Make mine veg!

Women's legs are usually eye-catching, but her leg on a plate and a hen beside it is head turning and thought-provoking. And that's exactly what PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) want us to do – think! PETA speaks for the animals in order to promote vegetarianism.

The largest animal rights organisation in the world, PETA was founded in the U.S. in 1980. Today it has a base of over 700,000 members and has offices in England, Italy, Germany and India. The organisation's prime focus is where the greatest numbers of animals suffer the most – in the food, leather and entertainment industries and in laboratories. Their sincere efforts have been fruitful in improving and saving the lives of millions of animals.

"Did you know that by being vegetarians, we also save the earth?"asks Urmila Dabholkar of PETA, India, further explaining how land, water, pollution, energy, deforestation and resources are used to raise animals for meat. "It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat," she explains, "and only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat".

Low sugar levels

Among many other benefits, vegetarians are said to have the lowest rates of blood sugar levels, coronary disease, heart attack and cancer, and they live longer than others by about six years. Vegetarian children have also shown a tendency of growing taller than meat-eating children.

Most celebrities have been roped in to help with the cause. Says Alicia Silverstone on going vegetarian: "I'll never have to worry about my weight again, and it's made my hair and skin shine."

The trend all over the world is definitely changing. There are about 17 million vegetarians in the U.S., with the number increasing by a million each year. In England itself, about 2,000 people turn vegetarian every week. From Brad Pitt, Pamela Anderson Lee, Bryan Adams and Madonna to Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla and Akshay Kumar, vegetarianism is a common bond.

Most PETA campaigns are bold and daring. From dumping manure at the World Bank conference (Tax-meat campaign) to their spontaneous anti-fur disruptions of New York's Fashion week, they have made it a point to be heard. They also have to their credit, fast food giant McDonalds' agreement to stop buying from suppliers that debeak chickens or give hens less than 72 square inches of space each, which are the humane slaughter guidelines.

Animal testing

Leading cosmetic companies like Avon, Revlon and Estee Lauder have banned animal testing after PETA's investigation on Biosearch, a contract testing laboratory. Taiwan passed its first-ever law against cruelty to animals after a PETA investigation that revealed that dogs in pounds were being starved, drowned, electrocuted and beaten to death.

For further information, visit www.peta.com