Look To The Stars News: PETA

Dave Navarro Goes Nude For PETA

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:30:00 -0000

In PETA's latest anti-fur add, Dave Navarro – guitarist for Jane’s Addiction – takes it all off to support the protest against using fur.

The ad is a part of PETA’s new series titled “Ink, Not Mink.” In the past, Navarro has used real fur in his costumes. He started using faux fur after he saw video footage of animals being skinned alive and screaming.

“It honestly is the most horrific, inhumane thing I’ve ever seen,” he said during an interview with PETA. Now he has promised to never purchase it or wear it again.

Want to pledge to be fur free as well? You can do it by visiting PETA’s website here.

Sharon Osbourne Boycotts Louis Vuitton

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:20:00 -0000

Written by Ashley Wagner

Sharon Osbourne is supporting animal rights once again by insisting fans boycott new handbag accessories from Louis Vuitton.

Sharon called these new foxtail handbags “heinous” on Twitter as well as her blog. Her push regards boycotting all fur that is used for fashion, but she singles out Louis Vuitton by tweeting “Louis Vuitton foxtail handbag accessories make me sick.”

This plea was tied to London Fashion Week, where Twiggy led the protest against the use of fur in fashion by calling it “intolerable cruelty.”

Sharon has won the heart of animal rights representatives around the world with this move, especially those involved in People for the Ethical Treatments of Animals (PETA).

Kellan Lutz Stars in PETA Ad

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:13:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Sexy Twilight star Kellan Lutz is starring in a new PETA ad with his adorable rescued dog Kola to tell fans, ‘Adopt, Don’t Buy."

“It’s our job to take [animals] under our wing and take care of them and give them a place to live,” Kellan explains, referencing the more than 7 million dogs and cats that are left at animal shelters in the U.S., many of whom are euthanized for lack of finding a good home.

“I went to numerous animal shelters and I saw this dog in the corner, she was in a cage with a bigger dog, she was scared…you can feel the pain that they go through,” Kellan says of adopting Kola, “I just looked in her eyes and knew she was just for me.”

Animals sold in pet shops often come from “puppy mills,” where they are housed in cramped, filthy, unhealthy conditions and lack proper veterinary care. And each time someone purchases a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder, one fewer home is available for an animal desperately waiting in an animal shelter or roaming the streets.

Fans can check out Kellan’s exclusive interview for PETA, and watch him share his thoughts about meeting Kola for the first time. Plus, listen as he gives Twilighters a special message letting them know what they can do to help animals! Also, fans who visit Kellan’s PETA page have a chance to win one of two Twilight DVDs signed by Kellan himself! All winners will be chosen at random and notified by April 16.

Paul McCartney Brings Glass Walls To The Golden Globes

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Susan Fredricks

Sir Paul McCartney's Glass Walls may not have earned a Golden Globe, but a copy of the DVD somehow managed its way into the gift bags given to each of the nominees and presenters.

The movie was produced by PETA and narrated by McCartney, who strongly believes that people need to be aware of what takes place before their food ends up on their plate.

Uncompromising and brutally honest, Glass Walls takes the viewer in the world of slaughterhouses and animal cruelty. McCartney has been an herbivore for over 21 years and in the video he states, “I’ve often said, ’If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.”

The film is abundant with shocking images of harsh treatment of animals that are being raised and slaughtered for food consumption. Sir Paul puts it out there and imparts, “Animals raised on modern factory farms and killed in slaughterhouses endure almost unimaginable suffering. I hope that once you see the routine cruelty involved in raising, transporting, and killing animals for food, you’ll join the millions of people who have decided to leave meat off their plates – for good.”

Sir Paul has been a long-time advocate for the prevention and awareness of the meat industry’s inhumane treatment of animals, and he lets us know that “Suffering is suffering, however you slice it. Eating meat is bad for our health, it’s bad for the environment, and it directly supports appalling cruelty to animals. The decision is yours.”

To view the video and learn more, visit Meat.org.

Ellen DeGeneres Honored By PETA

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ellen DeGeneres has been named Person of the Year by PETA.

The star shares her title with Project Runway’s Tim Gunn for her work championing vegan lifestyles through raising public awareness.

“Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favor of compassionate acts,” said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits, all because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voiceless.”

DeGeneres responded with a Tweet that read: “I’m honoured PETA named me ‘Person of The Year’. I thank them for protecting animals every single day. Amazing.”

Sean Kingston Breaks the Chain

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Musician Sean Kingston is enjoying a climb up the music charts with his hits “Beautiful Girls,” “Fire Burning,” and “Face Drop,” and now the music maker is appearing in an ad for PETA with his furry friend Stella, asking us to “Chill With Your Dogs. Never Chain Them.”

As a dog lover, Kingston encourages his fans to think of them as a member of your family. Dogs are social pack animals that crave and deserve companionship, making the practice of chaining dogs one of the cruelest things that you can do to an animal. Most ‘chained’ dogs become victim to attacks from other animals or inhumane people, they can also injure themselves by getting tangled in their chain, and often suffer from a number of illnesses as a result of exposure to extreme weather and constant confinement.

It’s simple: Kingston and PETA are just asking that you care for your dog properly, give him or her plenty of love and affection, including walks and belly rubs. You can check out behind-the-scenes footage from Sean’s photo shoot and hear him speak about his own dogs and why being a good animal guardian is so important to him.

If you want to follow Sean’s lead and make a positive difference in dogs’ lives, check out PETA’s tips and work with local legislators to ban chaining in your community once and for all.

Visit Sean’s MySpace page to see when he’ll be coming to a city near you, and enter to win a special prize. Fill out the short form below by January 18, 2010, for a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of Sean’s CD Tomorrow or 1 of 5 photographs signed by Sean himself! Seven winners will be chosen at random and notified by February 1, 2010.

Justin Timberlake Tops Celebrity Givers List

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Justin Timberlake has been named celebrity charity earner of the year, outstripping favorites such as Bono and Oprah.

According to website The Daily Beast, the SexyBack singer raised $9.3 million for the Shriners Hospitals for Children in 2009. Second place went to Madonna, who raised $5.5 million for Raising Malawi, followed by Pamela Anderson ($4.8 million for PETA), Oprah ($4 million for Oprah's Angel Network), and Bono ($3.5 for the ONE Campaign).

To read about The Daily Beast’s methods for working out the rankings, and learn the full top 50 – which also features Angelina Jolie, Rihanna, George Clooney and Salma Hayek – click here.

Paul McCartney Narrates New Video For PETA

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Paul McCartney has narrated a disturbing new video for PETA depicting scenes from slaughterhouses and cruelty to animals.

The singer took part in the Glass Walls video to encourage people to stop eating meat and supporting industries that cause incredible cruelty to animals.

“I’ve often said that if slaughterhouses had glass walls, we’d all be vegetarians. Animals raised on modern factory farms and killed in slaughterhouses endure almost unimaginable suffering,” says McCartney in the video. “I hope that once you see the routine cruelty involved in raising, transporting and killing animals for food, you’ll join the millions of people who have decided to leave meat off their plates for good.”

He goes on to talk about the appalling conditions turkeys and chickens must endure on factory farms. The images are disturbing and not for those with weak-stomachs, but highlights the terrible treatment the animals receive.

“Chickens raised for the egg industry are crammed into cages so small they can’t do anything that is natural to them.”

McCartney also talks about the pig industry.

“Pigs are more intelligent than dogs and even some primates… yet on factory farms they are imprisoned in crowded conditions.”

McCartney goes on to talk about the cruelty imposed on cows and fish during the food production industry.

“Modern meat production is responsible for recent outbreaks of Mad Cow Disease, SARS, Bird Flu and other diseases,” says McCartney. "And animal products are sometimes contaminated with a bacterial stew of Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. Coli. The consumption of animal flesh, all of which is riddled with fat and cholesterol, is also a prime contributor to today’s epidemics of obesity, heart disease and cancer. Studies show that vegetarians are less prone to all of these diseases. And if you care about the environment, please know that according to the United Nations, eating meat generates about 40% more greenhouse gases that cause climate change than all of the world’s transportation systems combined.

“Suffering is suffering, however you slice it. Eating meat is bad for our health, it’s bad for the environment, and it directly supports appalling cruelty to animals. The decision is yours.”

To view the video and learn more, visit Meat.org.

