There have been a lot of debates on these boards about PETA and all the wacky hijinks they get into. Comparing stockyards to concentration camps, telling kids their parents are murderers…the list goes on.
The point is that, in my belief, PETA is a group that attention whores itself, or outright lies, just to make a point. But that’s my belief. That’s not something I wish to debate in this thread. In fact, I don’t want to debate anything.
I have a friend who, while she eats meat, still wishes for the ethical treatment of animals. That is, after all, what PETA stands for. Right? So she gives money to their organization because she agrees with that core belief. I’d like to give her alternatives.
Here’s my question(s):
Is there an organization out there that understands we are omnivores and still wishes to help animals?
Is there an organization that would allow for experimentation on animals when necessary if it doesn’t unduly harm the animal?
Is there an organization that actually does fight for the ethical treatment of animals in all situations while still maintaining some grip on the real world situation?
I don’t know, but if there is, I’d join it. I love animals. I just don’t value a chicken’s life over my own. Yum.
I think the ASPCA and Human Society mainly deal with pets. I’ve never heard of any forays on their parts into animal rights beyond abuse of pets. (If you can’t/don’t want to take proper care of a pet, don’t GET one! Honestly.) I could be wrong.
The ASPCA is more than just pets. I think they also look out for the welfare of animals on movie sets and suchlike. They don’t run moronic ad campaigns and I’m not aware of any dietary politics they have, so they have both of those things going for them. I like the ASPCA, myself, and I have absolutely no respect for PETA. (Of course, as the koan goes, “The PETA which can be respected is not the true PETA.” :D)
Ah. Thanks. I’m not advocating the abuse of farm animals by any means, but I didn’t know the Humane Society was involved. I can’t get the link to work, unfortunately.
I’m pretty sure the movie set animal watch people are a different organization altogether. Ah yes, here.
The thing is, if you gave money to groups just based on their name, it would be hard not to support just about every group out their. The truth is the name PETA and what it stands for is really not in line with what the compnay advocates and promotes. The “core belief” they uphold is not ethical treatment of animals necessarily. It is attention for themselves and promotion of their own political agenda.
I made this argument before about the ACLU. The name, American Civil Liverties Union (and all the state affiliates), is benign enough. Everyone likes to parrot that annoying American President movie and state that EVERYONE should be for the protection of civil liberties! How could you not be! True, in some sense, that is a hard topic not to support, but the name of the group is not the whole story. They advocate their own interpretation of civil liberty and constitutional law. While that is a great cause, I don't necessarily agree with THEIR interpretation of the law and therefore do not have have to support the group. And, at the opposite end of the spectrum, why does not everyone support "Pro-life" groups? After all, its hard to be "anti-life". You (and again, I) do not necessarily support them because their version of being "pro-life" is not that same as ours. (Especially when for some reason it seems to involve killing people).
There is much more to a group than a name. A name means nothing. Its what they do that counts.