PETA Billboard Targets Gore

[Zandor]

In Campaign Debut, Group's Mobile Billboard Will Dog Ex-Veep in Austin Over His Addiction to Meat—the Leading Cause of Global Warming

For Immediate Release:
September 28, 2007


Contact:
Matt Prescott 757-622-7382


Austin, Texas -- Showing a cartoon of a flabby Al Gore munching on a drumstick next to the tagline "Too Chicken to Go Vegetarian? Meat Is the #1 Cause of Global Warming," PETA's new truck-mounted billboard will circle the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas throughout the day on Monday, October 1, including while Al Gore is giving a speech inside. Why Gore? Although Gore has done great work to raise awareness about global warming, he has largely ignored the facts that the meat industry is the leading source of greenhouse-gas emissions and that going vegetarian is the most effective way to reduce one's impact on the environment. PETA will display the billboard -- from fixed sites as well as advertising trucks -- wherever Gore makes a public appearance over the next several months.


Consider what scientists are saying:


· In its recent report Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options, the United Nations determined that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, planes, and ships in the world combined. The report goes on to say that meat is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."

· Researchers at the University of Chicago have determined that switching to a vegan diet is 50 percent more effective in countering global warming than switching from a standard American car to a Toyota Prius.


"You can't express concern for global warming if there's a drumstick in your mouth," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Mr. Gore is ignoring a scientifically established fact: There's no such thing as a meat-eating environmentalist because meat-eating is the main culprit."


For more information, please visit PETA.org.

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=10297

[BlooInBloo]

1. Fuck PETA.

[SlowDownFast]

18. .

[Mad_Dem_X]

33. My sentiments exactly.

They go way over the line in almost everything they do.

[onehandle]

36. Ditto. nt

[Peregrine Took]

39. Nah!!! PETA is right on this one. I love Al and belong to a pro Al group

encouraging him to run but he needs to examine his omnivore habits. Healthwise, it will be better for him in the long run.

[orleans]

84. um...could we please wait until he gets his ass in the white house

before we start ripping on him and giving the republiks more fodder?

[RestoreGore]

88. "gets his ass in the White House"

How nice.

[Cha]

109. Gore could at least

acknowledge it more and give it some food for thought.

Before I became a vegetarian..I thought, "No Way No How" but things change..you never know. I'm sure Gore can take being called out on this.

[Liberal In Texas]

45. One more Fuck PETA right here.

[Initech]

47. Amen!!!

The inevtiable PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals post.

Seriously, fuck them.

[flvegan]

50. That was brilliant, as usual, BIB.

Way to make a statement!

[spoony]

93. I love finding common ground

:P

[originalpckelly]

2. Bullshit.

CO2 and water vapor make up the primary components of the Greenhouse effect, methane (i.e. cow gas) comprises far less, although it does contribute. I mean, what are we going to do, kill all the cows for PETA?

Fuck off PETAphiles.

[originalpckelly]

3. You know, thats actually kind of clever...

we're talking about cows and bulls, and I said bullshit. HAHAHAHA! :rofl:

[toadzilla]

5. methane isnt the problem

raising animals for meat uses a lot more resources than growing vegetables for food.

not defending attacking Gore, but it is true.

[originalpckelly]

9. True, but that's not what they said.

They specifically distorted science to prove a point, all they're doing is stirring up controversy by attacking Al Gore.

[toadzilla]

87. they did not.

they should not be picking on Gore, but the science is pretty solid.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

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[flvegan]

113. Thanks!

How precious of you to suggest that.

*smooch*

[jab105]

78. It makes more CO2 for meat production...

From planting the grass/crops and having the have a large area for cows to graze = less trees...

to the storage involved with meat storage and transportation...

to the amount of energy that is transferred from the plants to the cows to the humans...190% is wasted...

its very wasteful to eat meat...

[lligrd]

4. Shouldn't Peta Be Targeting Cheney For Hunting

animals trapped on his friends ranches? Or * for taking endangered animals off the list and allowing them to be hunted? You have to wonder about their priorities.