Indian Celebrities Back PETA Campaigns

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Ritu Mal & Poonam Srivastava

A number of well known Indian Bollywood stars have been supporting the activities of PETA in India.

Among recent campaigns, actors Arjun Rampal, Raveena Tandon, Rahul Khanna and many others have signed a petition to the government asking for a ban on bullock drawn oil carts seen in Mumbai. Actor Raveena Tandon also posed with a cow for a PETA advert creating awareness about animals transported to abattoirs. Raveena adopted dogs and cats rescued by PETA volunteers when they needed a loving home and posed for an anti-leather ad for PETA by wearing a fake snake skin outfit.

Actor Celina Jaitly appeared in a PETA ad in 2009 for saving elephants from captivity. In the ad Celina is seen shackled and with bruises all over her body next to a tagline: “Shackled, Beaten, Abused – Stop Cruelty To Elephants”. Celina hosted an event in Switzerland which raised 1 million Swiss francs to help captive elephants. In 2007, Celina’s work for elephants landed her on the cover of the August issue of Maxim magazine.

Model turned actor John Abraham has championed independence for caged birds by modeling with an empty bird-cage on Indian Independence Day in the past.

“Independence Day should spell freedom for all – humans and animals alike”, said John. “Birds aren’t meant to learn silly human words or swing in a cage. They are supposed to fly free in the skies and sing songs for each other.”

Unfortunately, many people do not care about the emotional intelligence of birds and see them as nothing more than colorful pets. The demand for birds as pets encourages poachers to trap birds in the hills and forests of North and Northeast India and bring them to the cities where they spend the rest of their lives trapped in cages. Trapped in small boxes and given very little food & water, an estimated 60 per cent die in transit due to broken wings, broken legs, thirst, hunger and sheer panic.

John Abraham has also made representation with Mumbai administration to ban the use of horses for joyrides at beaches and parks in Mumbai.

PETA India also ran an ad featuring actor John Abraham and Supermodel Aditi Gowitrikar. Both were dressed in outfits made of vegetables designed by Hemant Trivedi. Through this ad they asked people to let vegetarianism grow on them.

Eva Mendes Speaks Out Against Fur For PETA

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Eva Mendes has spoken out against fur for PETA.

“At a time when there is so much violence in the world, this is one type of violence that all of us can help stop—by being informed consumers,” she said.

The actress has recorded a video for PETA outlining the reasons she strongly supports animals rights and refuses to wear fur.

“I’m eternally grateful to PETA for creating awareness in my life of animal rights,” she said. “I’m definitely not perfect in my choices, but what I do know is that you must question where everything comes from – whether it’s food or a very cool bag. I just hope more designers become fur free.”

The actress goes on to talk about how PETA first approached her and changed her life.

PETA says: "When Eva learned how cruel the fur industry is—and that there are no laws to protect many of the animals who are raised or trapped for fur—she vowed never to wear fur again. To kill animals without damaging their fur, trappers usually strangle, beat, or stomp them to death, and some are even skinned alive or have their throats cut while they are still conscious.

“An undercover investigation of Chinese fur farms revealed that dogs and cats frequently end up in traps and cages and fur is often mislabeled when it’s sold, so there really is no way to know what kind of animal a piece of fur came from. More than half of the finished fur garments imported for sale in the U.S. contain fur that came from China.”

To watch Eva’s video and find out more about what you can do to stop cruelty to animals, click here.

Roger Moore Is PETA's Person Of The Year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you a story about former 007 star Roger Moore's fight to stop the production of foie gras, a product made from the livers of ducks and geese. We can now reveal that he has been named PETA's Person of the Year for his dedication.

The 82-year-old actor recently stepped up his battle with British supermarket store Selfridges to stop them stocking the food by fronting an advertising campaign he paid for personally. He is passionately against the cruel way producers fatten the livers – up to two kilograms of mash are pumped into the birds’ stomachs through a pipe two or three times a day. The pipes sometimes puncture the birds’ throats, causing the animals to bleed to death.

“I am deeply touched and thrilled to be awarded the PETA U.K. person of the year,” said Moore. “When I first saw their video footage on foie gras production three years ago, I felt compelled to do something to help put a stop to this cruel delicacy. I have since become a passionate campaigner against foie gras, and am most humbled that my passion has helped make a positive difference in the lives of these animals.”

