PETA calls for ‘weather reveal’ cake to replace Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day
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In lieu of Punxsutawney Phil forecasting the weather on Groundhog Day, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering to send a “weather reveal” vegan cake this year.
PETA sends a letter annually to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Tom Dunkel suggesting an alternative predicting method in exchange for the conclusion of Phil’s duties.
“When allowed to be themselves, groundhogs avoid humans, create intricate networks of underground burrows, communicate with one another and even climb trees, but poor Phil is denied all of that for a tired old gimmick,” Ingrid Newkirk, PETA president, said Tuesday.
A play on popular gender reveal videos, the vegan cake alternative would be cut to reveal either blue, signifying six more weeks of winter, or pink, denoting an early spring, according to PETA.
The organization in the past has offered to provide a gold coin for a coin toss or a human replacement who would live in Phil’s small enclosure and make “unscientific weather predictions.”
“Year after year, Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, whisked on stage and subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds and flashing lights against all his natural instincts,” the letter reads. “If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear — not volunteer to live year-round in captivity.”
If the cake isn’t sufficient, PETA offered an alternative in this year’s letter.
“We’d be happy to send you a large thermometer for Gobbler’s Knob instead that reads, ‘If it’s still cold, it’s still winter,’ which would aptly represent the absurdity of the current form of this tired old spectacle,” the letter says. “We look forward to hearing from you, as always.”
Groundhog Day festivities are set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob — including Phil’s early morning weather prediction.