‘End Speciesism’ Ads Now Up Ahead of Lent

Bus Ads Urge People to Show Compassion for All God’s Creatures—Including Fish—by Going Vegan for Lent and Beyond

For Immediate Release:
February 18, 2020

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

Because Rhode Island has the highest population of Catholics in the country, PETA’s Christian outreach division, LAMBS—which stands for “Least Among My Brothers and Sisters” from Matthew 25:40—is placing ads on local buses that encourage observers of Lent to leave all animals—including fish—off their plates. The ads are part of PETA’s national campaign against the old belief that despite their extraordinary talents, abilities, and intelligence, all other animal species are inferior to our own and that it’s acceptable to exploit them.

“From fish to fowl, other animals feel pain and fear and value their own lives just as humans do,” says PETA Vice President of Evidence Analysis Daniel Paden. “PETA’s ads encourage everyone to fight speciesism by valuing all animals for who they are as individuals—and by choosing merciful vegan meals during Lent and beyond.”

Numerous studies have confirmed that fish have unique personalities, can recognize human faces, and can retain memories and think ahead. But because of human prejudice—and even though more fish are killed for food each year than all other animals combined—they have virtually no legal protection from abuse. They slowly suffocate or are crushed to death when they’re dragged out of the oceans in huge nets, and the throats and abdomens of those who survive are cut open on the decks of fishing boats.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—encourages everyone to combat speciesism by choosing vegan food.

PETA offers easy vegan meal plans for people who go vegan for Lent (available here and here) as well as a free vegan starter kit full of recipes, tips, and more.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

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