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PETA Is Not Happy That Google Used a Camel To Get a Desert "StreetView"
First time accepted submitter flopwich writes Google used a camel-mounted camera to get a 'street view' of a stretch of desert in the United Arab Emirates. PETA's director Ingrid E. Newkirk is upset about it, saying they should have used jeeps. "These days, jeeps are in common use in the desert, as are light planes and even dune buggies, and satellite images could also easily have been taken instead," she said. "(Google) should leave camels out of its activites altogether."
It's Ingrid Newkirk. What did you expect?
If Google had used a dolphin, I would say that the PETA would have a point.
Wenn ist das Nunstueck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput.
PETA is never happy. Ever.
Then again, they are a bunch of hypocrites that kill healthy animals that need new homes because they'd rather see them dead than as pets.
So yeah....PETA can stuff it.
PETA don't like animals having any relationship with humans. They put down the vast majority of dogs they recieve rather than re-home them because they think that's more "humane" (and it's cheaper..)
They would rather you killed the camel and used a jeep to travel across the desert.
They are scum, and they won't be happy until there are no animals left on planet Earth except mankind.
I assume they put a decent camel jockey on the animal, probably brought it food and water, etc. I bet that camel's day was a lot better than it would have been if Google hadn't shown up to put a camera on its back.
Aren't the PETA folks big environmentalists too? I would imagine a camel puts out a lot less carbon and CO2 than a Jeep.
PETA needs to focus on real issues. It's not like those cameras were tremendous burdens, or that the camels were abused.
Google feeds their employees dead cows and chickens on a regular basis. They should have used plants. These days, quinoa is in common use in foodservice, as are beans and eggplants, and lentils could also have been easily used instead. Google should leave beef out of its activities altogether.
The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
When did "News for nerds, stuff that matters" disappear from the Slashdot homepage?
Yo dawg, I heard you like the Ackermann function, so OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
I hope that everyone gets a good chuckle out of this story and then moves on. Just like the Westboro Baptist Church, PETA keeps pulling stunts designed to incense rational people and get free advertising (I know that the point of WBC is litigation rather than advertising, but I still see parallels). Remember how PETA protested the game "Super Meat Boy" with a "Super Tofu Boy" parody? Don't fall for the trap - keep your emotions in check - smile & keep scrolling.
So they prefer that Google use large vehicles that consume fossil fuel, emit greenhouse gases and may damage fragile desert ecosystem with their tires? Way to go PETA. I hope a few environmental groups take you on on this one.
It's not so much that they're scum, it's that they mistake "ethical" with "imaginary line-in-the-sand absolutist moral law based". Ethics are difficult and nuanced, and sometimes raise questions you don't have the answer to. Those sorts of things aren't especially convenient for large groups united for the sake of ad campaigns and political lobbying.
If you actually asked the question of "what does ethical corporate usage of beasts of burden look like?", you'd end up with a very complicated answer.
You'll see this symptom with every political group that's actually genuinely grassroots and purpose oriented.
if google had done that, they'd be criticized for not caring about carbon emissions
Not quite true - PETA is okay with using animals as long as VP MaryBets Sweetland can get the insulin shot. Everyone else should avoid anything to do with animals.
"leave camels out of its activities altogether." If not being herded around in the desert, handled by camel herders, then what are camels for? Advertising smokes I guess. And more importantly, won't somebody please think of the dromedaries?
Wow, just wow. "Instead of doing minimal harm to a few pack animals that were specifically bred for this job, you should have used a vehicle that destroys the desert ecosystem because we have no idea how animals actually work."
There is nothing even that consistent with their thought process. They are closer to a terrorist group looking for reasons to justify violence. At least at the top.
If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
Remember? Rule #1 of the internet? PETA wants attention, positive or negative. Just ignore them. Please.
Do you have ESP?
I swear, they must do this because they have a moral imperative to remind everyone just how completely batshit insane they really are.
srsly
No, they're pretty consistent that they just don't want people to affect animals. Which is impossible. But they insist on it anyways.
