Written by Erika-G
Recently, long-time PETA supporter Madhuri Dixit was at Filmistan with her husband, Dr Shriram Nene, for the shoot of her show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, when she saw seven puppies drenched from the previous night's rain and struggling for their lives. Madhuri interrupted the shoot, and she, Dr Nene and the show's director, Saahil Chhabria, immediately contacted PETA for help and stayed with the puppies until help arrived. These puppies and others found struggling to survive in the monsoon rains now need to be adopted. Interested persons can contact PETA at Info@petaindia.org.
Across India, stray dogs and cats struggle to survive on the streets. Many of them starve to death or are injured, abused or hit by vehicles. Countless others are left to languish in animal shelters because there aren't enough good homes for them.
Sterilising one female dog can prevent 67,000 births in six years, and sterilising one female cat can prevent 420,000 births in seven years. Sterilisation helps keep animals off the streets and out of shelters, and sterilised animals also live longer, healthier lives and are less likely to roam, fight or bite.
This isn't the first time that Dixit has helped animals. A few months ago, she saw a crow hanging from a wire from her window and quickly called her friends at PETA to help free the bird. In 2001, after learning that elephants were being mercilessly killed in Assam, Dixit sent a letter on behalf of PETA India to officials in that region.
Help save lives by choosing to adopt, instead of buying, dogs and cats. Please also pledge to practice animal birth control by sterilising your companion animals to help them lead longer and healthier lives.
He pushed for enforcement of the ban on jallikattu and spoke out against Mumbai’s “dancing” monkeys. Now, John Abraham is urging the Ministry of Environment and Forests to help animals who are abused in India’s circuses. As a Bollywood actor, producer, and model, John chooses to perform – but the longtime PETA India supporter is quick to point out that animals who are held captive and used for human entertainment do not.
John is appealing to Jayanthi Natarajan, the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, and is asking her to ban animal acts in circuses. And he didn’t mince words in describing the abuse that the animals suffer: “Unlike human performers, animals are forced to entertain through the use of fear, pain or hunger. Whips, clubs, hooks and other weapons are often used to inflict pain on elephants and other animals in order to force them to perform confusing tricks. Dogs are crammed into dirty cages, horses are kept tethered by short ropes, elephants are chained by their legs and regularly beaten in order to keep them docile, and birds' wings are clipped, denying them flight. When the show is over, the animals are forced back into their cages or are shackled or tied, loaded onto lorries and taken to the next town. They never get a break from this endless cycle of abuse.”
It is already illegal for circuses to use bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions, and bulls in their acts. But as John points out, “no animal – no matter the species – wants to be chained, caged, hit or psychologically abused.”
Join John in speaking out against the cruelty of the circus by writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper, organizing a demonstration when the circus is in your area, and requesting that local officials cancel performances. Also, send an e-mail to the Ministry now.
Written by Kriti-S
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) in Delhi is well known for giving world-renowned designers a wonderful platform to showcase their talent. Attended by the B-town biggies and fashionistas from around the globe, this fashion week had a lot in store for our four-legged, feathered and finned friends too!
On day one of the fashion week, stars Mahima Chowdhary, Gulshan Grover and Monica Dogra wore vegan animal-print designs to inaugurate the partnership between Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), and PETA Chief Functionary Poorva Joshipura. The partnership's theme is "Fashion for Freedom – Boycott Zoos", and it was announced with the help of two models in a cage who wore body-hugging costumes to resemble tigers. To show their support for the cause, the celebrities freed the caged "tigers". The campaign mantra is "Animal prints, not animal prisons", so Gulshan wore a jacket designed by Rajee Sabharwal, and Mahima's sari was made by Satya Paul.
Hundreds of thousands of animals languish in zoos around the world. They often express their frustration and loneliness through obsessive, repetitive and even self-destructive behaviour, such as pacing, head-bobbing and self-mutilation. PETA, FDCI and these stars are urging people to boycott zoos and support efforts to protect animals' natural homes instead.
