‘Joker’ Star Joaquin Phoenix Joins PETA US to ‘End Speciesism’
Just ahead of his much-anticipated star turn in Joker, Joaquin Phoenix appears on a new PETA US billboard that just went up yesterday in New York’s Times Square declaring, “We Are All Animals.” The ad urges people to “live vegan” and help “end speciesism”, which is the damaging belief that – despite their extraordinary talents, abilities, and intelligence – all other animal species are inferior to humans.
His vegan plea comes amidst a PETA US campaign informing people that cattle ranchers are burning the Amazon rainforest to meet the global demand for meat. More than 90% of the rainforest that’s been cleared since 1970 is used for meat production, either for grazing or for growing food for cattle. The United Nations states that animal agriculture is responsible for nearly a fifth of human-induced greenhouse-gas emissions – and advises that a global shift to vegan eating is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.
ALERT TO MEAT-EATERS CRYING OVER THE #AMAZON FIRES:
Wildfires rage where cows are raised for meat – some is sold in US. These areas experience alarming deforestation to raise crops to feed cows. Some ranchers even start illegal fires to fit more animals. https://t.co/bssc4lidzD pic.twitter.com/BOooRJEQY7
— PETA (@peta) August 22, 2019
In addition to significantly reducing their contribution to the climate crisis, every person who goes vegan saves the lives of nearly 200 animals each year and helps shut down speciesism. Help combat this harmful worldview by not only choosing vegan foods but also staying away from animal circuses, avoiding personal-care products that were tested on animals, and rejecting all other forms of exploitation of animals.
Recently, Joaquin wore a vegan suit in a giant anti-wool PETA US ad that proclaimed, “Cruelty Doesn’t Suit Me.” He’s part of a long list of celebrities – including Michael Keaton, Woody Harrelson, Natalie Portman, Edie Falco, Richard Linklater, and Alicia Silverstone – who’ve teamed up with PETA US to promote kindness to animals.