The actor also narrated a video about foie gras production that has been viewed over 300,000 times. He has led a hard-hitting campaign that has included writing to members of parliament to enlist their support in getting foie gras off the shelves, penned columns in national newspapers and magazines on the issue and coined the phrase “torture in a tin.”

And his campaigning has been worth it – Selfridges confirmed this week that it will no longer stock the product.

Roger Moore Steps Up Battle Against Foie Gras

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former James Bond star Roger Moore is continuing his fight against British supermarkets that stock Foie Gras by paying for and appearing in a new PETA ad placed outside the entrance to Selfridges Food Hall in central London.

Foie Gras is a pâté made from the livers of ducks and geese, and the actor is campaigning against the cruel way producers fatten the livers – up to two kilograms of mash are pumped into the birds’ stomachs through a pipe two or three times a day. The pipes sometimes puncture the birds’ throats, causing the animals to bleed to death.

The actor originally had a different image from the one used in mind, but the advertising agency deemed it as offensive.

“The ad agency deemed the image of the force-feeding of birds for foie gras offensive because it is offensive, but as foie gras production is too violent to show on an ad, surely this ‘torture in a tin’ is too violently produced for Selfridges [a British supermarket] to sell,” he said. “What I’m sure the public will find far more offensive is Selfridges’ refusal to stop selling foie gras, the production of which is so incredibly cruel that it is prohibited in Britain.”

The star is joined in his crusade by Phil Collins and Prince Charles.

“I have seen few things so revolting and shaming as the horrendous routine cruelty to ducks and geese that goes into the production of one of the world’s so-called culinary delicacies, foie gras,” wrote the veteran actor in the Daily Mail. “I refuse to speak to old friends who, even when they know how it is produced, are prepared to overlook the suffering for self-gratification.”

To watch a video narrated by Roger Moore about Foie Gras production, click here.

Stars Support PETA Anti-Seal Hunting Campaign

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

PETA has recruited some big names for support of its latest anti-seal hunting campaign and has launched an ad campaign with their help.

Stars such as Jennie Garth, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kelly Osbourne, Jorja Fox, Tricia Helfer, Perez Hilton, Shane Mosley and many more are featured in the new ads.

“Each year, the Canadian government allows sealers to beat and skin hundreds of thousands of seals,” states PETA on its website. “Baby seals, some merely weeks old, have their skulls smashed in or are shot for their fur. Many of these gentle animals may not even have eaten their first solid meals or taken their first swim before they are slaughtered.”

To view the Save The Seals ads click here, then join the campaign here.

Win Pamela Anderson's PETA PSA Costume

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pamela Anderson appears in a new PSA for PETA, and you have the chance to win her autographed costume.

The actress is the star of the charity’s Cruelty Doesn’t Fly PSA, set at an airport and featuring passengers being checked for leather, fur and other cruelty related fashion. Her fashion cop wardrobe, designed by top celebrity stylist Cannon, consists of knee-high boots, skimpy Chips-esque shorts, and a jeweled baton—and, of course, it’s 100 percent cruelty-free.

To win the outfit and watch the PSA, visit the PETA website here.

The competition ends October 9.

Chrissie Hynde To Protest At McDonalds

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Lunchtime diners at a downtown McDonald’s will get some food for thought on Monday, August 24, as Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders launches a provocative PETA campaign.

The singer will unveil her “i’m hatin’ it” parody ad (soon to be on billboards across the country) and present kids with PETA’s controversial “Unhappy Meals,” which include a menacing “Ronald McDonald” cutout, a mangled plastic chicken, and a “blood”-filled packet that urges McDonald’s to “Ketchup With the Times.”

The event will take place at 12 noon at McDonald’s, 242 S. 700 E., Salt Lake City.

Hynde and PETA are launching the campaign because McDonald’s in the U.S. refuses to adopt the less cruel slaughter standards that the company already uses in Europe. McDonald’s suppliers in this country use an outdated slaughter method that often causes birds to suffer broken wings and broken legs, have their throats cut while they are still conscious, and be scalded to death in defeathering tanks. PETA—along with McDonald’s own animal welfare advisory panel—has urged the company to require a less cruel slaughter method called “controlled-atmosphere killing” (CAK), which eliminates the worst abuses that birds suffer.