[originalpckelly]

6. Of course they should be.

They're trying to stir up controversy by attacking Gore, when in reality they're full of crap when they say methane is the most important contributor to the greenhouse effect. CO2 is the greatest contributor to the effect released in the greatest amounts.

[uberllama42]

65. Where did they say that methane contributes more than CO2?

PETA cites the UN report released earlier this year which says that raising meat produces more greenhouse gases than any other human activity. It takes a vast number of calories to fatten up a cow for slaughter, and our industrial food system gets those calories from fossil fuels.

I'm not exactly on PETA's side, either. When they're right, they're right, and when they're full of shit then I say fuck 'em, too. But in this case they're right and Gore is a hypocrite. I'm not enamored of any of these people; on another day the shoe could easily be on the other foot.

[NanceGreggs]

13. One wonders indeed.

And 'targeting' someone like Al Gore isn't exactly going to win friends and influence people - people who are prospective PETA donors.

This is a dumb move on so many levels ...

[KoKo]

Cheney Never met "Red Meat" he didn't like...whether to shoot it or order it..it's all the same.

:-(

[Mend]

37. both PETA and HSUS targeted cheney for hunting, repeatedly.

[blondeatlast]

89. Cheney hunts animals, too?

I heard he bagged a good friend...

:evilgrin:

[spoony]

95. I think PETA likes making "statements" by going after

unexpected targets, or perhaps are just malcontents who aren't satisfied by anyone's efforts.

[Uncle Joe]

105. They're afraid of Cheney because he's actually in power,

and he might shoot them in the face if he can't shoot little birds.

[Zandor]

7. Basically, I like Gore

and am hard pressed to understand why PETA is targeting him. He's high profile, I suppose, but aren't there some republicans far more deserving of a hit?

[originalpckelly]

11. Like I just said, they're doing it to get attention.

They thrive off of controversy, and I know that this isn't true first hand. They are totally full of crap.

[DemGa]

8. I can't really fault PETA for this

PETA gets their message out the most effective way they can; and here, they're tying it to the #1 spokesman for global warming. I think it's kind of brilliant.

[Zandor]

14. But isn't it clumsy?

They're supposed to advocate animal rights. There are plenty of angles that could be taken at all kinds of people. Why target a progressive?

[DemGa]

16. He's the highest profile

They're trying to force his hand at becoming an ally too, as I see it...Because they do have a point.

And I hardly see meat eating having any affect on Gore where public perception is concerned.

[Clovis Sangrail]

24. pretty stupid way to try to win an ally

though I doubt that's what they were trying to do.

[uberllama42]

68. He's a hypocrite

He does great work advocating change, but he isn't willing to make the necessary sacrifices in his own life. People like Dick Cheney are all-around assholes: their positions are consistent. And no one expects them to be affected by negative attention.

They are making the perfect the enemy of the good, though (which is not to say that PETA is anywhere close to perfect; they're just better than Gore on this particular issue). They have their agenda, and they feel that this is what best serves that agenda.

[Hekate]

85. Send the man some sackcloth and ashes while you're at it. For gods' sake.

For. Gods'. Sake.

What. The. Hell.

PETA can now just go do something anatomically impossible to themselves.

Hekate

[Clovis Sangrail]

101. we're ALL hypocrites

it just depends on which lens you use

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DemGa]

25. Your point?

[Kutjara]

10. Way to shoot yourselves in the head.

Great idea, attacking the one guy who has done more to raise public consciousness about the environment than anyone in recent memory. Even better to provide neatly packaged fodder for the warming-deniers to scream "hypocrite" yet again. I guess all the Republican, corporate and fundie meat eaters weren't soft enough targets, so PETA thought they'd try to bring down someone who's fighting for many of the same things they are, while feeding the opposition a nice little coup. Clowns.

[SlowDownFast]

22. Idiot liberals.

Congressman Obey was right. They do exist.

This is another prime example.

