For Speedy Launch:
January 22, 2024
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
Punxsutawney, Pa. –
PETA is looking for some severe change this Groundhog Day: The group despatched a letter this morning to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Membership’s president, Tom Dunkel, providing to ship a large gold coin to interchange Punxsutawney Phil—whose climate predictions are not any extra dependable than a coin toss—on the situation that Phil lastly be allowed to dwell out his days at a good sanctuary. PETA notes that groundhogs are naturally shy animals who take pleasure in burrowing, exploring, and hibernating—that are not possible within the small enclosure Phil is saved in year-round on the native library.
“Groundhogs can’t make heads or tails of the climate forecast and shouldn’t be jostled round by giant members of a unique species and thrust in entrance of noisy crowds for a photograph op,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is urging The Punxsutawney Groundhog Membership to ship Phil to a good sanctuary that may give him the care he wants and to not deal with him as a wildlife prop.”
PETA suggests coining a brand new identify for the vacation, similar to “Climate There’ll Be Extra Winter Day,” to show respect for Phil and set an instance for the way finest to chuck this drained custom. The group’s earlier presents to supply a prepared human alternative for Phil, who would dwell in his small enclosure and take his place making unscientific climate predictions, or to plant a persimmon tree, whose seeds are believed by some farmers to point the climate forward, nonetheless stand.
PETA—whose motto reads, partly, that “animals should not ours to make use of for leisure”—factors out that Each Animal Is Somebody and presents free Empathy Kits for individuals who want a lesson in kindness. For extra info, please go to PETA.org or comply with the group on X (formerly Twitter), Fb, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Dunkel follows.
January 22, 2024
Tom Dunkel
President
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Membership
Expensive Mr. Dunkel:
I’m writing as soon as once more on behalf of Folks for the Moral Therapy of Animals—PETA entities have greater than 9 million members and supporters globally, together with many hundreds in Pennsylvania—this time with a brand new supply that those that really adore Phil will actually flip over: Give Phil the retirement celebration he deserves, full with a ticket to a good sanctuary, and we’ll ship you a two-sided large coin to forecast the climate in his place. This makes cents for a number of causes:
A large coin—that includes one facet that predicts “six extra weeks of winter” and the opposite an “early spring”—would offer the Groundhog Membership with a way of climate prognostication that might little doubt find yourself being extra correct than Phil, a sentient particular person who absolutely has by no means consented to being the city’s “meteorologist.” A current examine carried out by researchers at Lakehead College in Thunder Bay, Ontario, confirmed that “past a shadow of a doubt” groundhogs are not any higher at predicting when spring will arrive than flipping a coin. A coin lands on the identical facet about 50% of the time, whereas Phil’s predictions have been proven to be right round simply 40% of the time.
After all, accuracy is the least of the the explanation why it’s time for change. Simply as consuming groundhogs is now not a part of the annual custom, forcing a shy, delicate animal out into the chilly, waving him round overhead in entrance of loud crowds, and treating him like an object shouldn’t be, both. At present, we all know that groundhogs are very smart animals. When allowed, they keep away from people, create intricate networks of underground burrows, talk with each other, and even climb timber. Maintaining Phil confined year-round on the native library in order that sooner or later a yr he can carry income and a spotlight to Punxsutawney merely isn’t humane.
We hope this would be the yr you make heads or tails of why retiring Phil would show respect and compassion and set a beautiful instance for the way finest to maneuver past “Groundhog” Day. You could possibly even coin a brand new identify for the day, maybe “Climate There’ll Be Extra Winter Day.” If we didn’t fairly “name it” with this supply, our earlier presents to ship a human alternative or a persimmon tree nonetheless stand. We’ll be sending you some picket “Spherical Tuit” cash to encourage you to get round to it—that’s, honoring Phil within the kindest approach by retiring him.
Thanks for listening to our two cents. We sit up for listening to from you, as at all times.
Very actually yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
President