PETA Wants Wisc. to Issue ‘Cow Hell’ License Plate
By Don | July 8, 2009
PETA president Ingrid Newkirk has sendt a letter to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle asking him to endorse the issuance of an alternative cow friendly license plate.
From PETA
June 29, 2009
The Honorable Jim Doyle
Governor of Wisconsin
Dear Governor Doyle:
On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our thousands of members and supporters across Wisconsin, I am writing to ask you to endorse an alternative to the ubiquitous "America's Dairyland" license plate out of respect for the many Wisconsinites who do not wish to support animal abuse on factory farms. Instead of the "America's Dairyland" slogan with the quaint barn in the background, we'd like to see a new license plate that reads, "Wisconsin: America's Cow Hell" and has a more realistic image, perhaps depicting sick cows in a cramped, filthy factory-farm shed.
The dairy industry is far from the romanticized fairy tale of Old MacDonald's Farm that milk companies want consumers to envision. In real life, thousands of cows are forced to live in barren, severely crowded factory-farm feedlots, where they spend their days mired in mud and their own feces. Most factory-farmed cows suffer from a painful udder infection called mastitis, which is exacerbated by filthy conditions and the growth hormones that farmers routinely give to cows so that they will pump out milk like machines, not mammals. Of course, cows only produce milk during and after pregnancy, so to force them to keep giving milk, they are repeatedly impregnated using what farmers call a "rape rack." Their calves are taken away shortly after birth; most calves spend their short lives confined to veal crates, unable to move. After several years of milk production, the cows' worn-out bodies are ground up and turned into hamburgers. In addition to causing immense animal suffering, the dairy industry is a leading contributor to climate change as well as air and water pollution in the Badger State.
Caring and informed Wisconsinites are increasingly making the compassionate choice to go vegan; these kind folks are dismayed that their vehicles are being used as free advertising space for the cruel dairy industry. Please encourage the legislature to create an alternative license plate that provides an accurate depiction of this abusive and environmentally destructive industry. Madison-based Alliance for Animals (AFA) has produced a sticker that can be placed over "America's Dairyland" until the permanent "America's Cow Hell" plate is available. Attached is a photograph showing the sticker on a car owned by PETA staffer/AFA member Jackie Wochos. Wisconsin residents can order a license plate sticker at AFA's Web site.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
PETA
My response. I Love Animals, They're Delicious!
Post #2168
11 Comments | Post a Comment
Good Grief. What is next for you folks. I mean seriously, a license plate? Stop wasting time and putting out your own greenhouse gas with such waste. Its a plate! If you see abuse, then go after the offender. but this is insanity. Stop wasting time and money on this stuff.
You know, I thought this was a bit ridiculous at first, but I looked up the factory farming they were talking about and I am lost for words. I cannot believe what is considered standard and acceptable in the industry! I had no idea.
Kudos to PETA and to Jackie Wochos for bringing this issue to light!
So few people are aware of the massive suffering inflicted on these gentle animals, not to mention the fact that it supports the veal industry.
A cow’s natural lifespan is 25 years while a “dairy cow” only lives for 5. They are hooked up to painful machines hours on end and pumped for 10 times more milk than they would naturally produce. Their udders often become inflamed and they develop what is known as “mastisis”.
I’ll be this video would clear it up a little better for the previous posters:
http://www.goveg.com/swf/255-dairy_cows_veal.swf
You know, I love a good juicy burger more than anyone, but I looked up factory farming when my sister went through her animal loving phase, and I was shocked. To this day I stay away from meat and dairy. A lot easier than I would have ever imagined.
It’s not hard to find the facts. With a little looking I found out what was deemed standard in the industry.
PETA would have more credibility if it were not for the “fly” story, their guerilla arm which attacks university research labs, and some of their other other extreme antics. If PETA really wants to get out a rational message, they should eschew extremism. Until such time, many people like myself, simply tune them out automatically, and that may be unfortunate. We need to hear everyone’s view.
PETA is like a right-wing reactionary militia professing the preservation of “Animal Power”.
Just another bunch of extremist nutcases.
They may have an admirable goal - but the means they frequently choose to achieve it are too often completely off the wall, if not downright offensive, and, in the process, like most other reactionary groups, the PETAns often trample on the rights of others.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to separate the message from the messenger… Just because PETA may be involved in publicity-getting activities, does not mean that they do not speak the truth about the horrific conditions animals endure.
Truth is the simplist thing you can do to improve your health is reduce/eliminate animal products. They are filled with antibiotics, drugs and “fat”. And the easiest thing one can do if you’re attempting to contribute to the solution of global warming… is to adopt a plant based diet. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases - and is terribly wasteful in resources. And lastly we don’t “need” to eat these enslaved and tortured innocent beings. Indeed, we would all thrive physically and spiritually if we left them off our plates.
http://www.humanemyth.com
http://www.goveg.com
Re: Post 9;
You’re right!
I honestly have nothing against PETA, PETAns, nor vegetarianism - and I do believe in the health benefits of reducing or eliminating animal products from the human diet.
The ONLY thing I really object to are the EXTREMIST tactics typically used by PETA to get publicity or to get their way - tactics which I find similar in offensiveness to those of far right-wing reactionary groups.
You know… in my circle—- even discussing the idea of leaving animals off the menu is met with absolute “extreme” silence and denial. A lot of the time, (no matter how nicely I bring up the subject)—it is met with “extreme” hostility.
Organizations whose intenetion is to get their message out (to an uncooperative audience)... many times resort to embarassing tactics. Perhaps if we were all willing to listen without the antics… this would not be necessary?
People who eat meat… and use animals in other questionable ways—- should be open to at least converse and explain their reasons around doing such. If not, it appears that it all is just shallow “habit” and not grounded in reason. If someone thinks cows are not abused or mistreated -I’d love to hear their side of the argument! 
July 9 at 11:34 am | #1 | Link
Meat is murder…. TASTY TASTY MURDER!!