And they're not terrorists. Stupid, yes. ALF-like-terrorism, no.
Please think of the bacteria!
If you post as Anonymous Coward, don't expect a reply.
Animal Abuse - Sure a no brainier.
Fur Coats - I can see that we don't need Fur Coats anymore as there is a big selection of cheaper and effective other sources for coats. (Fur as in they need to kill the animal)
Food from babies - Veal and Lamb. Tasty but the animal is so cute I loose my appetite when I think of it that way.
Food meats - Sure people are happy being vegetarian. I tried it myself my body hated me for it. (I will need to add leather although it isn't food, but a product from the animal from the processing of the rest of the food)
Anything made from animal - Wool, Egg, Milk products come to mind. Now we are going to the crazy zone. These animals although are in sub-human conditions are still much better off then if they were out in the wild fending for themselves. Efforts should be towards improving their conditions not stopping their usefulness.
Pets and worker animals - These are like family to us, and are treated extremely well often much better then most people who care for them live. Pets like Dogs have evolved (threw breading) to really like being around humans and helping us out. To say the dogs should be wild is actually making go against their nature.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
*sniff* *sniff*
Excuse me sir. Your algore smells like an asshole.
If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
Nope, it hasn't been used in ages. It was largely obsolete even back when I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes close to 2 decades ago.
I'm not sure if it's cheaper, but human insulin IS more effective than pork/beef insulin. Also, pork/beef consumption was going down and insulin demand was rising decades ago, which is why insulin-producing bacteria are one of the first genetically modified organisms ever created.
These days, human insulin isn't actually that common - there has been a move to modified insulins that have slight differences from human insulin to achieve certain goals. (Lispro/aspart aka Humalog/Novolog reduce insulin's tendency to "clump", which greately speeds up the time to take effect when injected. Insulin glargine, aka Lantus, is designed to provide a very long "peakless" baseline effect for 24 hours.)
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
No, they're pretty consistent that they just don't want people to affect animals
I'd have more sympathy for them if they were PETP - People for the Ethical Treatment of People. A cause I can get behind is the "leave me the fuck alone" cause.
We make sure we hire a Jeep with leather seats, burning beef tallow based diesel fuel to keep the AC going and make sure we staff the car with hamburger eating Google engineers wearing natural fur coats. Attach a trailer with a nice BBQ and make sure to hand out as much tasty meat as can be obtained, cooked and dispensed along the way to any hungry persons who asks. THEN we make sure to get a number of camels to pull the jeep along and make meat deliveries. Attache a big sign that says "People Eating Tasty Animals" too.
Any other ways we can anger the PETA folks?
These people are fruit cakes... WITH too many nuts. Go back to rescuing abused pets....
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
No kidding. Those burning fuels will kill more animals in the long run than the .... zero animals likely hurt by Google.
It doesn't hurt to be nice.
"they're pretty consistent that they just don't want people to affect animals" - I'd have to say outright killing +90% of the animals they take in for "adoption" is affecting those animals, wouldn't you? They're scum.
PETA wants attention like a 3 year old with a tin whistle.
There is no such thing as negative attention; as long as they are in the news, they will be happy.
Sadly, they see that as consistent with their philosophy. In that putting those dogs in loving homes would be exposing the dogs to human contact for years versus a quick, one-time human contact that ensures that dog won't have to deal with humans ever again.
When people's beliefs get this twisted, there's no reasoning with them. Just back off slowly and keep a good distance from them.
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
I was skeptical about the claim that PETA euthanizes so many animals, but studies say it's true, and may even understate the situation.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services report on their investigation found that 94% of the animals given to PETA for adoption were instead euthanized, 90% within one day.
This is not ethical treatment of animals. There's no "nuance" here. Putting the vast majority of healthy pets to death rather than trying to find homes for them is cruel and highly unusual.