[mitchum]

29. Ingrid Newkirk is a batshit crazy dogmatic attention junkie, not a liberal

[Zomby Woof]

46. Perfect summation

:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

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[flvegan]

58. Claps.

Spoken like someone that doesn't know her.

She'd love it, though.

[mitchum]

86. I'm sure that she would...I mentioned her name, didn't I?

Thanks for the confirmation

[blondeatlast]

90. Yes, indeed. nt

[PDenton]

66. yeah, I found the attack on gore tasteless

no pun intended

Though, it is true that reducing ones animal product consumption will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Animal husbandry for the production of food is relatively energy intensive compared to obtaining the same nutrients from plants. PETA's stance is too guilt-laden and is counter-productive. Alot of people would just say "fuck the planet, I'm not eating tofu" or whatever.

[Kutjara]

73. Exactly. It also smacks of "if you're not perfect, you're scum" sanctimony.

How about if we all eat the elephant (no pun intended here, either) that is the Earth's environmental problems one piece at a time? Sure, Al Gore isn't perfect, but then I don't remember him ever claiming to be. He is, however, committed to doing something positive about climate change, and that certainly entitles him to a little slack. It would be much more helpful if the people and organizations who share a mission to save the planet actually worked together and supported each other, rather than engaging in battles over who's vision is more pure.

I would also be very surprised if any member of PETA is perfect either, for that matter. Do they all walk around sweeping the pavement in front of themselves, lest they kill an insect inadvertently? No? Then they're hypocrites who will burn in the lowest circles of Hell!!!!

[PDenton]

80. PETA's just plain nauseating

Their absolutism, self righteousness, and general incivility seems to dwarf any claims to compassion. When I think of compassion I think of people like the Dalai Lama or Gandhi, people who were inspired to find peace with their enemies and a better world for other people. OTOH, PETA goes around smearing anybody they don't like for the most minor of "sins", or sometimes, for no good reason at all (in this case, Al Gore).

I'm a vegetarian but I'm not allied with them at all. I don't even consider myself a supporter of animal rights in the academic and popular meaning of the term. Plus, statements PETA have made, like they wouldn't sacrifice one animal if it could cure cancer... are just ridiculous, even inhuman and betrays a rather twisted, cold heart.

[The Wielding Truth]

72. That's how I feel.That's how I feel,too.Kutjara it is a slap

to a guy who is trying to help.

[Catchawave]

12. I get PETA, this is brilliant !

CAFO/Factory Farming is a horrible environmental destroyer ... Al never has addressed this in his very honorable campaign against global warming.

Ed Begley has :)

[blondeatlast]

91. Al gore has so much time on his hands compared to Ed Begley (whom I adore, btw, but please) nt

[Cha]

110. I get it too..

Gore can handle some real criticism..Peta wants what he wants.

[Kajsa]

15. I heard Ingrid Newkirk on Maher's show

a few weeks ago.

I am no proponent of factory farming
but--

She was stating the same, except she went on to explain how
" all that methane, especially from cow flatulence" was a major
contributor to global warming.

I kid you not!

So there you have it, folks.

Cow farts- that's what it all comes down to!

[Horse with no Name]

74. One word solution to this problem.

[Kajsa]

98. " --and there will be no gas!"

:rofl:

:hi:

[KoKo]

17. Why Didn't PETA target the Bushies for thier Steaks and Taco's? Huh?

seems rather odd but maybe this was just a "Flame Bate" post and NOT TRUTH OF IT!

[Blue-Jay]

19. hur hur hur!

[H2O Man]

20. PETA dripping n/t

[Me.]

104. Related To

Bird droppings?

[Uncle Joe]

106. When I was overseas, they gave tetracycline to the Marines

with that very problem.

[H2O Man]

107. Yep.

They gave something similar to Scooter, to keep him from revealing Dick Cheney's load.

[Uncle Joe]

111. ....