Also at the fashion week was a 30-foot wall dedicated to PETA's various celebrity ad campaigns and a PETA information stall.
The PETA and FDCI campaign will extend to the next fashion week in September. Be on the lookout for it.
Written by PETA
Actors Vivek Oberoi and Vidya Balan are frontrunners for the title of PETA India's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity of 2011. Shortly after the poll was posted, both stars started raking in the votes. The very talented Oberoi helped reconstruct an entire village during the South Asian tsunami, sponsors the surgeries for children who need them but cannot afford them, and is an anti-tobacco ambassador. Clearly, Oberoi's beauty is not just skin deep. He went vegetarian after watching a video on the violent and painful deaths that animals endure at slaughterhouses. He has said, "I realised I do not want to be hypocritical …. To turn vegetarian was a conscious decision".
Vidya Balan, too, has a healthy heart of gold. With a bagful of accolades for her sensational performance in movie The Dirty Picture, Vidya was reported to have said, "I am vegetarian. As a result, my metabolism has improved, and this is a huge contributor to weight loss".
Hot on their heels are Sonu Sood, Dhanush, Shahid Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Mallika Sherawat, Kareena Kapoor, Hema Malini and Ayesha Takia.
You have until 10 January 2012 to help keep Oberoi and Vidya in the lead or choose your favourite sexy star instead. The winners will be declared by the end of January 2012, so don't forget to vote. More importantly, go vegetarian like your favourite celeb. The winner will be chosen by PETA on the basis of the following equally-considered factors: the total number of votes each celebrity receives; their potential to reach a large audience; PETA’s assessment of the celebrities’ attractiveness.
Vegans enjoy lower rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and impotence than meat-eaters do. Going vegetarian or vegan will save the lives of many animals per year and is the most effective way that you can combat climate change.
Submerge Goa Project is undoubtedly the ultimate New Year's Eve beach party, and petaDishoom is going to be there to help you dance your way into 2012!
That's right, all you deep house, dub-step, break-beat, techno, trance, psychedelic and electro fans – petaDishoom is the official social partner of Submerge Goa Project 2011!
Not only are the people at Submerge Goa project some of the coolest people we have ever met, they are also a socially conscious bunch too. They have partnered with the youth animal rights brigade petaDishoom for the four-day dance and music fest in Goa, taking place from 30 December 2011 to 2 January 2012, to show their support for the animal protection movement and to encourage the thousands of people who will be attending the fest to be kinder to animals.
Says Submerge Goa Project's co-founder Nikhil Chinapa, “Animal protection issues are a key concern for youth today and I’m delighted Submerge Goa Project 2011 can act as a platform for petaDishoom to raise even more awareness about the importance of being kind to animals.”
Adds DJ Pearl, “I am a long time supporter of PETA and I am over the moon about Submerge Goa Project 2011 joining hands with their youth division petaDishoom. Through this partnership, we aim to encourage more and more people to speak out against cruelty to animals.”
There really can't be a better New Year's resolution than pledging to help animals, and there really is no better party to be at than Submerge Goa Project .
Look out for the petaDishoom information table at the fest, where we will give away free stickers, literature and more to all the beautiful peeps who want to support our work for animal rights.
Don't forget your bathing suit or swimming trunks and visit Goa so that you can party with petaDishoom and some awesome electro musicians who are guaranteed to blow your mind.
For more information, please check out the Submerge website: http://www.submerge.in/nodes/home.
"When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all." – Augusten Burroughs
Did you know you it's possible to lose weight, boost your health and reduce the risk of deadly diseases just by changing your diet? Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is bringing you a program based on the ever-popular 21-Day Vegan Kickstart initiative that has helped more than 150,000 Americans lose weight and improve their health with a low-fat, plant-based, dairy-free diet.
