Ingrid Newkirk of PETA
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-01-09/ingrid-newkirk-peta
They push vegetarianism with clever bumper stickers, feature scantily clad celebrities in their anti-fur ads, and want you to see graphic photos and videos of animal slaughter and tests on their many websites. Whatever you think of their often extreme, attention grabbing tactics, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has brought animal rights issues to the fore and effected change. Ingrid Newkirk, the President and co-founder of PETA, joins Kojo to discuss the organization's history and future.
Guests
Ingrid Newkirk
co-founder and president, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Comments
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Ingrid, I imagine you have concerns about the pet-food industry, to the extent it is involved in the maltreatment and slaughter of animals. If someone takes in a cat from a shelter, what is your position on what is ethically appropriate to feed the cat?
Thank you!
Thank-you for your insight and wisdom to help our furry cousins
I Appreciate Ms Newkirks point of view, but I think that a more balanced conversation might be appropriate with other guests who could represent the responsible use of animals for food and clothing. I think there are a lot of people working in the animal husbandry fur and related fields who care about animals and their ethical care. This debate will continue but not all of us support ms Newkirks fervor.
While I sympathize with many of PETA's ideas, I would not support their organization -- thanks mainly to their repulsive ads. They're not cutting-edge, just the same tired tactics that have driven away potential supporters for years. I understand the desire to be light-hearted, to make people want to learn and take action about things that they might otherwise find too depressing. But really, PETA can't find some better way to achieve this goal?
It is always such an immense pleasure to hear Ingrid Newkirk speak on the many reasons to support animal rights. I am grateful for PETA's amazing work they do each day to make this world a more compassionate place, for both humans and our furry friends. Thank you Ingrid! Looking forward to hearing of many more successes in 2012.
Iota,
These tactics are necessary to keeping animal rights in the forefront of everyday people.
As a non-profit organization they rely on gaining media's attention to do this.
PETA has achieved great results and I don't think they'd be a household name without the "tactical" strategy they've gone for.
Props to Ingrid and PETA for making the world a better place!
Getting an apathetic public to pay attention to issues they'd rather ignore is a daunting task. PETA has set the bar on jump starting people's interest, initiating debate and prompting lifestyle changes. It's far easier to pretend that chickens aren't scalded alive, that rabbits and mink aren't electrocuted and skinned for fur, or that chimpanzees aren't routinely injected with viruses than it is to acknowledge the hideous cruelty. It's PETA's job--and they've done a remarkable job--of speaking for the animals.
PETA is a wonderful effective organization and hearing Ingrid speak with conviction about animal rights gives me hope.
PETA is the biggest, most widely known, and most effective animal rights organization in the world for a reason! Thank you, Ingrid, for being a strong and life-changing voice for animals.
Thank you Ingrid and PETA for all you do to end animal suffering. All people need to do to help put an end to the atrocious treatment of animals on farms is to choose compassion over cruelty. It's so easy, there's no excuse not to.
Hi Sandhya,
I have also had similar concerns about what to feed my companion animals. I found peta.org to be a great resource.
Here you can find very helpful information about vegetarian cats and dogs: http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/vegetarian-cats-and-dogs.aspx
I, personally, make sure to not support animal testing by only buying dog and cat food that has not been tested on animals. It looks like a list of companion animal food companies that don't test on animals can be found here: http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/companion-animal-food-guide...
Hope that helps! :)
Thank you Ingrid and PETA for all of the attention you have gotten placed on animals rights issues! I hope 2012 proves to be as FRUITful for you as 2011.
I'm a longtime PETA member and I've seen just how many animals the organization has saved from laboratories, circuses, furriers, factory farms, puppy mills, and other cruel people. The group really knows how to open eyes (and has opened my own) to animal suffering.. If it weren't for Ingrid Newkirk and PETA, I might still be using animal tested cosmetics and eating animal flesh. PETA's tactics may be a bit over-the-top at times, but they are effective and and they help stop animal suffering. I'm grateful to Ms. Newkirk and PETA for trying to make the world a kinder place.
The ads clearly work - look at PETA's size and ability to create real victories that help animals. What's really repulsive is the treatment of animals used for food, clothing, and all our other desires and whims. We need more shows like this so people understand these issues and learn the facts.
i am really thankful for PETA making a difference in innocent animals life who can't speak or fight for their rights .. i am even surprise to find negative comment from ppl when some one trying to make difference with good purpose ,GOD sake if you dont like it at least keep quite and if you dont wont to do anything walk away .. why so much negativity..
i am a vegetarian now for 5 yrs and i am strong and healthy and it really change my life.. i use to be not a healthy person now it hasn't been better than this.. the reason is i am no longer part of cruelty and that made me inside out a happy person and that led me to be a healthy.
Miss Iingrid you are doing a great job and i salute for this , you made a big impact in not only animals life also in humans life..GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY HE GIVES YOU STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.. its very clear in Bible what GOD gave us to eat pls guys read GEN: 1-29 .
i am really thankful for PETA making a difference in innocent animals life who can't speak or fight for their rights .. i am even surprise to find negative comment from ppl when some one trying to make difference with good purpose ,GOD sake if you dont like it at least keep quite and if you dont wont to do anything walk away .. why so much negativity..
i am a vegetarian now for 5 yrs and i am strong and healthy and it really change my life.. i use to be not a healthy person now it hasn't been better than this.. the reason is i am no longer part of cruelty and that made me inside out a happy person and that led me to be a healthy.
Miss Iingrid you are doing a great job and i salute for this , you made a big impact in not only animals life also in humans life..GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY HE GIVES YOU STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.. its very clear in Bible what GOD gave us to eat pls guys read GEN: 1-29 .