10/09/2003 
SPD representative for the protection of animals criticising PETA. A comment by Dr. Wilhelm Priesmeier, member of the Bundestag
Dr. Wilhelm Priesmeier, SPD parliamentary group's representative for the protection of animals, sharply criticised PETA (People for the ethical treatment of animals):
An advert, which presently is broadcast by MTV music channel all over Germany, is the reason for those sharp words. In the advert, the viewer watches the landscape passing by, looking through a narrow slit and out of a driving vehicle. Out of the
It is one of MTV's habits to broadcast adverts of charitable organizations. In his letter to MTV manager Catherine Mühlemann, Dr. Priesmeier asked her to see to it that the PETA advert be left out of the programme.
Although regularly having talks with representatives from various societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Dr. Priesmeier abstained from directly turning to PETA in this matter:
To me it is fully unacceptable to try and stir up public opinion by making inadmissible and tasteless comparisons of present time events with history!
An advert, which presently is broadcast by MTV music channel all over Germany, is the reason for those sharp words. In the advert, the viewer watches the landscape passing by, looking through a narrow slit and out of a driving vehicle. Out of the
off, rap artist Thomas D. (well-known as a singer for the German pop band
Die Fantastischen Vier) speaks a text which unambiguously insinuates the transporting of Jews to the concentration camps during World War Two (
They got us in the dark and -- blowing us hard all the time -- pushed us into the wagons ...). By the end only of the short film the viewer learns that it speaks about transports of animals for slaughter and that PETA is behind this campaign.
It is one of MTV's habits to broadcast adverts of charitable organizations. In his letter to MTV manager Catherine Mühlemann, Dr. Priesmeier asked her to see to it that the PETA advert be left out of the programme.
Although regularly having talks with representatives from various societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Dr. Priesmeier abstained from directly turning to PETA in this matter:
Discussing about animal protection matters on a wide social basis -- and even argue about them from time to time -- undoubtedly is necessary. However, everyone who takes advantage of the darkest chapter of our history for the purpose of just making cheap propaganda and who thus ridicules the victims of the Nazi genocide, every such person rules himself out as a person that I would want to talk to.
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