Last week, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk appeared on MSNBC to discuss her thoughts on Michael Vick being allowed back in the NFL.  During the interview she said:

“I think you have to wonder is the guy a psychopath, and only time will tell. So I would be very weary. He may be able to throw a ball nicely, but he’s not a role model and he never should be held up as one.”

Earlier this year PETA offered to work with Vick, but only if he would take a series of psychological tests and an MRI brain scan in an effort to find evidence of clinical psychopathy or anti-social personality disorder. Vick refused the request.

Check out the video below to view the entire interview.

Putting the whole Fly-Gate thing behind them, PETA is now asking President Obama to join the “Meat-Free” Mondays campaign and give the White House a greener vibe.

In a letter to Obama, PETA Prez Ingrid Newkirk says that this wouldn’t be the first time an American President has urged the nation to reduce its intake of meat. “As you no doubt know, on October 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving people in Europe,” she writes. “Today, the number of starving people in the world is on a par with the number of obese people in the U.S., and a restriction on meat and dairy-product intake could help tip those scales for the better.”

To read the full letter, hit the jump below.

Dear Mr. President,

Sir Paul McCartney is in town this weekend and has launched an initiative called “Meat-Free Mondays” to help stave off climate change, lessen the suffering of animals, and promote a diet healthier than the artery-clogging, obesity-inducing one that is a major cause of the soaring health-care costs and worker absenteeism in this country.

As you no doubt know, on October 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving people in Europe. Today, the number of starving people in the world is on a par with the number of obese people in the U.S., and a restriction on meat and dairy-product intake could help tip those scales for the better.

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the city of Ghent in Belgium, parts of Israel, and, this fall, many schools in the U.K. are among those embracing the concept of “Meat-Free Monday.” It’s one-seventh of where we should be, but it’s a great start. If you institute this program in the White House, it will be a giant step forward in transforming it to a green house, and it will set a wonderful example for people nationwide?or worldwide?who look to you for leadership when it comes to a kinder, environmentally friendlier, and more health-conscious approach to life.

Respectfully yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President, PETA

Ingrid’s latest book The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights has just been released and “provides readers with the tools they need to get out make a difference for animals.”

Just hours ago I had the opportunity to sit down with the overachieving animal queen over Caesar Salads (me) and Vegan Bacon Cheeseburgers (her) at Blossom Café here in NYC. Check out my exclusive interview below!

A side note: if you live in NYC, make sure to stop by the Columbus Circle Borders tomorrow, June 16th, at 7 p.m to hear Ingrid chat about her new book. We’ll be there too!

On Tuesday, The Colbert Report highlighted a new product called Schmeat — also known as lab-grown meat.

The segment featured thoughts from PETA’s co-founder Ingrid Newkirk and words from scientist Dr.Vladimir Mironov. Proving that lab-grown meat is just like real meat, Mironov said:

“You know, if its looks like cat, o.k, it’s behave like cat and it’s make meow, then it’s cat.” Classic.

Check out the clip below and share your thoughts on this lab-grown nastiness.

Yes, you read that right. And don’t act surprised. This is PETA we’re talking about here — the masters in coming up with new, creative ways to draw attention their causes.

Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA (read our recent interview with her here), has a new idea for promoting tofu: make it George Clooney-flavored.

The organization received a sweaty towel Clooney recently used at a gym in D.C. from a PETA supporter who thought it might be auctioned to raise money. Newkirk, however, right away suggested that it would be better served as flavoring for tofu. Here’s a bit from the letter she wrote to the actor:

“The technology actually exists to take your perspiration and make it into George Clooney–flavored tofu (CloFu). We could do that and give the tofu away. Of course, your fans would swoon at the idea of eating CloFu, but what interests us most is that we would attract many people who don’t try tofu because they worry that it would be bland or that they wouldn’t know how to cook it. CloFu will help people be healthier and more environmentally friendly and will spare animals from being killed for the table.”

According to the Washington Post, Clooney responded with “As a mammal, I’m offended.” Check out the full letter after the jump.

March 11, 2009

George Clooney, c/o Smoke House

Dear Mr. Clooney,

We have been offered some of your perspiration, apparently taken from a towel at a gym in Washington, D.C. We are big fans, and this prospect has given us an interesting idea that we hope will amuse you too.

The technology actually exists to take your perspiration and make it into George Clooney–flavored tofu (CloFu). We could do that and give the tofu away. Of course, your fans would swoon at the idea of eating CloFu, but what interests us most is that we would attract many people who don’t try tofu because they worry that it would be bland or that they wouldn’t know how to cook it. CloFu will help people be healthier and more environmentally friendly and will spare animals from being killed for the table.

The science is pretty straightforward. According to Dr. Kevin Keener of Purdue University, all animals—including human beings—have unique odor profiles. Dr. Harry Lawless of Cornell University reports that if you use a sample of human perspiration, it is “no different than making artificial chicken flavor for instant gravy.”

