leaflets in hotel foyers and on planes to politely conversing with others at every opportunity, all our actions, large and small, are vital if we are going to protect animals’ rights. Perhaps you’ll join me in paying an “animal tax” on luxuries. It works like this: When I treat myself to anything special, whether a latte or a vacation, I pay a 10% “tax” to PETA via PETA.org/Tax , or to a local animal shelter to help living, feeling beings who have no luxuries. And when I leave this Earth, my will gives whatever I have to PETA, too. I love reading stories and suggestions from members and supporters, and PETA’s list of people ready to jump into action is always growing. To join the volunteer network – PETA's Action Team – please e-mail ActionTeam@peta.org . “ When we see an animal in trouble anywhere, we must never assume that someone else will come to the rescue. ” for those caged parrots or pessimistically assume that donkeys are always going to be beaten whether we speak up or not. Change comes when we raise our voices and insist on intervention by authorities

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk still has the heavy stick that she confiscated from men she’d found beating two elephants. One of the animals was blind in one eye and suffering from a respiratory problem. She took the weapon with her to a meeting with Union Minister of Tourism KJ Alphons in December – along with more than 63,000 signatures on a petition – to appeal for help for elephants exploited in India’s tourism industry. After watching a video showing an elephant being beaten so hard that her leg broke, the minister issued an advisory to governmental agencies asking them to stop promoting elephant rides. PETA India and all other PETA affiliates are pressing on with the campaign. Take Action Now Tell everyone you know that riding elephants harms them. Visit PETA.org/Fodors to urge the travel guide company to stop promoting such rides.

USA

GLOBAL

VICTORY! HOTEL CHAIN ENDS ‘RENT A FISH’ PROGRAM After PETA contacted posh boutique hotelier Kimpton Hotels, the popular international chain agreed to end its fish rental program, in which live fish were delivered to guests’ rooms in cramped bowls as a novelty and potentially exposed to extreme heat or cold – such as in direct sunlight or in front of an air conditioning unit – causing them stress and suffering. PETA is now hard at work placing nearly 300 of the animals in permanent homes, including the handsome fellow above, who has already been adopted.

PETA PULLS A FAST ONE ON FAST-FOOD CHAINS PETA claimed some choice real estate – and served up food for thought – when it put up a series of evocative billboards where fast-food customers couldn’t miss ’em. The campaign, which also targeted “seafood” chains Long John Silver’s and Captain D’s, reached about 5 million people with the message that animals, too, value their lives.

Take Action Now Contact PETA.org/Billboard to sponsor a billboard today.

2 GLOBAL NEWS