…From Cheese to Milk.
The well-intentioned folks over at PETA are at it again. First it was a campaign to replace cow’s milk in ice cream with human milk. Folks, I couldn’t possibly make this crap up.
Now, in another udderly ridiculous claim, they are touting that there is a definitive link between autism and consumption of cow’s milk. Again, not making this stuff up, people!
Here’s a copy of a communication received today from Ari Ne’eman, President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. He says it better than I could. Well, okay, maybe not better but definitely more succinctly! (wink)
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“Recently, the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a new ad campaign entitled, “Got Autism?”, misleadingly implying that the consumption of milk is associated with the cause of the autism spectrum. PETA is misinforming the public about autism and thus joining a long line of unscrupulous groups that have sought to try and spread fear about autism as a means of pushing their particular agendas.
Attempts such as these treat individuals with disabilities as pawns in the efforts of other constituencies. By refusing to acknowledge the right of the autistic community to be referred to with respect instead of as the focus of public hysteria, PETA contributes to a state of affairs which marginalizes the disability community. People with disabilities, our families and our supporters deserve better than the exploitation and fear-mongering that comes about when disability is used as a means of scaring the general populace. For millions across the globe, the answer to PETA’s “Got Autism?” question is an unequivocal yes. That should not spell the end of our lives or prevent us from being fully included throughout society. By exploiting us, PETA becomes a culprit in the social forces that marginalize people with disabilities and lead to the discrimination and prejudice that truly disable us.
Let PETA know how you feel about its choice to exploit autistic people by writing to them at info@peta.org or call them at 757-622-7382 and dial 0. In addition, we encourage you to express your support for these ads’ swift withdrawal by signing this online petition.”
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I hope you’ll consider adding your voice and pass this along, too.
This is the second time I read about this today. Shameless! Thanks for linking to the petition. …
Bleah. You’re right, you can’t make this stuff up.
Wonder if the vegetarian diet they’re recommending instead has any, oh, I dunno, GLUTEN in it??
😉
Great pithy post title!
I must pass this message on too.
You know, PETA has become unethical. Instead of advancing their cause, they are now pissing everyone else off. I am all for protecting animals and preventing unnecessary cruelty, but now, when I hear PETA, I don’t even listen.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8869369
That is a link to the article they are citing. The study is called “Food allergy and infantile autism.” My impression of it (I could be wrong) is that the 36 children with autism in the study tested positive for milk allergies. Their behavior improved when they were not given food to which they were allergic anymore. SHOCKER.
Make informed choices, guys. Base dietary decisions and advertising campaigns on one study with 56 people (20 person control group) published 10 years ago.
Oh this had made me so angry, I’ve signed it, e-mailed them(a lot..), blogged it and You Tubed it.
Wonderwhat autism speaks/generation rescue/bloody jenny mccarthy have to say about it
I hate the little sad face, too. Everything is so WRONG. Grrrr.
I am so glad you posted this. The ad has been pulled. I love how we all work together with these tasteless campaigns.
I just went to go rant and rave after reading the article on the PETA site when I saw the update that the ad was pulled.
Get this…
The campaign was pulled by the AD COMPANY – NOT PETA! They are playing victim here. Good grief!
I hope they approve my comment but just in case they don’t, this is what I left:
“Bottom line. PETA owes the autism community a HUGE apology. HUGE HUGE HUGE. My mouth is hanging wide open at the audacity of this campaign. I have an autistic son who has been reading since he was 3. With a very literal mind, how do you think a 5 year old would take this ad??? Even if he read it VERY carefully? Isn’t advocacy (whether it be animal or human rights) about expanding people’s perspective and opening their minds? What if your child doesn’t have autism, but has, say, brown hair and the ad said “how now brown cow?” with a frowny face and a tag saying milk is link with the “devastating disease” of having brown hair. It doesn’t matter how catchy the ad title is, or what it is a parody of. “clever” is NOT the word that comes to my mind.Please…THINK people!”