PETA Global 2018 Issue 4

Crossing the Line – in a Cow Suit

“Why is PETA always pulling such crazy stunts?” people ask me. The answer is simple: Because they are impossible to ignore, so they help draw badly needed attention to the plight of animals. PETA’s goal is to get serious matters discussed at the dinner table, at the bus stop, and everywhere in between, because silence is a social cause’s worst enemy. Serious issues that otherwise might never be considered can suddenly make the news when presented in a lighthearted or provocative way, and PETA scores in raising awareness of animal suffering. Does the strategy work? Hell, yes. Back in 1980, when PETA was launched, most people had never heard of a vegan. They honestly thought the word described someone from Las Vegas. Today, “#vegan” is the most popular diet trending on Twitter. Here are a fewmemorable highlights from PETA’s campaigns.

Meat Me in St. Louis As a new PETA campaigner, I hit the road with then Director Dan Mathews for Chris P. Carrot’s inaugural tour. The “carrot” (Dan) and I were visiting elementary schools in “cattle country” to counter the propaganda in meat industry handouts. We were expecting cameras, police officers, and angry parents – but not cold cut–wielding fifth-graders! Kids pelted us with bologna as we made an undignified getaway. Welcome to PETA!

By Tracy Reiman, PETA Executive Vice President

H O W I T A L L B V E G A N • H O W I T A L L B V E G A N • H O W I T A L L B V E G A N •

Meat Stinks! PETA has organized lots of manure dumps, but

‘Dogging’ the Wienermobile PETA trailed the Wienermobile as it conducted a talent search for children to sing the Oscar Mayer theme song beginning, “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener.” Can you imagine? In Iowa, as the event got underway, I spray-painted “SHAME” across the side of the giant hot dog. The police carted me away, but after a chat, they decided I was harmless and soon let me go. I’ll never

my favorite was in Tennessee, outside a National Cattlemen’s

Beef Association meeting. I was sitting in a big dump truck filled with manure, just about to start it up, when police cars surrounded me. The officers said I could join the other protesters – as long as I didn’t dump the manure. Well, 15 minutes later, I saw my opportunity, calmly walked back to the truck, and – as the police watched with mouths open – dumped the load.

forget the looks on the Wienermobile staffers’ faces as I picked up a sign and rejoined the protest.

PETA Shenanigans Pay Off

A Ronald McDonald appearance to try to con youngsters into eating more artery-clogging burgers went pear-shaped when a PETA “cow” (me) smacked him square in the face with a tofu cream pie. The story was all over the news that night.

Wicked Wendy’s Wonderful actor James Cromwell and I kicked

off the “Wicked Wendy’s” campaign – which featured Wendy as a bloody butcher –

at a protest outside Washington, D.C. Just three months later, we won the campaign.

A Family Affair When my son was born, I couldn’t wait to get him involved. He attended his first protest – outside a KFC – when he was just 4 weeks old (and slept through the whole thing). Fast-forward to today: As a result of our campaign, KFC has introduced vegan chicken in Canada as well as in the UK and Vietnam.

Take Action Now Find out about PETA events happening near you – and get

started making some memories you can tell your grandkids about – by joining PETA’s Action Team at PETA.org/ActionTeam .

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MOO VING THE MESSAGE