Guest guest Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008  Send to a Friend | Donate Now | Join Our Activist Network Dear Andrea, After PETA learned about Levi Strauss & Co.'s "viral video" featuring an orangutan, we immediately contacted the company to request that it pull the video and pledge never to use great apes in its advertisements again. Levi's has denied both those requests (and refused even to meet with PETA to discuss the issue). Why does PETA want to pull the plug on advertisements that use orangutans? For starters, orangutans used in film, TV, and advertising are separated from their mothers when they're just days old. In the wild, orangutans remain close to their mothers until they're about 8 years old—they are inseparable for the first few years of life. Training baby orangutan "actors" almost always includes physical abuse to ensure that the animals always pay attention to the trainer and know who is "boss." An undercover investigation into a prominent California training facility revealed that trainers punched, kicked, and hit great apes with broom handles. By the time the animals are around 8 years old, they become so strong that they can't be safely handled anymore—they are generally discarded at poorly run roadside zoos or facilities that masquerade as "sanctuaries." A PETA investigation into one such sanctuary revealed that former "celebrity" animals were living in small cages littered with weeks' worth of garbage and feces. The animals were denied the basic necessities of wholesome and ample food and adequate veterinary care. The Levi's video features an orangutan, Rocky. Dressed in Levi's jeans and a white T-shirt, Rocky is shown as he leaves his apartment, takes a public bus, listens to music and texts on his cell phone, mails out letters, gets coffee, walks to his audition, takes off his clothing and dances, puts his clothes back on, and goes out to lunch. Please take a few minutes to use this form to send a message to Levi's officials urging them to pull the commercial. Please forward this message to friends, family members, and coworkers. Thank you for everything that you do to help animals. For all animals, Kristie PhelpsAssistant DirectorAnimals in Entertainment Campaign Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-friend! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for PETA's Online Community. This e-mail was sent by: PETA 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510United States Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1505 - Release 6/16/2008 7:20 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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