Vegetarian Advocate: For Encouraging
Animal Murder, CBS’s “Survivor” Stinks!
By Jack Rosenberger
If you are searching for life advice, I suggest
dipping inside the pages of Henry David Thoreau’s journals. “Do
a little more of that work which you have sometimes confessed to be
good, which you feel that society and your justest judge rightly demands
of you,” Thoreau advises. “As for health, consider yourself
well, and mind your business. Who knows but you are dead already?”
And my favorite: “Do not read the newspapers.” If Thoreau
were alive today, he’d probably urge people to not waste their
lives watching television, particularly CBS shows like “Survivor.”
It’s difficult to live in North America nowadays and not be engulfed
with the stench of “Survivor,” the allegedly reality-based
show in which a CBS-selected group of malcontents are dumped on a tropical
island, split into two competing “tribes,” and encouraged
to embarrass themselves in front of family, friends, and a TV-watching
audience that numbers in the millions.
From the get-go, “Survivor” contestants have been—in
order to “survive” on their lush paradise—busy killing.
To date, the animal victims on the “Survivor” shows have included
rats, fish, at least one rooster, worms, and, most recently, a pig who
was stabbed to death by one male contestant.
Animal rights groups, including the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have criticized
CBS for the animal murders that have occurred on “Survivor.”
“Many viewers tuning into last night’s episode of the smash
hit “Survivor” were horrified to witness the inhumane and
gratuitous killing of an apparently wild or feral pig,” said Wayne
Pacelle, a HSUS senior vice president, last February. “The individual
who killed this animal did so in an extremely inhumane manner, causing
obvious suffering to a creature in his rightful place at the wrong time.
The fact is, this animal died and suffered for entertainment purposes
masquerading as ‘hunting and gathering.’ Despite what promoters
say, there are ground rules for this ‘reality’ television.
One ground rule should be a prohibition on acts of animal cruelty.”
In a statement to the press, CBS countered that “we firmly believe
that our viewers recognize that hunting and fishing as a means of sustenance
have been acceptable since the dawn of time.”
Gee, the public relations folks at CBS should better acquaint themselves
with the concept of geological time. Scientists estimate that the earth
was formed some 4.5 billion years ago and that the first microscopic
organisms appeared about 3.5 billion years ago. Fast-forward to our
early relatives, true primates appeared some 55 million years after
that. As for humankind’s first appearance on the planet, it’s
estimated that the family Hominidae, which includes humans, , evolved
some 10 million years ago. Clearly, despite CBS’s humancentric
view of the world, Ted Nugent’s ancestors haven’t been hunting
and fishing since “the dawn of time,” regardless of the illusion
that his brandishing a cross-bow might conjure.
If I worked at CBS (ha, ha) the aforementioned press statement would
have read: “We firmly believe that our viewers don’t know
that hunting and fishing has been a principle cause of extinction for
countless animal species since the dawn of television.”
As for what happens on “Survivor,” the hunting and fishing
that occurs on the show is meant to entertain, or shock, its audience.
No one’s actually marooned on a desert island and forced to survive.
That’s just fantasy.
And if a natural predator—no, I’m not thinking of Ted Nugent—should
select one of the contestants as a suitable appetizer, would CBS’s
minions stand aside, citing a non-invasive policy? Me thinks not.
Please write or call CBS and demand that it create a new ground rule
for “Survivor”: the mistreatment or slaying of nonhuman animals
is strictly prohibited. Contact: Mel Karmazian, President, CBS, 524
W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019; 212-975-4321; or visit www.cbs.com
and click on “Feedback” at the bottom of the page to speak
out against gratuitous animal killing.
Subway Endangers Vegan Neighbor
By the time you read this, Atom’s Juice Cafe, a vegan restaurant
in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, may have gone out of business. Why? Because
of the bullying tactics of the Subway sandwich chain.
Last October, Doris and Thomas Odren, owners of a Subway franchise in
Grosse Pointe, and the Delaware-based Subway Real Estate sued Fisher
Road Properties for allowing Atom’s Juice Cafe to open for business
three doors away from their store. Subway alleged that Fisher had violated
its lease’s no-competition clause by allowing a business to move
in that “directly competes with Subway in their attempt to market
healthy food products.”
As a result, Fisher has sued Atom’s Juice Cafe for breach of contract.
Atom’s has countersued Fisher.
Subway signed its lease in 1991 and Atom’s signed its lease in
1999.
In an Associated Press article about the lawsuits, both Doris Odren
and Subway spokesman Les Winograd refused to discuss the litigation.
The same is not true for Atom’s owner John Chetcuti, a vegan for
the last 15 years, who says the lawsuit “blows me away. We’re
so far the opposite of Subway, I have no idea how we’re in competition
with them. My clientele is five to ten percent of the eating population—the
Buddhists, Sikhs, lactose-intolerant, Hare Krishnas, vegans and vegetarians.
These people are not interested in Subway food.”
Based in Milford, Connecticut, Subway sells mostly animal flesh-based
submarine sandwiches, plus soups, salads, and cookies. Atom’s sells
soy and tofu sandwiches, dairy-free desserts and cookies, salads, bagels,
and other foods.
What isn’t in doubt is that the pending litigation is threatening
the existence of Atom’s Juice Cafe, says Chetcuit, who has so far
incurred legal fees of $7,500.
Subway has in excess of 14,000 stores in 76 countries. It’s corporations
like Subway, with their superior advertising budgets and penchant for
cutthroat behavior, that are partly responsible for the disappearance
of small family-owned restaurants here and abroad.
This Just In: On March 12, the various parties in the Subway
litigation reached a settlement. Atom’s Juice Cafe will not change
anything on its menu; and owners John and Dave Chetcuti will continue
serving healthy vegan food. However, Atom’s Juice Café is
facing daunting litigation expenses and trying to raise money to cover
them. If you’ll be in the Detroit area on April 7 please attend
their Cash Bash at the Scarab Club (7-11pm; tickets $25; call Café
for info: 313-885-0095). If you can’t make it, please send donations
and letters of support to: Atom’s Juice Café Legal Defense
Fund, 345 Fischer Rd., Grosse Point, MI 48230.
Please inform Subway of the health benefits of vegetarian food and
tell them why their meaty subs are of no competition whatsoever for
vegan
subs and sandwiches—when it comes to nutritional content, taste,
and compassion! Also, please congratulate Subway for dropping its lawsuit
and remind them to be good neighbors from now on. Contact: Fred Deluca,
President, Subway, 325 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460; 800-888-4848, ex.
1401; fax: 203-783-7401; asksubway@subway.com.
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