Of course, with $35 million in annual revenue, who can afford to take care of the animals, what with paying all the salaries for the people working for PETA to exploit them? PETA's job is to raise funds to pay PETA salaries. The animals are just raw material to be exploited, then tossed in a dumpster
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
"If two PETA members are fighting, do we still call it a beef?"
#include bier;
I had sympathy during the short time when they were known as "people eat tasty animals"
bickerdyke
The headline could have stopped after the first four words.
Go on, citizen, stamp the vote card. R or D, your choice.
Use a drone -> Told you! They produce equipment for the military or CIA.
Use a plane -> You know how many birds die to props each year? Murderers!
Use a jeep -> Ohh gawd the environment!
User solar powered vehicle -> WTF? You never get the energy back!
Use a camel that is probably better cared for then dogs in PETA kennels -> Think of the animals!!!
You just can't win.
Everyone who buys Wild Hunt will receive 16 specially prepared DLCs absolutely for free, regardless of platform.
The original article doesn't link to any kind of article on PETA's web site. In fact, the only reference I can find to this issue is from Mr. Clint Davis of Scripps.
This is clearly troll-bait for people unhappy with PETA, whether PETA is engaging in a coverup of sorts, or Mr. Clint Davis has falsely attributed a quote to Ms. Newkirk.
Is this even true? I did some goggling, and could not find *any* official or otherwise direct statement from PETA.
In any case, I think PETA badly dilutes its message by frequently saying borderline ridiculous statements.
No living being should be subject to the kinds of torture in medical tests, period!.
That begin said, there is no problem with animals and humans cooperating. Camels carry a load, and in return they are fed and cared for. Whats wrong with that. Its called a *symbiotic* relationship in case you forgot sixth grade ecology. If farm animals are well cared for, and killed instantly for meat, well, I guess I'm sort of essentially OK with that.
In the particular case of dogs, I'd argue that having contact with humans is their natural way of living. Over ten thousand years of contact with humans has shaped the species. There is no way you can consider any dog to be not exposed to humans: it's in their genes.
Well yes, of course. Google likely used a Dromedary Camel as is standard for most uses. Microsoft would have used a Bactrian camel just to be different. That extra hump would have certainly changed the view.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Reminds me of the Westboro Baptist Church...
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services report on their investigation [huffingtonpost.com] found that 94% of the animals given to PETA for adoption were instead euthanized, 90% within one day.
Are you kidding me, Barbara???
Yow!!! As someone who still has nightmares about the two pets (dogs) I have had to have euthanized, one with Osteosarcoma at 17 years old in 2009, and the other with Cronic Renal Failure and Adrenal Gland Cancer at age 13 just last July, something like that makes me insane...
At the risk of getting flamed for "Godwin-ing", I just thought they were a way-over-the-top animal protection group; not the ones who had the "Final Solution" to animal cruelty...
A lot of people are noticing the similarities between the two. Crazy over-the-top behavior and a holier-than-everyone-else attitude.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
They remind me of a certain person I know who, rather than give away a pair of cats she could no longer keep, had them euthanized. Her logic was along the lines of: No one could love them, or give them a better home than me, so they're better off dead.
In terms of what they do with their funding, i.e., pay out very nice salaries, PETA is no different from other charities. The biggest beneficiaries of most charities are the executives of that charity.
-- sudon't
Air-ride Equipped
Put both groups in a sealed room with a puppy, a gay baby, and enough cudgels to go around.
The problem will solve itself.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Any living creatures are going to evolve from simpler species that needed to struggle with each other for resources to survive. Any species which has some way to maintain knowledge for advanced scientific study is going to have to evolve/learn to work together more recently in their past, or else knowledge dies with individuals.
The reality is that while morphological and chemical and genetic differences with extraterrestrials will doubtlessly be profound, the inevitable common backstory of evolution will give them some behavioral similarities. "Criminally insane" is our modern, cooperative brains examining our more competitive behavioral roots and seeing the innate conflict.
Because most house cats are actually unable to live that well in the wild. Though they have the hunting instincts natural to their species, it actually requires some experience (usually learned during kittenhood and young adulthood) to put those instincts to best use; most cats cannot hunt well enough to sustain them long enough to gain the necessary skills.