“McDonald’s means McCruelty as far as I’m concerned,” says longtime PETA spokesperson Chrissie Hynde. The rock star is also using her stage as a platform to urge a McDonald’s boycott and will toss “i’m hatin’ it” shirts to her audience. On Sunday, her world tour arrives in Salt Lake City, where she is playing at Red Butte Garden.

Bob Barker's Battle For Bears

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Emily Ray

Game show host Bob Barker has revealed his experience campaigning against the ‘sickening’ abuse of bears in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Following a visit to a roadside zoo, friends of the veteran TV personality were shocked at the appalling treatment of caged bears and informed Barker of what they witnessed, who then tipped off PETA, the animal rights organization.

‘There were six to seven bears in concrete cubicles,’ Barker wrote in a blog for CNN. ‘Their fur was hanging off, they were begging for food, and an employee was tossing one bear cub around by the scruff of his neck.’

Investigations by PETA uncovered a horror story of abuse and neglect relating to the bears – but when Barker tried to visit the zoos for himself, he was refused entry. He is now campaigning for these ‘beautiful’ creatures to be moved to a more comfortable and natural environment. Until then, he is urging people to stay away from Cherokee and ‘voice their support for allowing the bears to retire to a sanctuary’.

Visit www.peta.org for information on how you can help with the bears’ plight.

Kyra Sedgwick Opposes Elephant Cruelty

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Golden Globe-winner Kyra Sedgwick has sent a letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on behalf of PETA.

Hot on the heels of a PETA undercover investigation that exposed how Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circuses beat their elephants, Kyra has urged Bloomberg to make this summer the last time that Ringling Bros. is invited to perform in Coney Island.

“I was extremely disheartened when I learned from my friends at PETA that Ringling Bros. received your support to bring its circus to Coney Island,” she wrote. “Ringling’s lengthy history of animal abuse and neglect and its pending federal trial alleging that the circus’s routine abuse of elephants with bullhooks and chains violates the Endangered Species Act are reasons enough for New York City to distance itself from the circus. Can I please have your assurance that this will be the last time that Ringling is invited to perform in Coney Island?”

PETA recently released a video showing the elephants being beaten.

“Elephants are complex animals who require a great deal of space and humane handling to ensure that their social, physical, and psychological needs are met. Using bullhooks and keeping elephants chained is immensely cruel. Please do your part as New York’s mayor to minimize the misery that these gentle giants are enduring this summer in Coney Island. There is no room for animal cruelty at this wonderful landmark.”

To read the letter in its entirety, click here.

Buy Guitar String Bracelets And Support Charity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Music fans now have the chance to wear their love of Rock on their sleeves for charity.

Wear Your Music is a New York-based organization that creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks – literally. The company makes used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets. 100% of the proceeds from the bracelets goes to charities of the artists’ choice, such as UNICEF, Rock the Vote, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nordoff Robbins, MusiCares, PETA, HeadCount, The Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Keep A Child Alive, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Smile Train and many more.

Over 150 musicians have personally donated guitar strings to the initiative, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Metallica, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana and Death Cab for Cutie.

“These are strings that these musicians have used and would normally throw away,” says co-president and designer Hannah Garrison, “It’s great that we can recycle them and also offer people a chance to wear rock n roll on their wrists.” In addition, the fine silver used on each bracelet is also 100% recycled, as is the DVD case each bracelet comes in. “Supporting good causes and the environment have always been important, but even more so now.”

To check out the bracelets and make a purchase, visit the official Wear Your Music website.

Gillian Anderson And PETA Help Form New Law

Thu, 07 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

As the European Commission is finalising a new law on animal experimentation across the European Union, actress Gillian Anderson and PETA want to make sure that it comes out in favour of the animals.

Anderson has emailed a letter to the European Parliament asking for Europe “to stop returning to the darkest days of vivisection. I urge you to act in the interests of compassion when the MEPs vote on the proposed directive on the protection of animals used in scientific procedures. I have been dismayed to learn of proposals introduced to the draft legislation which will have a devastating effect on animal welfare and completely prevent governments from effectively regulating animal experiments on behalf of the citizens of the European Union. Please vote to protect animals, promote good science and ensure proper oversight in the First Reading of the proposed directive in May.”

