Ingrid Newkirk has always had a kinship with animals, but these days 'I almost don’t see the fur and the feathers, I see the person. I don’t see why other people don’t see it.'
HENRY MANCE: ‘The animal rights movement is on a relative high, with the rise of veganism across the US and Europe and the decision by various fashion houses to stop using fur. But Ms Ingrid Newkirk co-founder of perhaps the world’s most notorious animal rights organisation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), has no intention of retiring from the organisation that she set up in 1980. “Couldn’t possibly. Would love to, would love to have never started, but ain’t going to happen”…
Two months before her 70th birthday, she is unashamed workaholic. “I keep thinking, time — where did it go?” she says, staring at her wrist for dramatic effect. “I’ve got to hurry up”… She is determined to “completely revolutionise the clothing industry”, making wool as unacceptable as fur, which Peta targeted using adverts of naked supermodels. She also wants people to take an “all-encompassing” view of animals, instead of focusing on vegan “doughnuts and cupcakes”. “I don’t need to pick a fight — it’s out there, crying for it,” she smiles…
She explains that she has always had a kinship with animals, but these days “I almost don’t see the fur and the feathers — I see the person . . . I don’t see why other people don’t see — there’s a man looking at you, there’s a child.” Well, I say, there are differences between species. “What? What important fundamental difference of any sort is there?” She rolls her eyes with complete disdain. And for a split-second, I see the resolve that once faced her poor office assistant. It’s hardly worth disagreeing. You turn if you want to; Ingrid Newkirk isn’t for turning…
Ms Newkirk finds today’s media environment less intellectually satisfying and does not pretend to grasp fully social media on which Peta, with its millions of followers, now relies heavily. I’m totally immersed in [the organisation], it’s just that some parts I don’t understand”… Peta is now an organisation with a $56m annual budget, and Ms Newkirk guides its operations from India to Australia. “We now have the history of the organisation for 40 years, so instead of someone having to spend a lot of time figuring something out and maybe getting it wrong, I can often lend a helping hand”.’ SOURCE…
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