Paul McCartney’s Birthday Wish: ‘Watch My PETA Video and Ditch Meat’

A lot has changed in the animal rights world since PETA debuted Paul McCartney’s “Glass Walls” video a decade ago. Back then, vegan options at fast-food chains were slim to non-existent. Now, vegans can chow down everywhere from Dunkin’ to Carl’s Jr. to Dairy Queen. Hollywood has converted nearly all its award show menus to be mostly or entirely animal-free. We even have a vegan in the U.S. Senate.

Here’s a message from McCartney as he reflects on the 10-year anniversary of this memorable video:

“All I’ve ever wanted for my birthday is peace on Earth—including for animals. That’s why this year, I’m urging fans to watch a video I hosted for PETA, titled ‘Glass Walls.’ We called it that because if slaughterhouses had glass walls, who would want to eat meat? The video debuted exactly 10 years ago. Since then, the public has finally gotten a peek at what happens inside the meat trade, and the demand for vegan food is sky high. Whether you’re worried about diseases that spring from slaughterhouses, the animals who suffer terribly and needlessly, or the catastrophic impact of the meat industry on our environment, please watch this short video and share it with your friends. Thank you.”

—Paul McCartney

The cultural progress that we’ve seen over the last 10 years can be partially attributed to the work of organizations like PETA, with our exposés and undercover investigations that open people’s eyes to the violence animals experience across most major industries, from laboratories to slaughterhouses to the clothing industry. Whether its mutilated, pregnant alpacas crying out as they’re violently sheared or calves penned in their own waste after being torn away from their mothers, the world can’t remain blind to the cruelty that occurs behind closed doors.

This is why 10 years after its creation, “Glass Walls”—which has been viewed more than 20 million times since its launch—is as relevant as ever. Because if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegan.

Join us in celebrating McCartney’s upcoming birthday by watching his video and sharing it with your friends and family to encourage them to go vegan. They can save nearly 200 animals a year by making the change—animals such as pigs, who enjoy listening to music, getting massages, and even playing video games, and cows, who develop deep bonds with their babies. They have the same desire and right to live as any of us.