lappiemum Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 (edited) Not sure who is sillier - PETA or the President of the GroundHog Club that can apparently speak "groundhogese"... I tell you what though, must be tough being a kid in Pennsylvania when a ground hog has a more luxurious lifestyle.... PETA calls for robotic groundhog Posted 1 hour 14 minutes ago Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow. (Reuters: Jason Cohn, file photo) Organisers of America's annual Groundhog Day celebration have dismissed calls to replace the famous ground-dwelling squirrel with a robot. According to folklore, if the groundhog, which hibernates over winter, sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow it will retreat back inside and winter will continue for another six weeks. Groundhog Day, made famous by the movie of the same name, is a holiday celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil, who appeared in the movie, emerges from his burrow. But now animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a robot to spare Phil the glare of the spotlight. Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley describes PETA's request as "very ridiculous". But PETA says the dawn ceremony, which is attended by as many as 40,000 people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, can be traumatising for the groundhog. "Groundhogs are typically shy animals and are likely to feel fear and stress when they are out of their burrows," PETA said in a statement. "Each year on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil is trotted out to face human handling and hundreds of noisy people, flashing lights and cameras." But Mr Deeley disagreed, saying groundhogs may be done hibernating and starting to emerge from their burrows to begin the mating season. He also defended the club against charges of mistreating Phil, saying he gets an annual medical check-up and lives in a zoo enclosure that is air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. "He's treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania," Mr Deeley said. A robotic groundhog would also not be able to communicate its prognostication to the president of the club, who claims to be the only person in the world to speak "groundhogese". "I couldn't talk to a robot," Mr Deeley said. "And the robot couldn't talk groundhogese." For groundhog lovers who are unwilling to spend a cold night waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge, organisers this year are for the first time offering to text the prognostication to people's cell phones. More than 15,000 people have signed up to receive the alert. Edited January 28, 2010 by lappiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 It's hard to know who has too much time on their hands - PETA or Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley, or maybe the groundhog!! It's all pretty inane, but it's just another sign of PETA wanting and getting publicity, and not wanting anyone to interact with animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crysti_Lei Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Not sure who is sillier - PETA or the President of the GroundHog Club that can apparently speak "groundhogese"... I tell you what though, must be tough being a kid in Pennsylvania when a ground hog has a more luxurious lifestyle.... PETA calls for robotic groundhog Posted 1 hour 14 minutes ago Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow. (Reuters: Jason Cohn, file photo) Organisers of America's annual Groundhog Day celebration have dismissed calls to replace the famous ground-dwelling squirrel with a robot. According to folklore, if the groundhog, which hibernates over winter, sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow it will retreat back inside and winter will continue for another six weeks. Groundhog Day, made famous by the movie of the same name, is a holiday celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil, who appeared in the movie, emerges from his burrow. But now animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a robot to spare Phil the glare of the spotlight. Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley describes PETA's request as "very ridiculous". But PETA says the dawn ceremony, which is attended by as many as 40,000 people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, can be traumatising for the groundhog. "Groundhogs are typically shy animals and are likely to feel fear and stress when they are out of their burrows," PETA said in a statement. "Each year on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil is trotted out to face human handling and hundreds of noisy people, flashing lights and cameras." But Mr Deeley disagreed, saying groundhogs may be done hibernating and starting to emerge from their burrows to begin the mating season. He also defended the club against charges of mistreating Phil, saying he gets an annual medical check-up and lives in a zoo enclosure that is air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. "He's treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania," Mr Deeley said. A robotic groundhog would also not be able to communicate its prognostication to the president of the club, who claims to be the only person in the world to speak "groundhogese". "I couldn't talk to a robot," Mr Deeley said. "And the robot couldn't talk groundhogese." For groundhog lovers who are unwilling to spend a cold night waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge, organisers this year are for the first time offering to text the prognostication to people's cell phones. More than 15,000 people have signed up to receive the alert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crysti_Lei Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Not sure who is sillier - PETA or the President of the GroundHog Club that can apparently speak "groundhogese"... I tell you what though, must be tough being a kid in Pennsylvania when a ground hog has a more luxurious lifestyle.... PETA calls for robotic groundhog Posted 1 hour 14 minutes ago Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow. (Reuters: Jason Cohn, file photo) Organisers of America's annual Groundhog Day celebration have dismissed calls to replace the famous ground-dwelling squirrel with a robot. According to folklore, if the groundhog, which hibernates over winter, sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow it will retreat back inside and winter will continue for another six weeks. Groundhog Day, made famous by the movie of the same name, is a holiday celebrated on February 2 each year to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil, who appeared in the movie, emerges from his burrow. But now animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a robot to spare Phil the glare of the spotlight. Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley describes PETA's request as "very ridiculous". But PETA says the dawn ceremony, which is attended by as many as 40,000 people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, can be traumatising for the groundhog. "Groundhogs are typically shy animals and are likely to feel fear and stress when they are out of their burrows," PETA said in a statement. "Each year on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil is trotted out to face human handling and hundreds of noisy people, flashing lights and cameras." But Mr Deeley disagreed, saying groundhogs may be done hibernating and starting to emerge from their burrows to begin the mating season. He also defended the club against charges of mistreating Phil, saying he gets an annual medical check-up and lives in a zoo enclosure that is air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. "He's treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania," Mr Deeley said. A robotic groundhog would also not be able to communicate its prognostication to the president of the club, who claims to be the only person in the world to speak "groundhogese". "I couldn't talk to a robot," Mr Deeley said. "And the robot couldn't talk groundhogese." For groundhog lovers who are unwilling to spend a cold night waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge, organisers this year are for the first time offering to text the prognostication to people's cell phones. More than 15,000 people have signed up to receive the alert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crysti_Lei Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillim Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 oh dear god, words cannot express just how silly PETA is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissindra Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 (edited) back in your clock, cuckoos! Edited January 28, 2010 by Kissindra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now