PETA Acts Not Dumb

rubberchicken.jpgYesterday PETA launched a $1 million contest to convince some mad scientist to come up with a way to create meat in a lab setting that “would mimic flesh and could be cooked and eaten”–what it’s calling “in vitro meat.” PETA claims the contest is a way to advance its so-called anti-cruelty agenda, stop harming the environment, etc.

I think it’s really just an admission by the group of what carnivores and omnivores have always known: meat tastes good. So good that it seems the overwhelming majority of manufactured vegetarian food–plant life that didn’t grow from the ground (or ocean)–serves little more than to provide calories that mimic the taste of meat.

Alas, I could go on about how awful PETA really is, but I must instead respond to a vegan friend, who wrote me this morning, regarding the PETA contest, with this challenge:

I dare you to put up a positive blog post one of these days about vegetarians or vegans and something they do or eat.

So here goes: this contest is a great idea. Bravo to PETA. This is exactly the sort of thing groups like PETA should have been doing all along. Not terrorizing or suing or intimidating what should be free choices made by peace-loving meat eaters. But putting their money where their breasts mouths are in order to effect voluntary consumer change. All while helping vegetarians eat better tasting food.

One final note… I wonder if the chicken breast cutlet photo PETA used to announce the contest comes from chickens killed specifically for its campaign, or whether they nabbed the photo from a provider like Corbis. Just wondering.

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  • Vegan Friend
    Surely you'd have no objection to this, especially on Earth Day? :)
  • Jessica Lee
    I went on a vegetarian diet to save the planet and gained 15 pounds. I am finally just about back to normal but will not be a veggie again.
  • I never had a nice thing to say about PETA until this story. Just as we witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union, perhaps we will see PETA become even more marginalized?
  • Alan
    For once I don't want PETA to be marginalized - at least on this issue. If they can find more creative ways to be pro-animal AND pro-human, they might have a future.
  • Great PeTA-idea. For more backgroud-information, technology, ethics and success-criteria on „in-vitro-meat“ (others call it „cultured meat“) visit http://www.futurefood.org . There are still many obstacles to overcome. On this website other alternatives to animal meat are presented, too. An inspiration for the future
  • Flu-Bird
    If only PETA would stop being so stupid and rediclous then maybe they would be taken more serious
  • Spurwing Plover
    PETAS acts are not dumb THEIR STUPID
  • Flu-Bird
    PETA are a bunch of stupid annoying hippie freaks their so ignorant their pathetic
  • Rockin Robin
    PETA wouldnt be so bad if they practiced their crazy ideas for themselves but since they want to force their mindless philosephies on us all i want absolutly nothing to do wit this band of stupid mindless granola munching hippy freaks
  • PETA is just trying to play dumb. I think they know exactly what is happening but decides not to get involved.
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