Gas chromatography can be used to confirm stability of a stimulant matrix, in this case your sweat. There are trained panels of individuals with sensitive noses who can describe smells to a very precise degree. They could evaluate your sample and quantify the various odors in order to replicate them and use them to flavor batches of bean curd.

Researchers at Leeds University, for instance, used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to isolate 46 different odor compounds in fried potatoes—then, they asked people to describe what they smelled. Among the odors were butterscotch, onion, and ironing board. We can use a similar technique to isolate your unique scent. Researchers in Switzerland took sweat samples from participants’ armpits. After analyzing the odors, researchers determined that, generally, men smell of cheese, women of onions! Cheese- scented CloFu could be used as pizza topping and in lasagna. Since dairy farming is a huge problem (consider mad cow disease, cruel farming methods, and the separation of loving mothers from their calves), this would be great.

We hope this idea meets your approval.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

Ingrid is the President and Co-Founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – the largest animal rights group in the world. With over 2 million members, PETA speaks (OK, sometimes screams) for those creatures who have no voice at all.

Ingrid will be attending the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida’s 20th Anniversary Gala on March 14th and we had the privilege of sitting down with Newkirk for a chat!

Check out what Ingrid had to say about ARFF, Meatloaf and willing her body parts when she dies!

Ecorazzi: Hi Ingrid! Welcome to the Razz! Give our readers a brief history on PETA and how you decided to form the organization.

Ingrid Newkirk: Well, I grew up thinking that I cared about animals — and I truly did — but I’m now almost sixty and back then it meant that you knew that somebody kicking a dog was wrong or starving a horse, but you also wore fur, ate animals and didn’t think there was an option to testing cosmetics or shampoos on animals. So when I discovered that there were compassionate choices and that all animals are important – which I thank Peter Singer for that lesson – I suddenly realized that many things in my life had to change or I couldn’t really ever call myself a person that believes in kindness to animals.

So I formed PETA with five friends and our goal was to show people how appalling animals are treated in places most never go, like: laboratories, behind the Big-Top, fur farms and slaughterhouses. We didn’t want to make them sad or depressed, but instead show them that there are wonderful things they could choose instead of supporting those industries. And that’s what we’ve done for almost 30 years.

E: You’re appearing as a special guest at the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida’s 20 Anniversary Gala. How do you feel the organization has helped improve the welfare of animals living in Florida?

IN: Oh, I just have the utmost respect for ARFF – I love their name too. I think their founder Nanci Alexander is absolutely applaudable and truly a visionary. She’s totally devoted to fighting injustice to animals. She’s the one who objected to rounding up all those Muscovy Ducks — those poor things who waddle about totally harmless – and got all the troops out to help pass the ban on pig battery cages. Florida was the very first state to do that. And Ringling Bros. — which of course is an abominable circus — is based in Florida and she never lets an appearance or an event go by without protest. Perhaps most famously of all though, she decided to start Sublime – the vegan restaurant par excellence. I will die with coconut cake on my lips.

E: And speaking of death, you’ve recently arranged to have your body parts turned into “leather” products or barbecued when you die so as to help people recognize the connection between animals and humans. What do you say to those who criticize yourself and PETA for sometimes being too extreme?

IN: Well I don’t think it’s too extreme to use a body that you no longer have any use for, for a social cause – if we’re using that example. I think it’s very exciting that the only thing I really, truly care about – which is making a compassionate society – could live on after I’m gone.

As for generally, we’re like a car wreck! You may not want to look, but you have to turn around and look anyway. And we’ve learned that if we want people to talk about animals when they’re worried about the economy or war or children or any number of distractions, that we have to be provocative, gimmicky, extraordinary and sexy – so we are. And it’s only because seriousness has a very small place in today’s society. If somebody is serious it’s usually about war or the economy, but there’s a war on the Animal Nations and there has been since the beginning of time.

E: Both PETA and Ecorazzi love celebrity helpers. If there’s one celeb you’d love to see go VEG who would it be and why?

IN: Well I’d like Meat Loaf to go VEG.

E: So would we have to call him Veggie Meat Loaf?

IN: Right! He’d have to change his name, but it would be a huge press item. He’s had gastric bypass surgery and he wouldn’t have had to if he’d gone vegan. So I think for that I would choose him.

It’s time Gwyneth Paltrow — well I think she’s already vegetarian…

E: Actually Ecorazzi has posted some pretty interesting stuff about Paltrow promoting turkey and various other animal products on her blog.

IN: Oh really? Alright then I’ll go with Gywenth Paltrow. I’ve actually spotted her eating at Hangawi in New York. Stella McCartney is one of her best friends and if she can’t get it then she might as well eat the fur she wears.

E: There’s a rumor out there that PETA employees are encouraged to date omnivores so as to help convert more vegetarians. Any truth to that?

