‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ Must Extend to All Animals This Easter
As Easter Sunday is just around the corner and some families plan to eat lamb, PETA has placed billboards showing Moses brandishing a bunch of carrots and reminding everyone that there are no exceptions to the 5th commandment. Look at our new ads in Rome:
Translation: “Remember, ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’. Go Vegan”
“Thou shalt not kill” must extend to all animals, including the lambs who are slaughtered for Easter dinners.
Following Pope Francis’ message of kindness for Lent, PETA has asked His Holiness to follow in the footsteps of St Francis of Paola, who took a vow of non-violence and refused to eat animals. In our letter to the pope, we asked him to encourage Catholics to extend the message of charity and compassion to all living beings by leaving animals off their plates this Easter.
Extend Compassion to All Animals
The Bible clearly states that God’s design for the world was one in which humans and other animals coexisted peacefully and that humans were caregivers – not killers. In Genesis 1:29, God says that the Earth’s seed-bearing plants and fruit “will be yours for food”, not that we should eat gentle baby sheep.
Before marking the resurrection of Jesus – the Lamb of God – by eating lambs, think of who your meal was.
Sheep are social and sensitive animals who feel pain, happiness, and fear just like we do. Similarly to you and me, when lambs experience stress or isolation, they show signs of depression by hanging their heads and avoiding positive actions. They also get scared when separated from their social group or approached by strangers.
Before they end up on our plates, lambs are packed onto lorries, often without food or water, for gruelling journeys to the abattoir. Just try to imagine how terrifying this experience is for them. Sheep can live for over ten years, but lambs are killed for their flesh at under six months old. At the abattoir, some lambs are still conscious and aware as workers cut their throats.
What You Can Do
Commemorate the resurrection with a merciful vegan meal that leaves God’s creation in peace.
Sign PETA’s vegan pledge and we’ll help you get started on your vegan adventure. We promise that it won’t feel like a sacrifice!
We’ll send you weekly meal plans, guides to the latest vegan options in UK supermarkets, quick and easy recipes, and ideas for delicious meals on a budget:
