Posted on 04/14/2006 12:42:25 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
A BILLBOARD depicting a bloody, crucified lamb has been refused space above Sydney's roads this Easter, an animal rights group said today.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has been running an international campaign against sheep mulesing in Australia, wanted to mount the confronting image for motorists to see over the Easter long weekend.
But the group says billboard owners have refused to lease out the space.
"PETA had hoped its new billboard opposing Australia's cruel treatment of sheep – which shows a blood-soaked lamb on a crucifix with the tag-line `Have mercy on them, stop mulesing and live exports' – would be up in time for Easter.
"But outdoor advertising companies want no part of it," the US-based group said in a statement.
Mulesing, widely practised by Australian sheep farmers, is the surgical removal of folds of skin from the backsides of sheep to prevent the painful and sometimes fatal condition of fly strike.
PETA's worldwide campaign against Australian producers who practise mulesing has damaged the industry.
The group said the billboard was designed to pressure Australian authorities to outlaw the practice and end live sheep exports.
"The lamb on a crucifix reminds us that these gentle animals are mutilated, tormented and killed every day in Australia for nothing more than very un-Christian greed," it said.
"If Christ were here, he would show mercy to these lambs, so we're asking the Australian government to follow his compassionate example and bring an end to these two hideous abuses."
A spokeswoman for PETA said the group had tried unsuccessfully to place the advertisement in Canberra before approaching billboard companies in at least three different locations in Sydney's centre.
"We were going for CBD locations but we actually in the end had it rejected in any location," she said.
The image was designed by British cartoonist and caricaturist Ralph Steadman, PETA said.
Wyoming kicked 'em in the chops today, too!
Cheyenne, Wyo. — PETA had hoped that its new anti-fishing billboard would reach anglers in Cheyenne, but outdoor-advertising companies have thrown cold water on the idea.
The ad shows a dog whose lip has been impaled with a fishhook, alongside the tagline "If You Wouldn’t Do This to a Dog, Why Do It to a Fish?" and steers observers to PETA’s Web site FishingHurts.com. PETA is placing the ad in fishing hotspots across the country to let anglers know that there’s nothing sporting about fishing, that fish feel pain, and that fish are individuals who deserve compassion, just as dogs and cats do. The ad was rejected by every Cheyenne billboard company that PETA approached.
Scientific research confirms what marine biologists have been saying for years: Fish are intelligent individuals, just as dogs and cats are. A recent issue of Fish and Fisheries was devoted entirely to fish intelligence, citing more than 500 research papers that prove that fish are smart, that they can use tools, and that they have impressive long-term memories and sophisticated social structures. Oxford University scientists even discovered that fish learn faster than dogs.
So-called "catch and release" fishing is cruel and often deadly to fish. Mouth wounds from hooks make it difficult or impossible for fish to eat and can lead to deadly infections. Just handling or netting fish can abrade their protective coating and lead to death.
"Fishing isn’t a sport—it’s just legalized cruelty. Imagine putting a hook through your dog’s mouth and dragging him or her behind your car—you’d be locked up and rightly so," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "If you wouldn’t rip into a dog’s lip, you shouldn’t rip into a fish’s lip—when it comes to pain, it’s all the same."
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=8174
Lot of animals look good on a rotisserie. I'm guessing PETA had a different image in mind.
Now this is barbaric. I've been reading about it--I think "surgical" is too clinical a descriptor. Fortunately research into nontraumatic methods is showing promise.
You've really got to wonder about a human (and I use that term loosely) that couldn't see any difference between a fish and a dog. And they want to help determine policy on a matter? I don't think so.
Not to get all "churchy" on ya, but this is a great Biblical perspective as to why eating animals and fish is A-OK with God. :)
The New Testament records that Jesus did eat the Passover feast, which would include the eating of the roasted lamb (Luke 22:14-15). In fact, before the last Passover meal, Jesus specifically instructs his disciples to prepare the meal, including the lamb, for their observance.
Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it." (Luke 22:7-8)
Not only did Jesus eat lamb, but he also ate fish (Matthew 15:34-37). Jesus also promoted the catching of fish for the purpose of consuming them.
So Jesus said* to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." 6And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish...So when they got out on the land, they saw* a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10Jesus said* to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." 11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said* to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus came* and took* the bread and gave* it to them, and the fish likewise. (John 21:5-6, 9-14)
http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/DidJesusEatMeat.htm
PETA is more than happy to appeal using Christian symbols in the lamb story, but apparently they missed the part where Christ fed the crowd FISH.
What Would Jesus Do? He'd do blackened redfish. With a wedge of lemon.
The Old Testament is full of instructions on which animals to eat.
And there's no instruction to wait until they die of old age.
Sounds almost similar to circumcising...
I agree on the symbolism and the fish. The fish part is rather humorous.
PETA's marketing director must be a lunatic: first the holocaust (chicken) ad, and now this.
he/she doesn't seem to be aware that the purpose of ads is to win people over to PETA's point of view, not drive them away!
from PETA website:
"Edie Falco is best known for her role as the tough, devoted mom, Carmela Soprano, on HBO's hit TV series The Sopranos. This talented actor shows a soft spot for animals as she takes on a new role to spread the message about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence.
As Carmela, she's is no stranger to the consequences of violence, and in real life, Edie knows that when humans abuse an animal companion, they are more likely to abuse another human."
Oddly enough, a crucified lamb would be a perfectly legitimate Catholic symbol for Easter, although the meaning of which would be completely lost on PETA.
"204. NEVER nail a stuffed bunny to a cross and put it up in front of the Battalion Headquarters sign as an "Easter Desecration."
"116. Crucifying mice - bad idea."
"39. Not allowed to ask for the day off due to religious purposes, on the basis that the world is going to end, more than once."
Skippy's list...that thing will never get old.
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