Make space, John Lewis – PETA’s latest Christmas ad is sure to pull on the heartstrings of all who see it.
Created by Atomic London and shot at Hillside Animal Sanctuary, the ad will appear on cinema screens nationwide throughout December. Not planning on going to the cinema? Watch it here now:
The video introduces viewers to a young girl who, while practising the Christmas classic Jingle Bells on her trumpet as she walks home from school, makes a new friend – a curious cow who approaches to enjoy the music.
The ad celebrates the blossoming friendship between the schoolgirl and her new friend. As the girl’s musical skills grow, so, too, does their bond. But when she brings her mother to the field to meet her bovine buddy, the cow is nowhere to be found – as at that very moment, she’s being loaded onto a lorry for a one-way trip to an abattoir.
This dark twist might not be very merry, but it’s the grim reality for the 2.6 million cows who are violently slaughtered each year in the UK alone. It doesn’t need to be this way, which is why the spot ends with a simple plea: everyone deserves a merry Christmas, so please leave animals off your plate.
Being a Centrepiece Is Nothing to Celebrate
When people pile their plates with beef Wellington, turkey, and ham during the festive season, they condemn animals to a miserable life and a terrifying death.
As viral videos show, cows enjoy music and will often stop what they’re doing to take in the soothing sounds of instruments. Beat-loving bovines are also highly social individuals who develop strong friendships over time, yet many cows in the UK are confined on dark, dirty factory farms, where they’re denied everything that’s natural and important to them. At just 18 months old, they’re subjected to a gruelling – and often lengthy – journey to a slaughterhouse, where their throats are slit and their bodies are dismembered.
Andrew Skowron / We Animals MediaJo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Meanwhile, millions of intelligent, gentle turkeys are crammed into filthy sheds before being sent to slaughter at just 9 to 24 weeks of age – yes, the birds on your plate are just babies – and 10 million pigs are killed every year in the UK. These sensitive individuals are the same in all the ways that matter as the animals with whom many of us share our homes.
Peace on Earth Starts With Your Plate
Christmas is a time for celebration and compassion. Now that you know how terribly cows and other animals suffer for your festive feast, you can make the kind decision to leave them off your plate.
It’s easier than ever to start a new tradition of serving an animal- and planet-friendly vegan Christmas feast. Check out our guide to meatless Christmas roasts and visit your local supermarket – you might be surprised by the bounty of vegan snacks, cheeses, sweets, desserts, and more that now abound!
Share This Festive Message With Friends and Family
If the story of a cow who ran to listen to a Christmas tune moved you, share this video with your loved ones. By telling your friends and family what you’ve learned about animals, you’ll help more people create festive feasts full of kindness and spare even more living, feeling beings.
Share This Festive Message With Friends and Family
If the story of a cow who ran to listen to a Christmas tune moved you, share this video with your loved ones. By telling your friends and family what you’ve learned about animals, you’ll help more people create festive feasts full of kindness and spare even more living, feeling beings.
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Herald a New Beginning This Holiday Season
Compassion isn’t just for Christmas. Keep the spirit of the season alive all year by enjoying animal-friendly foods long after the leftovers are gone.
Grab your free vegan starter kit to learn more.
