People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to LEGO requesting that the toy company change its farmyard products to make them more realistic for children.
According to PETA, LEGO’s current depictions of farm animals create a false image of life on a farm. The group argues that life on a farm is blood-soaked and connected to slaughter, and therefore, children should be educated about the cruelty of animal farming.
PETA proposed that LEGO convert their farmyard products into animal sanctuaries, which protect and heal animals, rather than breeding them for food and milk. According to the group, this would provide a more accurate representation of the realities of animal farming.
Mimi Bekhechi, a representative of PETA, wrote a detailed letter to the chief executive of LEGO Group, Niels Christiansen. In the letter, she explained how LEGO’s farmyard products do not accurately depict the horrors of farm life for animals. Bekhechi argues that no company should promote animal farming, especially to children.
“Animal farming is a bloody, cruel business and, in 2022, no firm should be promoting it, especially to children,” the PETA rep wrote.
Bekhechi further explained that LEGO’s “pastoral scenes” on farmland are not accurate depictions of the cruel treatment that farmers subject their animals to. Farm animals are often confined to crowded quarters, and many suffer from mistreatment daily. Pigs are often kept in cages, and other farm animals are subjected to similar conditions.
Despite PETA’s letter to LEGO, the toy company has not responded publicly. In contrast, the chief executive of the National Beef Association, Niel Shand, provided a comment about the situation. Shand believes that LEGO’s farmyard products are a tool to teach children about where their food comes from.
Other animal rights activists, such as environmental activist George Monbiot, disagree with Shand’s view. Monbiot argues that children are being taught lies about farms and farmyard life for animals. According to him, children are told a “cozy story” that life on a farm is idyllic and peaceful. The reality, however, is that animals are killed for their flesh and byproducts.
It’s unclear whether PETA’s letter to LEGO will prompt the toy company to make changes to its farmyard products. Some may argue that the group’s request is excessive, while others believe it’s important to educate children about the realities of animal farming. Nonetheless, it’s clear that this issue has sparked a conversation about the best ways to teach children about animal welfare and the importance of ethical treatment.
Source: AWM
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