While ranchers have been busy keeping their cattle cool during July’s hot spell, animal rights activists have been heating things up in recent campaigns against animal agriculture. Here are three of the latest activist stunts I’ve come across on my Facebook newsfeed.

July 25, 2016

4 Min Read
3 ways animal rights activists have been targeting you this summer

While ranchers have been busy keeping their cattle cool during July’s hot spell, animal rights activists have been heating things up in recent campaigns against animal agriculture. Here are three of the latest activist stunts I’ve come across on my Facebook newsfeed:

1. PETA members dress as nuns at RNC and propose a sin tax on meat

Photo Credit: Twitter User Sade Carpenter https://twitter.com/SadeMichelle/status/755837048150433792/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Photo Credit: Twitter User Sade Carpenter https://twitter.com/SadeMichelle/status/755837048150433792/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

It looks like PETA members were trying to shock and awe attendees at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and, I would guess, appeal to the Evangelical Christian voter about the perceived “sinfulness” of eating meat, despite many instances found throughout the Bible that support meat consumption.

According to Oscar Roussea for Global Meat News, “At the convention, campaigners from PETA donned nun’s attire and stilts. Armed with placards emblazoned with polemical slogans like ‘Meat is a Bad Habit. Tax It!’ and ‘Slap a Sin Tax on Meat!’ the nuns quickly drew attention to themselves. Scores of people shared pictures and posts on Twitter and Facebook, but the meat industry, unsurprised was less than impressed.”

READ: PETA’s absurd sin tax on meat blasted

2. A billboard urges drivers to stop eating eggs to reduce diabetes risk

Photo Credit: WSYX/WTTE http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/controversial-billboard-aims-to-stop-people-from-eating-eggs

Photo Credit: WSYX/WTTE http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/controversial-billboard-aims-to-stop-people-from-eating-eggs

Despite what USDA dietary guidelines might tell you, meat, eggs and dairy products do not contribute to diabetes. Why? The most simple way to explain it is because proteins don’t raise your insulin levels like carbohydrates do. Yet, the myth continues to be perpetuated by activists and biased nutritionists who would prefer we all go meatless.

According to Ben Garbarek for ABC, a billboard paid for by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (a group made up of members of the Humane Society of the United States) was recently hung up alongside a roadway and reads, “Quit the Carton. Dump Diabetes. Eggs may increase diabetes risk by 68%. Watch the video at QuitTheCarton.org.”

READ: Controversial billboards aims to stop people from eating eggs 

3. PETA attacks New Mexico FFA members

Photo Credit: KRQE News http://krqe.com/2016/01/27/peta-targets-new-mexico-future-farmers-of-america/

Photo Credit: KRQE News http://krqe.com/2016/01/27/peta-targets-new-mexico-future-farmers-of-america/

If PETA hasn’t already stooped low enough, the animal rights group released a campaign with the logo, “FFA is Lame AF.” (By the way, the “AF” is as acronym not publishable on this blog!) Although this happened earlier this year, this story has been circulating social media once again this week and is worth putting on your radar, particularly during county and state fair season when your kids and grandkids are active showing livestock in FFA and 4-H.

According to Cheyenne Cope for KRQE News, “The campaign was published by PETA 2, a branch of the organization geared toward teenagers. The campaign casts a shadow on Future Farmers of America, the popular agriculture club for high school students. Written by a former FFA member, the post calls the organization hypocritical for encouraging students to raise and slaughter animals for food, while encouraging good character and leadership. At the end of the article, PETA encourages kids in FFA that agree with it to quit the club and become vegan.”

READ: PETA targets New Mexico FFA members

Although PETA doesn’t deserve the press, I think it’s important to share these stories with BEEF readers, so everyone can be aware of what the opposition is saying about our industry. Stay in the know, so you can be prepared if PETA stages a protest in your neck of the woods and use every opportunity you have to engage with consumers and showcase how great animal agriculture truly is.

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Penton Agriculture.

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