March 24, 2004

"Corporate terrorists" vs. "Evil" Col. Sanders. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA] is at it again; they've launched a new campaign against KFC, to push for more humane treatment of chickens.

The campaign includes blood buckets filled with info-props, which PETA will be "handing out . . . to kids at KFC locations nationwide." Also, activists in Germany recently doused the CEO of Yum! Brands (which owns KFC) in blood. KFC, for their part, is borrowing a Paige* from the US Secretary of Education: "We don't comment on the corporate terrorist activities of PETA," said KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Warschauer. "They are corporate terrorists and just like the United States government, we will not negotiate with corporate terrorists." I've been a vegetarian for over ten years, and while I'm often frustrated by PETA's sexist campaigns, I'm not sure what to think about this one. There's no question that chickens are treated cruelly on their way to our dinner plates. Is this the way to capture America's Attention Deficit? * Sorry, I couldn't resist.

posted by scartol 20 years ago
  • Throwing fake blood on CEOs is wrong. I wouldn't justify that on Enron CEOs. Wrong is wrong.
  • PETA needs to realize that outrageous stunts like this do nothing but hurt their cause. It scares children, and turns away people who would potentially listen to what they have to say. This is about as extreme as the Environmental Group that destroys the SUVs in California (mind block right now, can't think of the name). This is no way to handle an issue that you disagree with, period.
  • I'm annoyed that the word terrorist is being marginalized.
  • Why do they insist on giving this stuff to kids? Do they seriously think giving children nightmares about the food they eat will solve anything? Argh, if anything makes me cynical of causes like PETA, it's stuff like that. Even I would freak out at being handed a bucket of blood -- imagine a child's reaction.
  • Depends on the kid. Lots of them would think a bucket is pretty cool. Some would dump it on the people handing it out. Most little boys would dump it on their sister. At least, from what I remember of what childhood was like.
  • genial- I think the name you are hunting for is "Earth Liberation Front." I would welcome more public attention on how animals are treated by the agriculture industry, but by using these kinds of tactics, PETA is once again proving that the thing they do best is generate publicity for themselves. Examples here and here.
  • Even I would freak out at being handed a bucket of blood -- imagine a child's reaction. When I was a little boy, I would have fucking loved it...
  • boo: Ditto. People appear to be taking pages from the "Dworkin handbook on trivialising rape." And PETA? PETA make me want to eat KFC all week long. Actually, now that I think about it, I'll have a nice lamb kebab. (Although I agree that pigs and chickens are kept in revolting conditions. The plight of battery pigs seems worse to me - they're a damn sight smarter than chickens and suffer more). Part of the problem, though, is that PETA don't exactly speak to me. If you're going to call me a murderer for eating meat at all, you're not exactly doing a lot to engage me on the issue of "just because I eat it, doesn't mean I have to torment it first" which is one I do care about.
  • Tasteless! Perhaps PETA could use a nice blend of 11 herbs and spices?
  • rogerd : have you seen the truth ads? I swear I want to start smoking every time I see one.
  • I'm starting to supect that both PETA and The Truth are being secretly financed by the meat and tobacco industry respectively. What shock advertising can do other than reinforce ideological barriers?
  • I'll have the veal cutlet. I must have been a wussy kid, I guess. Better give me my bucket o' blood right now to make up for it.
  • Depends on the kid. Lots of them would think a bucket is pretty cool. Some would dump it on the people handing it out. Most little boys would dump it on their sister. CarrieFilter
  • I was outraged about the "YOUR MOMMY KILLS BUNNIES!!" flier, but I have to admit that the whole fake buckets of blood thing made me laugh. I think they're wrong, and furthermore complete idiots to think that their tactics will get anyone other than other Brad-Pitt-in-12-Monkeys crazy people to listen to them. But there was a teeny tiny part of me that wished I could a little KFC fake blood bucked of my own.
  • I wonder what the fake blood is colored with?
  • I hope they don't get attacked by any fake vampires. 'Cos they would need, like, a fake Buffy to rescue them. And she's a robot. *sigh* Eliza Dushku totally wants me. /Andrew
  • Bugs aren't animals - everyone knows that all animals have fur and really big cute eyes. The correct phrase would be: Spike totally wants me. /Andrew (remember his Masterpiece theatre episode? Brilliant.)
  • MonkeyFilter: where every thread becomes a Buffy thread. :)
  • **sings** Every single thread, the same arrangement, I go out and type the type. But I always feel this strange estrangement - nothing here is real, nothing that I write ...
  • PETA are hypocritical, terrorist supporting morons that are only effective because cult-based tactics of: 1) Debilitating their brood by lack of nutrition 2) Brainwashing the debilitated into considering illogical mental masturbation as the norm of rights based thought Their open support of and recruitment from terrorist groups such as the Animal Liberation Front doesn't bode well. They should be used for medical testing as punishment for their deceit and financial and psychological damages to society.
  • wow. what brought this on?
  • Heh. Um, check my latest post...
  • okay, saw it.