PETA is urging the public to also contact their Members of European Parliament to make their opinions heard. PETA’s website says, “Many of those who use animals will be resisting our changes and lobbying the politicians to try to water down the proposals that already exist. Those who oppose us have money and influence, and we must counter them by ensuring that politicians know that voters want to see real protection for animals.”

Determined to hold her MEP accountable, Gillian ends her letter: “Please contact me (through PETA) to let me know how you intend to vote on this critical issue. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Smashing Pumpkins Support PETA Petition

Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Last month, Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin joined the growing list of compassionate musicians who have teamed up with peta2 US, the youth arm of PETA, to sign a petition aimed at KFC – and they are asking their fans to do the same.

In the petition, Corgan and former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Chamberlin urge KFC to “improve the lives of” chickens who “suffer from extremely crowded conditions, crippling bone and joint problems resulting from top-heavy breeding, callous handling, inhumane slaughter techniques, and shortened life spans”. The nearly 1 billion chickens slaughtered for KFC every year have their sensitive beaks cut off and are drugged and abused.

Smashing Pumpkins joins an ever-growing list of musicians, including Bat For Lashes, Fall Out Boy, Rise Against and Hadouken, that have teamed up with peta2 US to speak out against KFC’s suppliers’ blatant abuse of chickens.

“Corgan and Chamberlin know that kids are fed up with the inhumane treatment of animals, and they’re not going to stand for it anymore”, says peta2 US Assistant Director of Youth Campaigns Dan Shannon. “After all, if KFC executives treated people the way their suppliers treat chickens, they’d be languishing in prison for the rest of their lives.”

For more information and to sign the petition, please visit peta2.com.

Audrina Patridge Poses For PETA

Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Hills actress Audrina Patridge has appeared in a new ad for PETA, saying “Be an angel for animals.”

The actress is pictured wearing angel wings and holding a rescued dog by the name of Speedy Gonzalez in the ad.

“I wanted to get involved with PETA because I’ve always been passionate about animals, and I think this is a great way to make people and all my fans aware of all the animals that need a home,” she said. “And a lot of people go to pet stores and breeders to buy their animals, but you should adopt, so go to an animal shelter and rescue a dog.”

The ad is part of PETA’s ongoing campaign encouraging people to adopt animals from shelters. And to celebrate the ad, PETA is giving away free copies of The Hills DVDs signed by the actress. To enter, visit the PETA website.

To watch a behind-the-scenes video about shooting the ad, click here.

Look To The Stars Exclusive: An Interview With Corey Feldman

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Brandy Reynolds

Run through your top 10 favorite films from the 1980’s, and chances are that Corey Feldman will feature in at least one of them. From The Goonies to Gremlins to Stand By Me to The Lost Boys to Friday the 13th:The Final Chapter, his is a face a whole generation grew up recognizing.

Recent viewers may recognize Feldman from The Two Coreys, a reality show on the A&E Network that also starred Corey Haim. Since the late 90’s, he has also been enjoying success with his band, the Truth Movement, but it is charity work that keeps the actor and musician occupied for much of his time. With interests in animal welfare, environmental issues and several other causes, Feldman was awarded the Paws of Fame Award by the Wildlife Way Station.

Look To The Stars’ reporter Brandy Reynolds was lucky enough to catch up with Corey recently to chat about his work towards making the world a better place.

Hi Corey… can you tell us about some of the charities you support?

I support a lot of charities, I’m very involved with several different charities on all different levels. I can kind of give you the hit list .

I can’t really be selective. All are meaningful. At the top of the list would be the The Humane Society, PETA, Farm Sanctuary , Last Chance for Animals. All relatively related to each other. All related to animal rights and animal protection and health and welfare of animals.

And there’s environmental… Greenpeace, Global Green, Save Our Earth… and cancer charities, children’s charities like Camp Rainbow, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I try to lend my voice to those who don’t have a voice of their own. Which is why I talk about animals, children, or environment – because those 3 topics don’t have their own representative.

