PETA proposes robotic groundhog for Pa. festival

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- An animal rights group wants organizers of Pennsylvania's Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany tens of thousands of revelers each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, a tiny borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. PETA is suggesting the use of an animatronic model.

But William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says the animal is "being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania." The groundhog is kept in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state Department of Agriculture.

Deeley says PETA isn't interested in Phil from Feb. 2 on, and is looking for publicity.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53593572@N00/2239415039/

Maybe I'm just cynical,but I don't really believe that Punxsutawney Phil is abused in any way.
He just lives as a captive animal.
Once a year he is stressed but it seems like he is mostly free of stress and the normal dangers wild animals face on a daily basis.
I'm not sure that replacing him with an animatronic animal would be the way to go .


Speaking of groundhog's here is Punxsutawney Phil's newest forecast:

Phil Says Six More Weeks!

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2010 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye

On Gobbler's Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2010, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators awoke to the call of President Bill Deeley and greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.

After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, "If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be."


Gobbler's Knob?
Hmm

I don't really see a problem with picking up a ground hog once a year. Of all the things they should be persuing, they should go after the companies that labeled an item as using fake fur but really had real fur (like the link that Dog Soldier posted on Facebook a few days back).

I have never had any use for PETA because if it's not high-profile and a way to get their name in the press, they aren't interested.

I've had a go at PETA twice now by mail. Once 15 years ago and once last year and the letter I got the second time was just as useless as the letter I got the first time.

While it takes money to run their organization, they also need to keep sight of the big picture and that's saving animals.

The last straw with me with them was when they send me a letter about cats being used in China, for fur.

Having had friends who taught overseas in China for many years, I can tell you...human life has little value there, let alone animals and while I am all for stopping such a barbaric atrocity as using cats for fur...some American companies accept trades with such lowlifes for the fur.

In America there are also virtually no 'real' laws stopping it unless the people get caught.

How about some education here first rather than focusing on China who doesn't even care about people...let alone animals? If China has no one to sell the fur to and if strict laws are enacted and enforced here, then China will have no market for it - at least not here. Then they can be focused one once we've eradicated the problem here first.

Anyway...PETA makes my blood boil.

Groundhog Day coincides with the Wiccan holiday of Imbolc. Of course modern Wicca is somewhat its own creation, but this time of year was a turning point back in agrarian times. In early February the winter can go one way or another which is relavent when we're talking about seeds and calves. This modern world is built on cruel factory farms and fresh fruit flown from another hemisphere. The groundhog reminds us of our agrarian roots. As an animal loving vegetarian wiccan who grew up on a farm I can only cheer on our fuzzy little friend.

GS and Emma: Excellent points. You're both looking at the big picture in educated, well-thought-out ways.

Any American company caught using a substance or fiber that is not advertised as such (using real fur in lue of fake fur) can be fined for false advertising.

^There's been a bit of buzz the last few days here in the DFW area because a court case (with Dallas based Neiman Marcus) has finally been settled. They said fur was synthetic that was actually from asian racoon dogs:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020210dnbusneimanmarcusfur.d68e98e1.html

and here's the two-year old start of that court case on the Humane Society's website- worth checking out if only for the chart of animals and what they were being passed off as.

http://www.hsus.org/furfree/news/holiday_shoppers_real_fur_as_faux_122007.html

I feel almost bad because I posted a story that made you mad(der), but I guess it's better to know the horror in the world than to be oblivious- only from a place of knowledge can we reach a place of power. Still, sorry to be the bearer of more bad news.

^yeah, and it's messed up that i haven't seen this story in the national news. Probably wouldn't've heard this if NM wasn't Dallas bassed

^Thanks, Helen! But I kinda like that movie

PETA is just crazy.

I'm all for animal rights; hell, I volunteer at an animal rights related non-profit, but PETA just bothers me. I can appreciate some of the work they do- undercover videos, providing recipes and started kits for people who want to go vegan, and so on, but the publicity stunts they do are just crazy and accomplish nothing (aside from angering a lot of people.)

They lose sight of what we're supposed to be fighting for. If they just focused on effective strategies- education, legislation, and advocacy- then so much more could be done, especially with their budget. I can't help but wonder what could be accomplished in the animal rights group I volunteer with had a budget like PETA's... even on a very tight budget we manage to work on a lot of education and outreach projects, and currently have two bits of legislation we're trying to pass.

^I completely concur

Perhaps the strongest thing is people like us- fighting for animal rights and keepin' it real- veg style. Our ranks are swelling.

I agree as well. PETA appears ridiculous with practically everything it does.
My sister read me some hilarious stories today about PETA's antics from this fashion book she's been reading for school.
One of them involved a PETA member who attended a fashion show just to throw cake at the fur-clad models.

...sounds like a midnight showing of "Rocky Horror"

^^ Haha, yeah it does, actually! "A toast..." *flings toast*

PETA as an organization has a split personality: the site has useful day-to-day tips for anyone who's veg, but the publicity stunts illustrate the insanity of extremist action. Consequently, if you're veg or don't wear leather, many people think you're a faux-blood-splashing nut. Antics get in the way of education.

sometimes peta makes me fell stupid for being a vegetarian. But I know I am not stupid, peta is