:rofl:

[Maat]

21. To me, PETA misses the point.

And my hubby is a chemical engineer, and has explained the whole thing to me (to my satisfaction, anyway).:)

Al Gore informed me and GOT ME MOTIVATED to make the changes in my life THAT I PRACTICALLY COULD. I've cut my energy usage down to a fraction of what I used to use. We now run our offices out of the house, I use 33% of the paper products that I used to, I drive a Prius, my kid is homeschooled, everything is within 5 to 10 minutes by car (driving a Prius, whose emissions are low), we walk when we can, and we've replaced the ordinary lightbulbs with the environmentally-friendly kind.

The point is being as earth-friendly as I can be, not being perfect. Am I going to go Vegan tomorrow, or is the rest of the world? Extremely unlikely.

BUT, I now buy locally-grown produce, and I go VEGETARIAN every other day. I now fill my drinks, when I go out, in my steel canteen, rather than generating 15 paper-cup bits of trash per week.

I need people to take whatever steps they can reasonably take, not try to take extreme steps that won't last.

I think that the PETA folks' timing is off. Al Gore did SO much to wake my neighbors up and to wake ME up. We need to stay focused upon what he talked about in the film. Reducing the car and truck emissions is not only doable, people are doing it now. I doubt that the world is going to vegan tomorrow. Hopefully, though, we will focus on buy from meat producers who engage in responsible practices, and buy locally grown produce as much as possible. We don't need the theatrics from PETA, in my humble opinion.

[Clovis Sangrail]

26. well stated

[Maat]

75. Thanks.

It was from the heart.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted sub-thread

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[Name removed]

28. Deleted sub-thread

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[Mend]

30. if Al Gore listened to PETA, he would probably live longer, feel better, and

look a whole lot better. Could end up that PETA extends his life. BTW, go look at the films on factory farming on PETA or HSUS site and see what corporations are doing to sentient animals. Whether or not animals really add to global warming is less the point than why anyone as kind and caring as Al Gore could be eating animals treated this way.

[shireen]

34. you're making assumptions

Not all meat-producing companies follow the cruel practises of the factory farming depicted on the PETA and HSUS websites.

[Mend]

35. but you never know, do you, what came from where....and what was injected

whom and whether it is diseased, tortured, or butchered alive. Anyway, medical science knows for sure it isn't good for you.

[originalpckelly]

38. I've known a couple of very overweight vegies in my life...

diet alone doesn't determine health, and that's assuming that the diet is good. Vegetarians can and do eat fatty foods too, you know.

[Mend]

40. I am a chubby veggie, partly due to my older age and being less active than

I used to be but my cholesterol is 160 and that is without drugs. My husband's dropped over 100 points when he stopped red meat.

[Nevernose]

48. Ironically, my cholesterol is much better than yours, and my diet's far worse.

Cholesterol is SO heavily genetically-based, though, according to my understanding.

Mine's something like 300 good, 50 bad (I forget the names off hand) -- and that's after a life that would make "Supersize Me" look tame. The doctor said it was like I had the cholesterol of a 15 year old athlete with the lifestyle of Hunter S. Thompson. Blessed with good genes.

We as a society (and especially me), however, could eat a lot less meat than we do now and be a lot healthier. meat production takes up a lot of valuable farm land that could be used more economically to farm food for people. What's the ratio? 1 to 10? Like, for every ten acres of food to feed one person, it takes 10 times that to feed one cow? And what goes on in those pig farms is just shameful.

[Mend]

64. you are right...both our fathers died young of heart attacks...we don't have

much wiggle room.

[PDenton]

70. I'm an overweight vegetarian

Mostly becaues I'm lazy and live in the 'burbs (which are evil, BTW). It's amazing what getting beyond your twenties can do to your metabolism, too. I'm on a diet, mostly eating soy burgers, eggs, brocolli, and cuting down on bread and that sort of thing (South Beach Diet). I lose maybe a few pounds a month. But you know junk food is really tempting when you are lazy and don't want to mess with cooking. So I fall off the wagon once in a while.