Were you raised to think about others, or is there a certain event in your life that made you really want to get involved with charity work?

I’ve always cared about others, I myself was raised in a very abusive house hold. I spent most of my life very poor – always living hand to mouth and figuring out where the next meal was coming from… that was a big part of my life. So that made me very sympathetic to the less fortunate; and my mother was a huge animal rights advocate. When I was a child working as actor she had me involved with a group called Actors and Others for Animals which was one of the first animal rights organizations based out of Hollywood. So I was involved with them very early on… probably seven or eight years old -running around rescuing dogs and bringing them to our home. Shortly after that we ended up with 30 dogs and 20 cats living at our ranch.

We were really consumed with trying to save the world – and at that point of course no one was really doing what we were doing, there wasn’t really a lot of vegetarianism and animal rights activism. By the time I was 10 years old, I was resigned to the fact the I wanted to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life. However, growing up in a strict family environment, my grandparents where old Jewish traditional type people and thought I was crazy for wanting to be a vegetarian. It took until I was about 13 years old when I made the decision to be a strict vegetarian… and have been every since, and it’s been about 24 years for me now.

What would you recommend others do to get involved and what can they do?

There’s a lot you can do and it depends where you want to focus your time and energy. For me, I say anything you can do to help another struggling being [is great]. If you have the opportunity, just do it. That could mean anything from going down to the homeless shelters and feeding people, or if you have food you can go down to the homeless shelters and give it to them. You can hand out things to people on the streets – I don’t suggest handing out money because you don’t know what it’s going to be spent on.

You can get involved , you can be come a volunteer at any countless number of shelters or abuse clinics or hospitals. As far as environmental causes and helping the world goes – become environmentally safer and more eco friendly. There are small things you can do at home, such as using only bio-degradable products, earth-friendly products, making sure you turn your lights off, separate plastic and metals… every little bit that a human being does can push us forward in the battle of trying to restore our earth.

Do you feel Hollywood should set a better example?

I think the wheels are in motion and it’s certainly a hot point that people are progressively thinking about escalating this battle to the next level and making sure that we are setting a example. If you look around, everything is green this and green that. But there’s always more that can be done. For example, I put out a album a couple of months ago with my band, Truth Movement, and we wanted to kind of raise the bar when it came to environmental products and doing things environmentally friendly. So we released it under my own label in order that we could release it on one hundred percent recyclable biodegradable materials – the package is one hundred percent recyable material, the tray is corn plastic and we used soy wheat to print the images. Our first single is called Green Is The Color, so right there that was a way that I made my mark with my band to set a example. Yes it can be done in the end. It cost us a little bit more , but it can be done. And it’s worth it because we are making a statement that we are not going to keep taking the easier softer way.

What can we tell the people to look forward to and watch for in your up-coming projects?

Theres a couple of things. We’re doing a live premiere of our record release party in which I just mentioned. It’s call Technology Analogy. That event is planned at the Key Club on April 10th .

We are also talking to Weed Ware. They make materials out of weed instead of regular material. One of the things they focus on is they make all band materials out of weed. And we are now using all weed materials in our band (drum sticks and guitar picks).

Another thing we’re doing – I can’t say that this is done yet – but we are trying to have all of our musical performances completely green. It’s not one hundred percent yet , but we are trying.

On April 16 we are headlining an event at the Whiskey on Sunset which is going to be for the animal awareness week. So we basically have a series of events that are directed at raising awareness and financing efforts to stop animal testing. And on March 28, my wife Susie – who is also a huge animal and environmental activist (she is the one who got me involved) – will be presenting an award at the Genesis Awards at the Beverley Hilton.

Look To The Stars would like to thank Corey Feldman for taking the time to talk to us and share his thoughts on making the world a better place. To find out more about his efforts and upcoming events, visit Coreyfeldman.net or Myspace.com /technologyanalogy.

Pink And Ricky Gervais Speak For Animals

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Rocker Pink and comedian Ricky Gervais give voices to animals in the new PETA video, Stolen For Fashion.

In the short but effective clip, Pink the stripped alligator and Ricky the naked rabbit ask for their skins back from the woman who now has them in the form of a purse and coat. Their point: “All exotic furs and skins are stolen.”