Trust us: these 21 days will be fun-filled, nutritious and yummy! Kickstart India will send you 21 e-mail messages – one each day – that will provide you with an all-access pass to the following resources:
A list of celebrity coaches who will offer their favourite vegan recipes and tips to help you stay on track during the program. Actor Amala Akkineni, cricketer Murali Kartik, actor Veena Malik, international star Maggie Q, actor Rashaana Shah, musician Rahul Sharma, actor Jackie Shroff, actor and author Alicia Silverstone, actor Sonu Sood and member of Indian Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor are all involved.
Go get started, India! Get yourself enrolled now! Also, spread the word around to family and friends.
Be healthy!
Guess who sent back a Mercedes because it had leather seats? Sexy vegan Toby Maguire, that's who! The Hollywood star and PETA US Sexiest Vegetarian winner made no bones about not wanting to sit on cow skin.
While in Australia shooting The Great Gatsby – the film that multiple PETA India Hottest Vegetarian contest winner Amitabh Bachchan will make his Hollywood debut in – Maguire, a longtime PETA US pal, returned the Mercedes-Benz which was given to him for his stay and asked for the upholstery to be replaced with vinyl. The studio complied.
The vegan version of Nick Carraway (the character Maguire plays in The Great Gatsby) has his fans carried away with his unfaltering advocacy for animals.
Yay! Thank you, Tobey. Let's help the Spiderman star by pledging to ditch leather today!
Malini Agarwal is always blogging about noteworthy stars in her super-hip Bollywood-gossip blog, Miss Malini, so it's time to turn the tables and blog about her noteworthy actions! We recently asked the party animal – and animal lover – what she does to help homeless animals.
As you can hear, she thinks it's important to make noise whenever you witness cruelty to animals or see an animal in need. If you're willing and able to care for an animal, then take Miss Malini's advice and open your heart and home to a dog or a cat from the streets or the shelter – not from a breeder or a pet shop. You rock, Miss Malini!
PS Stay tuned to find out who we're going to dish on next!
Actor Om Puri has spoken up for the need to have stronger legislation to protect animals in India. He has teamed up with PETA and sent a letter to Jayanthi Natarajan, the new Union Minister for Environment and Forests, imploring her to do everything in her power to hasten enactment of the new Animal Welfare Act, 2011.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has drafted a new animal protection law to replace the outdated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The new draft Animal Welfare Act, 2011, would greatly increase the penalties for cruelty to animals – penalties that are currently so weak that they have virtually no deterrent effect.
"Considering that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, was enacted 50 years ago, it is time for India's animal welfare laws to get a much-needed 21st-century makeover", wrote Puri. "I hope the government will put politics aside and give our animals the basic protection that they deserve by passing the Animal Welfare Act, 2011."
You can help. Write to the ministry now and urge them to pass legislation to ensure better treatment of our animal friends.
After a fierce battle on PETAAsiaPacific.com, Shahid Kapoor has won the title of PETA Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian Man for 2011. Singer Faye Wong has been crowned Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian Woman. Among the popular contenders this year were Bollywood film heavyweights Kareena Kapoor and R. Madhavan, model-turned-Hollywood hottie Maggie Q, Mongolian singer Nominjin, Taiwanese actor Blue Lan, Super Girl Jane Zhang, actors Gao Yuanyuan and Barbie Hsu, and songwriter Louis Cheung.
Favorite celebs from outside the continent include actors Natalie Portman, Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia; fighting champion Jake Shields; and singers Anthony Kiedis (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Leona Lewis.
Kapoor, who is looking forward to the release of the much-anticipated film Mausam, says, "Being voted as sexy is a matter of perception, but being vegetarian is a lifestyle change and something that comes from a sense of responsibility." In addition to helping keep your body trim and looking sexy, being vegetarian means you're doing your part for the planet and, of course, for animals!
So what are you waiting for? Pledge to go vegetarian today.