IN: There’s absolute truth to that! I encourage them! In fact if they get someone to see how wonderful a vegan diet is, I say, “ Dump him. Move on now! It’s his or her turn to go out and get somebody else over to our side.” When you talk to people one of the strongest reasons they go VEG is because they had a girlfriend or a boyfriend who was VEG.

E: Hey, well I have a long line of ex-girlfriends who’ve gone VEG thanks to me!

IN: Very good! I hope you date heavily.

E:  ME TOO!!!! In 30 years of hard work what do you consider your proudest achievement as PETA’s president?

IN: It’s not very sexy, but my proudest achievement, or my happiest thought, is how many people have had their minds, their hearts, their outlooks changed about animals and can no longer see them as things, but really as part of life. That’s my proudest achievement.

If I had to point to something tangible, I think the first convictions of experimenters and factory farmers for cruelty to animals and the end of all crash tests on animals. That was a very hard campaign to win, and now if you see manikins on TV you have to think of PETA.

E: On that same note, is there any campaign in the past 30 years that you would have done differently?

IN: Many of them, but I’m not going to tell!

E: Fair enough! Now I always end with the same question for all the famous vegetarians I interview. If you had the chance to meet one person who you’ve found specifically instrumental in the vegetarian community – dead or alive, past or present – who would it be and why?

IN: Gosh! When I think about this strategically I would want to talk to the early Quakers who were vegetarians. I would also want to talk to Gandhi.

Gandhi had such hardships and he worried if things would really happen, but so did so many of the suffragette vegetarians who saw the lifestyle as an all-encompassing ethic. I would like to strategize with them.

But I think more than that I would like to talk to Sojourner Truth. I don’t think she was vegetarian — I don’t think that issue was even on her map. But her struggle parallels the struggle for animal rights so closely, and she was totally non-violent and very much attacked by the white men of her time. I’d be very curious to have a conversation with her.

Of course a great big thank you to Ingrid Newkirk for taking the time out of her busy schedule to sit down for a chat. Check out her new book One Can Make a Difference — it’s certainty earned a spot on my bookshelf!

Also, make sure you visit ARFF.org and get tickets to attend their 20th Anniversary Gala where you’ll have the chance to rub elbows with Ingrid, Pamela Anderson, Bob Barker and many more hard-working activists!

As a 25-year-old it’s hard for me to imagine doing anything for that many years, but on Saturday, March 14th, the gang at Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) is celebrating 2 decades of success at their star-studded 20th Anniversary Gala!

ARFF was founded in 1989 to promote and protect the rights of animals in Florida, and has valiantly done so through demonstrations, outreach events, and personal appearances throughout their community.

Famous movers and shakers such as Bob Barker, Pam Anderson, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk and Dr. Neal Barnard will put on their fanciest clothes and enjoy the event, which features gourmet vegan dinner, an open bar, silent and live auctions featuring items from actress Kim Basinger and basketball player Yao Ming, and book signings by PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk and PCRM’s Dr. Neal Barnard.  

All proceeds from the gala will be used to fund ARFF’s Humane Education program, which has educated thousands of schoolchildren in Florida on veganism, companion animals and wildlife.

So quick, quick, quick — visit ARFF.org and get your tickets before they run out!

- Willie Nelson discussing positive change in Ingrid Newkirk’s new book, One Can Make a Difference. Buy the book and change the world!

While Sarah Palin chooses to spend her free time shooting animals from helicopters and trying to manipulate the endangered species list, Senator Barack Obama is out and about rescuing animals from shelters.

Earlier this year, rumors began circulating that the Obamas were planning to add a doggy addition to their family. Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA, quickly penned a letter to Barack saying: “Senator, no one needs to tell you that this country is proud to be a melting pot and that there is something deeply wrong and elitist about wanting only a purebred dog. Millions of Great American Mutts—the dog that should be our national dog—are set to die in our nation’s extremely overcrowded pounds and shelters for lack of good homes. When you are ready, please adopt a homeless pound puppy—a grateful refugee from a society that has not always treated the true “underdog” kindly—rather than cater to special interests who do not have dogs’ interests at heart.”

Well it looks like the Obama family listened to PETA!! Michelle Obama announced yesterday on Entertainment Tonight that her family was indeed planning to “adopt a rescue dog,” and we couldn’t be happier about it! It’s no surprise that Obama is making the responsible decision here, especially after he had a vegan moment earlier this summer.

If you’re thinking about becoming a pet owner, please visit your local shelter or Petfinder.com and adopt a lovely homeless animal in your neighborhood!

Story submitted by Erin at BrainyBlonde.com. Thanks for the tip!

- A selection by legendary actress turned activist Brigitte Bardot from Ingrid Newkirk’s new book One Can Make a Difference.  The collection of essay includes inspirational words from people like The Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, Dennis Kucinich, Oliver Stone and many more. Stay tuned for full Ecorazzi review of One Can Make a Difference coming soon!