PETA's glamorous, provocative and definitely committed activist Dan Mathews has new book coming out -- called "Committed."
The Thursday April 12 edition of USA Today included an interview with Mathews. It is on line at http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-04-11-committed_N.htm
That web page includes a picture of the book jacket cover, a take-off on our fearless astronauts that made me laugh out loud. And it links to an excerpt from the book.
USA Today's Craig Wilson introduces the Mathews interview with:
"Dan Mathews isn't just another pretty face, although he was a model in a previous life. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as the high-profile rabble-rouser for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA. He's out with a memoir, Committed, in which he recalls everything from a fish that changed his life to getting arrested to running with celebrities such as Paul McCartney and Pamela Anderson. He talks with USA TODAY about his life in and out of jail."
The short interview is a fun read and touching read.
The April 23 edition of People Magazine (Pg. 49 ) has the following:
Books
Committed
by Dan Mathews
PETA Vice President Dan Mathews, ringleader for the animal rights group's controversial and often outrageous anti-cruelty campaigns, steps out of costume in a revealing memoir.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO FIGHT ANIMAL CRUELTY?
I'd always loved animals. And I found that school bullies who bashed me for being gay were also mutilating the alley cats. When people are cruel, they're cruel.
WHY THE CRAZY ANTICS?
It's better to go too far than not far enough. People want to be entertained, not think intellectually. When we put on a costume or act obnoxious, that's when they notice.
WHICH CAMPAIGNS MAKE YOU PROUDEST?
Ones with sex and humor, like ["I'd] rather go naked than wear fur." Or when I crashed a fashion show dressed as a priest with a "Thou shalt not kill" banner.
RECENT COUPS?
We've been working to get Armani to shed his fur line. As a result of meetings, he's taken it out of his highest-end line and invited me to show a fur exposé to his design team.
EVER GONE TOO FAR?
No, I've bruised egos but never broken bones.
(End of People Magazine piece.)
Both articles offer opportunities for animal friendly letters to the editor -- as will any write-ups you see of the book.
USA Today take letters at http://tinyurl.com/cee7y
and People Magazine takes letters at Editor@people.com
It is, of course, always a good idea to support animal friendly books by buying them. Committed looks like it will be a pleasure to read.
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)
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Date: Sat Apr 14 20:03:23 2007
