THE WORLD OF ANIMALS IN THE 21st CENTURY
The Influence of PETA and Animal Activism on Society
By Naima karp
Animal activism and the struggle to end animal cruelty have been predominant in society since ancient times. Races such as the Egyptians praised and honored animals in society, practicing their high esteem and respect through representing gods and holy figures in the form of animals. Nowadays, people are getting more involved and educated, with the help of celebrities and major informative organizations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the NAIA (National Animal Interest Alliance). PETA, founded in 1980, is the largest group dedicated the conservation of animal rights with over two million members. It battles the misuse of animals in the media and fashion industry, as well as their everyday consumption. Some of PETA’s recent victories include its persuasion of H&M not to sell mulesed wool, which is the controversial removal of strips of wool-bearing skin on a sheep known to be quite cruel by animal activists, and of Subaru to not include great apes in future advertisements and commercials. In addition to publicized involvement from members including Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, and supermodel Christy Turlington, everyday individuals such as Shane Straight contribute to spreading animal activism as well. In an interview, Straight says that his decision not to eat meat is “not a matter of being wrong, it is a matter of knowing.” In this sense, Straight
shares the view of many other activists. This view is that those who consume the meat are clueless as to how their meal was raised and killed in a slaughterhouse. These activists strive to inform the public on the process of killing animals, rather than being neatly packaged and sliced on your local supermarket’s frozen meats aisle. The NAIA is not nearly as aggressively imposing as PETA, that has performed public outrages such as bombarding designers such as Donna Karan with persistent protests against their usage of fur, but is effective from another outlook. Vets, farmers, and wildlife biologists are members of this organization, lending firsthand agricultural and scientific perspectives on the treatment and welfare of animals. Compassion towards animals not only benefits animals, but reduces health risks for humans as well, as diseases such as mad cow disease and psittacosis can be terminal. Psittacosis was spread through birds bred at Rainbow World Exotics, a breeding mill that exercised regular abuse and mistreat of their animals This is primarily a lung disease, which, due to the contagious nature of infected birds, affects humans by showing up in either forms of a flu or even severe pneumonia, in fatal cases. Foods that animals are fed before they are sent to the slaughterhouse are often carelessly prepared and tainted for the animal or pumped full of chemicals and hormones, which can be extremely unhealthy.#
