PETA Uses Circus Video Games As Opportunity To Speak Out Against Alleged Animal Abuse
With 2K Games's upcoming release of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey for DS and Wii, animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) called on the press to inform others about the circus company's alleged abuse of elephants and tigers when writing about the games.
"While a representative for Ringling Bros. stated that 'you're going to get to experience every single part of [the circus],' we highly doubt the game will feature what PETA investigators recently documented: the severe and routine abuse of elephants and tigers at the hands of Ringling workers," says a PETA spokesperson.
According to the animal right group, its investigator captured video of Ringling Bros. employees beating and whipping elephants, as well as using sharp bullhooks to jab and yank them. The PETA representative implored journalists, "If you choose to cover the release of this game, we feel that it's imperative you also inform the public about our investigation findings."
This isn't the first time PETA has used video games as a platform to advance its agenda; last November, it released Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals, an online web game parodying Majesco's Cooking Mama series and bringing attention to turkey cruelty (two weeks before Thanksgiving).
PETA also championed Lionhead Studio’s Fable II as 2008's "most animal-friendly video game" earlier this year, applauding the Xbox 360 game for rewarding players for maintaining a vegetarian diet.
"Ringling has made it clear that it has no intention of stopping its abusive practices," adds the PETA spokesperson. "It has not even condemned the violent behavior that's clearly shown in this video footage. With the release of this game, it's time for blogs and websites to tell readers the truth about Ringling."
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (Wii) and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Circus Friends: Asian Elephants (DS) ship to stores next week under Take-Two's family/budget label 2K Play.
Comments
"as a platform to advance its agenda"? What the hell? How about Ringling using its video games to advance ITS agenda of cruelly exploiting and abusing animals for money?! The video doesn't lie, and if you don't believe your eyes, how about the under oath testimony of the OWNER of Ringling who stated that his trainers hit the elephants regularly and repeatedly. Or how about looking beyond the beatings to the fact that these animals who should be grazing for hours every day and who stay with their families for life are stolen from their mothers while still nursing, trained and then spend the remainder of their lives chained for days at a time - again, so that they can make money for the circus. Pathetic.
Posted by: Reuben | November 5, 2009 4:58 AM
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this article was related to games & also related to technology and i had also hobby to search gadget and latest gadgets and many more so this article was really great in my opinion.
Posted by: r4ds | November 5, 2009 5:11 AM
Haha screw you stupid elephants
Posted by: BoboMcgee | November 5, 2009 5:18 AM
Well since you brought it up... some interesting facts on PETA:
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/
Posted by: Winston Churchkill | November 6, 2009 1:32 AM
Winston, how about going to PETA HQ and check out the spay/neuter mobiles and see the FREE bedding and dog houses PETA makes available to bone heads who are clueless about caring for their prisoner pets?
Posted by: Kathryn | November 9, 2009 1:04 PM