‘Charlie Hebdo’ Dedicates a Weekly Column to Animal Rights

The recent violence in France has shocked the world. Twelve people died, including Charlie Hebdo‘s lead cartoonist, Cabu, who just earlier this week gave a drawing to our friends at French animal rights group L214 denouncing the cruelty of foie gras production.

To produce “foie gras” (which literally means “fatty liver”), workers ram pipes down the throats of male ducks or geese two or three times daily and pump as much as 2 kilograms of grain and fat into the animals’ stomachs, causing their livers to swell to up to 10 times their normal size. Many birds have difficulty standing because of their engorged livers, and they may tear out their own feathers and cannibalise each other out of stress.

Charlie Hebdo is the only French newspaper that dedicates a weekly column to animal rights, tackling issues from bullfighting to dolphinaria.

Violence is a social issue, and violence against humans is linked to violence against other species. These losses are being felt by all compassionate people, including those who stand for animal rights. We at PETA stand with those who reject oppression and violence in all forms.

To those who lost their lives, rest in peace – and to everyone mourning them, our hearts are with you.

Cabu dédicace un dessin pour L214. La grande classe !! #stopfoiegras #émotion @Charlie_Hebdo_ @PucesLapin pic.twitter.com/seJosyseP4

— L214 éthique animaux (@L214) January 7, 2015