He can make the world go mute when his feet do the talking! Pandit Chitresh Das is a maestro and virtuosic performer of the Indian classical dance Kathak. After teaching and entertaining millions of people across the globe with his dance, the Kathak guru has now teamed up with PETA India to star in an ad about animals forced to perform in circuses. The ad has been shot by photographer Donald Barry Woodrow.
"Animals in circus[es] is old-fashioned entertainment", says Pt Das, who is currently on a visit to India for a Kathak performance. "Watching animals roaming in nature, they have their own dance and music. It's cool. Why interfere with that?"
We're thankful to Pt Das for speaking out against the use of animals in entertainment. Animals in circuses lead lives of constant confinement, chronic physical abuse and psychological torment. In addition to confinement and beatings, the animals are often denied access to water, food and veterinary care. Dogs are crammed into dirty cages and are hardly ever let out of them. Many birds have their wings clipped and are kept in cages so small that there is no room for them to fly, and horses are kept tethered on short ropes. Elephants are routinely tied by three legs and subjected to beatings with sharp steel-tipped ankuses.
Pt Das has won numerous prestigious awards, including the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts – the highest honour bestowed by the US government for a traditional artist. He is also the founder of unique form of dancing and exercise called "Kathak Yoga".
Help Pt Das and join us in stamping out cruelty to animals by pledging to boycott circuses!
"Angel to animals" and one of our best pals, Trisha Krishnan – who appears on the cover of the June issue of Galatta – has personally autographed 15 posters for her fans, and here's your chance to win one.
As you can see, Trisha looks awesomely cute in her new PETA ad in which she urges people to adopt a homeless dog if they are looking to welcome a companion animal into their home.
Here's how you can enter: Share your story about how you have helped a homeless Indian community dog as a comment to this blog.
PETA will then choose 15 of the most heart-warming stories to win a poster!
THE CONTEST IS CLOSED NOW!
Item girl Liza Malik has finally agreed to help fix cricket! Liza has appeared in a brand-new ad for PETA India. The ad – which reads, "The Best Way to Fix Cricket Is to Stop Using a Leather Ball" – is a reference to the recent controversy surrounding a UK bookie who offered Malik money to use her alleged familiarity with several cricket players to help him fix Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches. Malik wanted no part of the scheme, but she eagerly volunteered to pose for PETA's ad calling for the use of high-performance synthetic cricket balls that don't cost a cow an arm and a leg. The new ad was shot by ace photographer Rohan Gandotra. "Although millions of fans across the globe are currently enjoying the IPL, cricket is anything but fun for the animals whose skins are used to make balls for the sport, and leather production wreaks havoc on the environment", said the überhot Malik.
She is so right! In India, where much of the world's leather comes from, cattle are marched for days to slaughter without food or water. Those who collapse from exhaustion have their eyes smeared with chilli peppers and tobacco and their tails broken in an effort to keep them moving. At India's abattoirs, animals are often skinned and dismembered while they are still conscious. Also, turning animal skins into leather requires massive amounts of toxic chemicals, and runoff from leather tanneries poisons rivers and streams.
We're with you Liza! Let's ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to show that cricket is truly a "gentleman's game". Urge the ICC to announce that they will accept synthetic leather balls for professional matches now!
PETA India now has a new ally: Pune Warriors' bowler Murali Kartik. The famous cricketer, who is a staunch vegetarian, agreed to strike a pose for PETA's vegetarian campaign and will be starring in a brand-new PETA ad which will be released soon.
"I'm proud to say that my vegetarian diet provides me with all of the energy and stamina I need as an athlete", said Kartik. "Having been born a vegetarian and then to know that a vegetarian diet is better for animals and the environment, my conscience is in good health as well."
Keep visiting our website to catch the first glimpse of Kartik's awesome new ad which was shot by ace photographer Vicky Idnaani!
So join the vegetarian team and take the pledge to go veg today.
