PETA Protests Butterfly Release
The first annual Flight of the Butterfly Festival was held last week at the Lake Elsinore Outlets. They had planned on releasing several hundred butterflies at the end of the festival.
Upon their dramatic release, many of the butterflies will mingle through the crowds as they are drawn to the spring florals specifically selected for their capabilities to attract butterflies, in hopes that they continue to make their home at the Outlet Center....The first 100 children to arrive at 12:00 p.m. will receive butterfly nets and a unique* opportunity to try and catch a butterfly after the release.
The release was cancelled after they received a letter from PETA. "PETA says such releases are used mostly for wedding celebrations and memorials. But a spokeswoman says butterflies have to struggle to get out of envelopes and boxes." The news article doesn't mention whether or not PETA objected to the little darlin's with nets.
Instead of releasing butterflies, the festival organizers decided to "float butterfly-shaped balloons." Let's see, using balloons which are a potential environmental pollutant and could be a health hazard to animals or children instead of releasing butterflies because the butterflies might have to struggle to get out. I fail to see the logic in this decision.
*At one time I would have mocked them for calling the ordinary childhood activity of catching butterflies "unique". With organizations such as PETA, it won't just be unique, it will be unheard of.
Posted by marybeth at May 10, 2004 10:17 AM PETA