Be a Superhero for Animals: Go Vegan!

Did you ever wish you had superpowers? That you would be bitten by a spider like Peter Parker and turn into Spiderman and help save the planet? Did you know that by going vegan you can actually save over 100 animals a year? It doesn't get much more villainous and violent than the meat industry - and PETA's vegan superheroes were encouraging comic fans at Ottawa's first Comic Con to fight the injustice of the meat industry and use the power of compassion to defend animals from abuse - one veggie burger at a time!

Free Gas and Vegan Jerky to Help Save the Planet

PETA's 'Petrol Pin-Ups' were giving away free vegan jerky along with 5 litres of free gas to the first 25 people to drive up - in Windsor, London, and Kitchener, Ontario. Car emissions pale in comparison to the environmental damage of the meat industry - so we were hoping that those stopping by for a bite would be encouraged to give eating vegan a test drive. According to the UN a global shift towards a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. Why give away free gas to make a point? Well, a single pound of meat is the environmental equivalent of driving more than 60 kilometers in a hummer - so even if one person drops meat because of our message - we've made progress for the planet and for animals. Visit GoVeg.com for delicious earth-friendly recipes!

Bags of Money at NAFFEM Fur Convention

With Russia banning seal products at the beginning of 2012, that means there are currently no markets for seal fur, thus the sealing industry is dead - and there was no incentive for the seal slaughter to go ahead this year. However, the Province of Newfoundland gave $3.6 million to make it possible for the slaughter to go ahead this year, stockpile the pelts, and hope that markets would open up in the future. Another $17,000 went to put seal fur in the NAFFEM International Fur Convention in Montreal (even though attending countries have all banned seal fur). PETA and Concordia Animal Rights Association protested the tax waste and cruelty by holding bags of fake money during NAFFEM, which also happened to fall on Tax Day. Emailing or writing a letter to your MP, Senators, and Prime Minister go a long way to help stop the senseless slaughter and waste of millions of our tax dollars. 

Lettuce Ladies Crash Toronto Mayor's Weigh-In

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Doug embarked on a weight-loss challenge where they both hoped to drop 50 pounds in 6 months. There have been weigh-ins every Monday at City Hall, however the mayor was having quite a bit of trouble and just couldn't keep the weight off. This is where PETA's lettuce ladies come in. Two Lettuce Ladies with a little basket of vegan treats (vegan jerky and Tofurky vegan deli-meat slices) jumped in on the weigh-in and got right up beside the mayor to offer the gifts. The Lettuce Ladies even managed to jump on the scale and even have a chat with the mayor's brother, Doug, who hasn't eaten red meat since working at a slaughterhouse.

PETA's Condoms Descend on Canada's Atlantic Cities to Encourage Spaying and Neutering

PETA's Condoms traveled to Halfax, Fredericton, and Charlottetown with signs reading "Condoms Don't Work: Fit Your Cat" - or dog. Every year in Canada over 140,000 animals are abandoned in shelters and over 50,000 are euthanized because there aren't enough homes. Of those euthanized over 3,600 are healthy and adoptable. And these numbers account for only about half of the shelters and pounds in Canada so the numbers are likely much higher. Every time someone's un-neutered or un-spayed animal has puppies or kittens or someone buys an animal from a pet store or breeder an animal in a shelter loses a chance at finding a home - a virtual death sentence. Please spay, neuter, and adopt.

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Animal Prints, Not Animal Skins Bodypaint Tour Across Canada

I traveled across Canada with the help of local PETA activists along the way - just before Christmas to encourage last-minute shoppers to keep fur, leather, wool, and exotic animals skins off their Christmas shopping lists. Our stops included Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Victoria.

What's wrong with animal skin clothing? Watch this video.