Obviously cats which have lived outdoors - farmcats or free-roaming pets - have a better chance at survival than indoor-only house-cats, but even free-roaming pets fare poorly compared to feral animals that have lived their lives entirely on their own wits.
Cats also aren't safe from predation; owls and hawks won't pass them by when they are young and even after they achieve full size, coyotes and foxes are known to go after them. Housecats also have a poorer chance at finding good shelter in bad weather, and usually have to fight feral cats for territory, which further hampers their chances.
Putting a pampered house cat into the wild and expecting it to survive because "it's a cat" is thoughtless; it will likely live a very short life before dying miserably in a ditch somewhere.
Whether that option is better than euthanizing the animal is debatable and probably dependent on the beliefs of the owner. The proper option is to spend the time and money to get the animal properly placed, but dumping the feline is cruel and shouldn't even be a consideration.
Sad caveat: the ferals and strays in my town are very well cared for by well-meaning locals; many are fed daily, and have had their shots and been neutered. Unfortunately, this care just encourages more people to dump the animals in our neighborhood.
They remind me of a certain person I know who, rather than give away a pair of cats she could no longer keep, had them euthanized. Her logic was along the lines of: No one could love them, or give them a better home than me, so they're better off dead.
^ THIS.
We were discussing the killing of his two children by cardiologist Guy Turcotte yesterday (found not criminally responsible, now under appeal). I was arguing with my sister, saying that you'd pretty much *have* to have something wrong in the head to kill your own kids - even if it doesn't rise to the level of insanity. She was saying, No, she could see how some people just get really pissed off and kill.
I guess if people can think this way about defenseless pets, it might be the same for their children. But it still seems royally messed up to me. If I were a juror on that case, I would want to hear the experts before making a decision, because that whole way of thinking just doesn't compute.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Come on, putting down an animal just hours after you get it? Not using their network of supporters to say "here, we have these animals that need homes?"
Given the fact that $35 million is completely insufficient to humanely care for that many animals what would you suggest they do instead?
They took in just under 30,000 animals. $35 million pays for a LOT of pet food (and pet food manufacturers are big donors to shelters, so even that expense can be mitigated). And shelters use volunteer staff, which, last time I volunteered, didn't cost them a penny.
Fostering animals out to temporary homes usually costs just the food, while the animal waits for a placement - and a lot of times those foster homes end up keeping the animal rather than let it go back to the pound.
$35 million a year, to place less than two thousand animals annually? Really? That's a pure for-profit business. Disgusting.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
To PETA, "somehow unadoptable" translates into "Oh, we can't sell this mutt or this mixed-breed cat to a pet store for big bucks like we could with a pure-bred, so put it down."
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
If the 90% euthanization rate within ONE DAY is true, then do you really think that is a fair amount of time to wait for someone to adopt the animal before putting it down? _one_ _day_.
If they have enough experience to know the animal won't get adopted then yes.
Think of it this way. PETA is the most extreme of the major animal rights organizations, they're staffed by people who are so passionate that they're willing to endure ridicule and crappy pay to work for them.
Now either these animal rights nutbags who won't even drink milk because it enslaves cows are at the same time committing a completely unnecessary massacre of pets every day. Or, you've completely underestimated the necessity of euthanization.
I stole this Sig
I've found that, for me, when I'm finally able to admit it's time to help them on, they really do need my help for that, because as much as they want to stay with me, they're also in a bad way. Cancer is not pretty when it spreads and leaves a once-proud friend a hurting shadow of themselves, just skin and bones and fur.
I've stayed with every one while the needle went in, and in every case I was losing a best friend, a family member, and (because they were/are all instrumental in helping me deal with ptsd on a daily basis), real life-savers. And writing this makes me cry again, because I know that there is no way that I deserved such good dogs, no matter how much I tell myself that they turned out good because of the way I treated them. They're special, and I'll always remember them.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.