This is not the first time for either star to lend a voice to PETA campaigns. On PETA’s website, Pink narrates a graphic and disturbing video about the cruelty inflicted upon sheep in the wool industry. Also on the website is the letter Gervais penned to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, criticising the use of real black bear fur in the ceremonial caps of the Queen’s guards.

Despite the alternatives to the gruesome practices of raising and destroying animals for skin, fur and wool, it remains a part of the fashion industry because there is still a market for it.

Pink says, “There are lots of clothes to buy for a look that kills without killing anything.”

Ricky the Rabbit says, “What kind of a person steals a guy’s coat?”

The video can be viewed here.

Win Morrissey Tickets With PETA

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of British singer Morrissey have the chance to win tickets to his almost sold-out tour of the UK and US with PETA.

The charity has 21 pairs of tickets to Morrissey concerts to give away in celebration of the release of his new album, Years of Refusal. The former lead singer of The Smiths has been a long-time advocate of vegetarianism and animal rights, and was honored by PETA with the Linda McCartney Memorial Award at their 25th Anniversary Gala on 10 September 2005. A vegetarian since the age of 11, Morrissey inspired a whole generation of vegetaians with The Smith’s 1985 album, Meat Is Murder.

From the PETA website: “On today’s factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy windowless sheds, wire cages, or gestation crates. When they have finally grown large enough, animals raised for food are crowded onto trucks and transported over many miles through all weather extremes to the slaughterhouse. Once there, animals have their throats cut, often while they are still fully conscious. Many are still conscious when they are plunged into the scalding-hot water of defeathering or hair-removal tanks or while their bodies are being skinned or hacked apart. By going vegetarian, you can save more than 100 animals each year from this horrible fate.”

For your chance to win tickets to the concert of your choice, click here. The competition ends on May 30.

Pamela Anderson Steps Up For The Apes In Florida

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pamela Anderson was in Florida on Saturday, March 14, to celebrate the 20th anniversary for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) – an event hosted by Bob Barker – after writing an open letter to Florida governor Charlie Crist about ‘road-side zoos’ in the state, in which she says chimpanzees and other animals are kept in less-than-adequate enclosures.

“With so many frustrated great apes stewing in squalid facilities in Florida, it is only a matter of time before a similar tragedy strikes your state,” she wrote. "PETA and I appeal to you to take action to prevent Florida’s roadside zoos from keeping great apes and to ensure that these intelligent primates are transferred to approved sanctuaries to live out the remainder of their lives in suitable surroundings."

Held at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft Lauderdale, the event featured delicious vegan food, entertainment, an awards ceremony, speeches, book signings, an open bar featuring organic Floridian wine and a silent auction that included items such as an “LA Confidential” poster signed by Kim Basinger and a jersey signed by Yao Ming.

ARFF is a non-profit organization working toward preventing animal cruelty, and relies upon donations from people like you in order to continue. Established in 1989, ARFF reaches out to the public through demonstrations and outreach events, letters to the editor, and personal appearances by their spokespersons on radio, television, before civic groups and in school classrooms. They also promote the well-being of animals through meetings with, and campaigns directed at, industry and community decision-makers. More information about the organization and how you can donate can be found at their website.

Jamie Bamber Bares All For Bears

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

PETA's newest instalment of the “Bare Skin, Not Bear Skin” campaign stars actor Jamie Bamber as himself, baring his skin and speaking out against the use of real bear skins in the caps of the Queen’s guards.

Frustrated that black bears are still being killed for the use of their fur in uniforms, Bamber says, “These caps are just ceremonial caps. They serve no purpose. Why kill more animals? The obvious alternative is to make caps out of faux fur. They’re not to keep warm. It’s not particularly freezing outside Buckingham Palace. You could wear something else. It just seems to me a no-brainer.”

He’s also opposed to the methods used in catching the animals in Canadian forests. “What these hunters do is basically trap these bears,” says Bamber. "[Hunters] bait them into coming out of their natural behaviour or routes and modes and shoot them as they eat the bait they’ve been set.

“Animals just represent a very easy target, I think. We’ve abused them for far too long. We should just be responsible in terms of the way we cohabit. I just don’t understand how as humans we haven’t quite bridged that understanding.”

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