The caged and tortured animals at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) – some of whom have been locked inside the facility for years – have a new ally: Celina Jaitly. The sultry actor is the latest star to call on AIIMS to retire the animals at its laboratory and send them to a sanctuary.
More than 40 media outlets were given behind-the-scenes access to a photo shoot during which Celina sat for hours in a cramped cage for a brand-new ad campaign for PETA India. She also described to journalists the suffering endured by animals at AIIMS.
"Through my involvement in this campaign, I hope to encourage authorities to consider the plight of monkeys at AIIMS who have never been given the chance to feel the sun on their backs, grass under their feet or to breathe fresh air", says Celina.
Well done, Celina! Come on, everyone: Let's get the animals out of AIIMS' prison by signing this petition.
And stay tuned for Celina's ad, which was shot by ace photographer Vickky Idnaani and features an outfit created by top designer Joe Mansoori.
Today I feel like walking down memory lane and sharing some interesting information with you in case you don’t already know: In 2008 Bebo was voted by visitors to PETAIndia.org the Hottest Vegetarian Alive. We suspect Kareena Kapoor’s compassionate diet is part of her secret for her flawless skin and figure. If you're still eating animals, why not take Kareena's lead and go veg? Going veg will do wonders for your skin and figure too! In fact, leading health experts agree that leaving meat out of our diets is the single-best thing we can do for our health.
People who don’t eat meat have a greater chance of a lifetime of good health and protection against numerous diseases like heart disease, cancer, and stroke. If you still aren't convinced, check this out.
Ke$ha has revealed that her compassion for animals includes a meat-free diet.When asked why she adopted a vegetarian diet, the pop sensation and party girl replied:“I just love animals, and I’m an advocate for animal rights, and my family has rescued dogs from all over the world. I don’t believe in animal testing. If you see me in fur, it’s always fake. Sometimes you see me wearing skulls, but those are all from roadkill.”See? Ke$ha gets it—if you love animals, don’t eat them! Maybe her animal-loving ways will rub off on Rihanna during their summer tour.
Who better to stick up for scorpions than a fellow “Scorpion”?! That’s why we were super excited to score an exclusive interview with the Scorpion’s Rudolf Schenker. The guitarist for the uber popular German heavy metal band (who can forget their 1980s heavy metal rock anthem “Rock You Like a Hurricane”?), Rudolf recently sat down with PETA Germany to chat about the cruel exotic pet trade. Here is an excerpt from his “stinging” interview: Animals have their own personalities and were not made to entertain us or to be stared at. We have to treat them with respect.
Animals are already losing their habitats and their freedom. Plus, a lot of people profit from animal suffering and readily accept the death of many of these highly-sensitive beings. People keeping these animals in their living rooms here in Germany might want to have a little piece of freedom but the animal is the one who pays a high price for that. You can’t just deliver nature by mail.
Why is Rudolf striking out against the exotic pet trade? Scorpions and other animals such as tarantulas, lizards, turtles and snakes who are purchased as pets suffer from the overwhelming stress of unnatural confinement and loneliness, so it's no surprise when they often fail to thrive in captivity or lash out at owners who are usually unaware of their complex needs. Scorpions are highly intelligent and interesting animals. Florescent under ultra-violet light, these little arachnids are also glowing mothers. Giving birth to live young, a mother scorpion will use her folded legs to make a "birth basket" to catch her babies as they are born and assist them in climbing up onto carry her back where they will stay until they are ready to venture off on their own. Some species of scorpion can live up to 25 years. They shouldn't have to spend their lives trapped in tanks.
If you're looking for an animal companion, take Schenker’s advice: “If animals are already here and can’t be returned, you could think about adopting them from the shelter.” If you ever run into a scorpion or other insect around the house, catch him or her humanely. And if you ever run into a “Scorpion” named Rudolf—ask for an autograph!
Image credit: CreativeCommons.org / PabloBM