Though, I must say I have a better BMI than many of my relatives, and my blood pressure is normal. At my age, my dad had high blood pressure out the wazoo.

[flvegan]

54. Look, using logic in a PETA thread is in violation of the rules.

Series.

[deadmessengers]

60. LOOK better?

are you kidding me? Look at Ingrid Newkirk - she looked like a CORPSE on Bill Maher a few weeks ago. I've never met a vegan that looked even remotely healthy.

[deadmessengers]

31. Why are we giving these trolls attention?

This is EXACTLY what they want. PETA is the cultral equivalent of an Internet troll - ignore them, and they'll go away.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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[deadmessengers]

62. Do they make vegan hotpockets?

:rofl:

[toadzilla]

92. yes n/t

[jgraz]

32. I like their strategy, hate their tactics

In a way, they're doing what many of us do: appealling to the people who actually give a shit. If PETA had approached Gore and lobbied him about the realities of meat production, I bet he would have listened.

But of course, they have to do it in a way that makes it very hard for Gore to work with them. No one wants to look like they're caving in to bullying, and crap like this can only make it less likely that Gore will listen to them.

I will say this, if Gore comes out for reducing meat consumption, he's a better man than I (well, even more better (sic) than he was before). At the end of the day, PETA's right on this issue. They just need to stop being such assholes and maybe people will pay attention.

[opihimoimoi]

41. KILL THE MESSENGER.........fuck Peta ...Assholes SOBs

[Hosnon]

42. Are morons running PETA?

Democrats are much, much better for them than the Republicans. Yet they choose to nitpick one of the most environmentally conscious Democrats?

Jeez...

[Jade Fox]

43. Of all the thousands of people PETA could direct that to.....

they picked Gore. Way to keep that circular firing squad going, PETA!

Demanding that high profile, effect fighters for change (like Gore) be perfect is just plain childish. Yes, PETA has a point, but was smearing Gore the only way to make that point?

[spanone]

44. bullshit

[Nevernose]

49. Which logical fallacy is that?

"You can't express concern for global warming if there's a drumstick in your mouth"

It's not ad hominem, is it? Isn't there a more specific one?

[deadmessengers]

61. Ad Hominem Tu Quoque

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem-tu-quoque.html

[Nevernose]

67. Thanks. I knew it was one of them.

To further a point, rather graphically: I could smash a puppy's head open with a hammer, all the while screaming, "It is wrong to kill puppies!" It wouldn't invalidate my argument.

Thanks for the "Ad Hominem Tu Quoque" call.

[PDenton]

71. it's no different than the folks

who criticize Gore because he's not driving a Prius all the time or he lives in a large house and flies everywhere. Nevermind he flies everywhere to spread an important message.

[noamnety]

77. Is he eating drumsticks to spread an important message? (nt)

[NoPasaran]

53. Truck-mounted billboard?

Driving around and around and around one of the most congested areas in Austin? Fuck PETA! Fuck their fucking hypocrisy!

[The Straight Story]

55. PETA - the one issue group

Who misses the point on so many more issues.

[GOPisEvil]

56. Yeah, let's waste fossil fuels to make our point.

Thanks, PETA (and anyone else who uses these truck billboards). All Austin needs is ANOTHER vehicle clogging our streets.

[flvegan]

57. I LOVE PETA threads.

Love 'em. Buy right into what PETA wants. Nice job, I thank you.

No, no, no...keep it kicked. Talk about how PETA "supports" terrorism, or hates pets, or wishes kids to die because they don't care for vivisection.

Oh, wait...PETA EUTHANIZED SOME ANIMALS!!!!! WAHHHHAAHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! They want to kill your dog!!!! They hate people but care about animals!!!!! Oh...my...gawd. Call the IRS...tell 'em PETA supports terrorism...they hate us for our meat-eating freedoms!!!!

Wait, no, Ingrid Newkird once pushed the needle on companion animals as part of her job, doing what she could to help the animals she was in charge of.

Oh, the outrage!!!!!!

