peta2.com

I'm happy to let you in on the first of some exclusive blogs about being vegetarian out on the road from sweet band 1997. Check out what Alida has to say below, and keep an eye out for future blogs from the band! - Marta

Hey guys!

So I'm going to start my blog out by explaining a little about myself and why this blog is so significant to me. I'm Alida and I play the keyboards and sing in a band called 1997. We're made up of Caleb (guitars, vocals), Alan (bass), Kevin (vocals), Nick (drums), and Cody (guitar). We're signed with Victory Records and have been touring and sharing our music for about a year and a half so far. We have two albums out right now, one of which just came out on May 27th. It's called "On the Run" and I've never been so proud of something before.

I'm writing this blog because my band and I are vegetarians who are always on the road. I just wanted to let you know what my band's about and how I deal with being a vegetarian in a touring band. I've grown up eating right my whole life, have worked in health food stores, master cleansed, and care very much about what I eat, or don't eat. Here are a couple of pictures to get this started. They're just some funny candids of the boys and me over the last couple weeks.








We've left for Warped Tour and began on June 20th, in Pomona, CA, on the Skate Ramp and Kevin Says stages. We'll be hanging out at the peta2 tent from June 20-26th, and July 1-3. We'll also be at the Glamour Kills tent on June 28th and 29th. I'd love to meet you guys, so come say hey! If you want to check out my band, check out myspace.com/nineteenninetyseven. Message me anytime!

xoxo,

Alida

You might remember the interview I did with George from Rise of Caligula a little while back. Well, the guys are headed out on some insane number of dates this summer everywhere from Arkansas and Iowa to New York and California. Chances are, they are coming to a local venue near you, so if you're into metal or hardcore, check it out.

Of course, we're fans of the band and their support for animal rights. And they'll have some peta2 stickers and info out at their table including stuff about the Woof campaign. Rise of Caligula even included a peta2 logo on their tour promo materials to help support the cause.

Good dudes. Don't forget to check out other tours which we'll actually have some staffers on including Warped Tour and Mayhem Fest. The dates are on our MySpace.

-Pulin

Check out the brand new contest and interview with Chi Cheng of Deftones here

Thanks to the hard work of caring people around the world—especially in Canada—we're now ending our Kentucky Fried Cruelty boycott in Canada. The boycott everywhere else in the world is still on, though!

Basically, following months of closed-door negotiations between PETA and the company that coordinates the purchasing of chickens for all Canadian KFCs, the lives and deaths of all chickens killed for KFCs in Canada will be improved by a historic new animal welfare plan.

According to the new plan, the company that coordinates the purchasing of chickens for all Canadian KFCs will take the following actions:

• Ensure the phasing in of the purchase of 100 percent of chickens from suppliers that use controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK)—the least cruel form of poultry slaughter ever developed.


• Improve the audits used to monitor chicken suppliers to KFCs in Canada to reduce the number of broken bones and other injuries suffered by birds.


• Urge the chicken companies supplying Canadian KFCs to adopt better practices, including improved lighting, more space for birds, lower ammonia levels, and a phase-out of growth-promoting drugs and breeding practices that painfully cripple chickens.


• Form an animal welfare advisory panel to monitor the changes and recommend further advancements.

The majority of KFCs in Canada are also offering a faux-chicken menu item in their restaurants.

The boycott will continue in other countries where KFC has restaurants, including the United States, until they adopt the same standards. If you're outside of Canada check out some more ways to step up the pressure and sign the petition here.

Thank you. It's so clear that your hard work is making a difference!

-Pulin