Feb 10, 2007
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Chrissie Hynde of the rock group the
Pretenders protested on Saturday what she alleged was the shipping of
thousands of starving and disease-ridden sheep from Australia to the
Middle East.
Hynde, who arrived in Dubai on a boat with a man dressed as a sheep,
said up to 100,000 sheep are transported on each ship.
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
which Hynde works for, alleged in a written statement that the animals
are subjected to "weeks long journeys through all weather extremes
with scarce food and water."
...
Playing on the religious sensitivities of the region, Hynde claimed,
"animals have to be transported humanely, or it's not halal."
"Halal" is a term that signifies if animals have been slaughtered
according to Islamic law.
Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders, is also an outspoken animal activist and
devout vegetarian.
Having publicly denounced McDonald's on several occasions for the corporation's refusal
to serve vegetarian fare in its restaurants, she was the first to appear at a local
McDonald's when the hamburger giant introduced its version of a veggie burger in its
restaurants in the Netherlands. She showed up not only to taste the cruelty-free fare, but
to encourage officials to put the burger on the menu in all of its restaurants. To date,
unfortunately, the corporation has refused.
Said Chrissie in a recent news column: "One of the reasons that I feel I even have
a voice that I can sing with is because my purpose in life is to save cows."
How about a song for the animals, Chrissie? That would certainly be number one on my
hit parade!
P.S. Chrissie Hynde appeared and spoke at the 1996 National March for the Animals this
June and sang on the steps of our nation's capitol to 7,000 people! She stood before a
huge crowd and sang "I'll Stand By You," arm in arm with members of Act Up San
Francisco, a radical AIDS activist group who support animal rights and are against testing
on animals. It was a moment to be remembered...
Tube and
Berger ftg. Chrissie Hynde - Straight Ahead
