May 23rd, 2005

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The Long View
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Anti-PETA Billboard in Times Square

While I applaud the philosophy behind PETA, I sometimes find their tactics problematic. Some of their stunts have antagonized the very people they’re trying to win to their cause–average Americans.

I was interested, then, to read about this anti-PETA billboard in Times Square. It references PETAKillsAnimals.com, which, among other things, accuses PETA of killing about 10,000 pets a year. A quick Google search demonstrates that this number pales in comparison to the SPCA. Apparently 8 to 10 million unwanted pets are put down each year. This smear campaign is unfounded and laughable. PETA should be applauded for assisting with this unpopular job.

The anti-PETA site is operated by the Center for Consumer Freedom:

A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the full range of choices that American consumers currently enjoy. In addition to malicious animal-rights activists, we stand up to the “food police,” environmental scaremongers, neo-prohibitionists, meddling bureaucrats, and other self-anointed saints who claim to “know what’s best” for you.

That corporate profile doesn’t lay bare the Center’s (and its founder’s) pro-alcohol, pro-tobacco, pro-fast food, anti-MADD, anti-organic and anti-CDC (?) agenda. The group was founded with a $900,000 grant from Philip Morris. Remarkably, they’ve got another site opposed to current drinking and driving laws. For being too strict.

Comments: 5 Responses so far

Jeff
May 23rd, 2005
2:37 pm

You really have to wonder how representatives of these organizations can sleep at night.

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'nee
May 23rd, 2005
4:11 pm

On 1500 thread-count goose-down comforters?

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Jeff
May 23rd, 2005
5:02 pm

Touché!

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Andy
May 23rd, 2005
7:28 pm

I agree as MADD have realy rather arrogantly over-reached. ;)

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Colleen
July 4th, 2007
12:51 pm

Penn and Teller have an excellent episode about PETA. Although they seem great, they really do resolve to some overly-extreme ways of getting their point across. They have also “donated” insanely large sums of money to one person’s bank account who burned down SPCA buildings in protest to the putting down animals. Although Penn and Teller is also a biased source, it did make me think twice.
It’s worth really researching both sides of PETA before applauding them. Personally, I find their scare tactics appalling and I don’t think they’re any better at all than the corporations and people they condemn.

[Reply]

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