Hey, consumerfreedom would LOVE to have you in their e-list. Consider joining.

Marks.

[Catchawave]

103. Hi flvegan !

As always, you bring sanity to the PETA threads :hi:

[and-justice-for-all]

63. Taking a figure, like Gore, to task for only going thus far...

is fine with me.

If you talk the talk, you should walk the walk and if going total Veg is part of the solution (As I have done) then he should go all the way.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

69. I will never take PETA seriously after this idiocy ...

consigning them to the loony-bin. Wonder how many people they'll win over with that BS??? >>> N O N E

[Horse with no Name]

76. I always get a chuckle when I think of PETA

My visualization of Heather Mills beating J-Lo's fur clad body with her prosthetic leg is way too funny (yeah I know this isn't EXACTLY how this happened--but all of the players were in place for it to have happened this way...and as PETA shows, there really doesn't have to be a cohesive thought process to churn this shit out.)

[blondeatlast]

99. Shame on you...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[IndianaJones]

79. PETA sucks. nt.

[SlowDownFast]

81. Send PETA an email

and let 'em know what you think:

Contact PETA’s PSA Department
If you need help ordering or placing public service announcements or advertisements, please contact:

PSA Coordinator
PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
[e-mail]
757-622-7382

http://www.peta.org/mc/PSADept.asp

Contact PETA's Media Department

Telephone : [phone], extension 8284

E-mail : If you are from the media, please e-mail us at [e-mail]

Please include the following in your e-mail message:
* Your first and last name
* Name of outlet (including call letters and station frequency, if applicable)
* Location (city, state)
* Telephone and fax number
* Topic
* Deadline

http://www.peta.org/mc/contactMedia.asp

[blondeatlast]

100. The more we ignore Ingrid--er, I mean --well, I was right the first time,

the sooner she'll melt down the memory hole.

That's just what she wants, so no thanks.

[nickgutierrez]

83. Those advertising trucks probably aren't so good for the environment, either.

If they really wanted to make a point, they should be following him on bicycles.

[RestoreGore]

97. Yes, and are they DRIVING to his event?

HYPOCRITES.

[blondeatlast]

94. TRUCK-MOUNTED BILLBOARD? Oh, the hypocrisy... nt

[RestoreGore]

96. Well, Bill Maher is supposedly on their board and he occassionally eats meat

That according to Wikipedia. And if true they are then HYPOCRITES. And also, where is their proof that Al Gore eats meat? Do they have pictures of him masticating a steak? He also mentioned the impact of it in his book An Inconvenient Truth in reference to slashing and burning in South America to raise it. Perhaps had they read it they would have seen it. I think on the whole it is OK to mention it as a part of working to mitigate GHG emissions, but to choose just one person, especially the one who has done more to awaken this world to the catastrophe we face to target is just shooting yourself in the damn foot. Even if we all stopped eating meat today it wouldn't stop the effects that have already been put into motion by BILLIONS of us spewing fossil fuels into the air since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. I'm sorry, but even though on many things regarding animals I agree with them, to target just one person is just so phony.

[Snarkturian Clone]

102. Hey PETA....

eat MY meat.

[WildEyedLiberal]

108. Oh, what will the PETA stormtroopers do, now that they've criticized a leftist idol?

This should be a good thread... :popcorn:

[Canuckistanian]

112. They make themselves more and more irrelevant

With each passing outrageous act. Why do they do it? What are they hoping to achieve?

Turn Al Gore into a vegan? And what will that do?

[fujiyama]

114. PETA really is useless

They aren't accomplishing anything by targeting Al Gore of all people, who has done quite a bit to raise awareness of global warming. It's obvious the issue means little to them and their narrow agenda. Their organization seems to thrive on publicity with their clownish and immature antics.

The simple fact is that a majority of people in the world eat meat and have been for thousands of years. And a vast majority of those that don't eat meat, drink milk and eat dairy. I don't really care what others eating habits are and I find PETA types incredibly sanctimonious for pushing their lifestyle on others.