Singapore Airlines slammed by animal rights group

An animal rights group in the US has slammed Singapore Airlines for a print advertisement which shows a man sitting on top of an elephant, holding a rod and forcing it to bow to tourists, early this week.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) claimed that the poster advert calling on travellers to “visit colourful India” was offensive as it depicted a man holding a bullhook (ankus).
“There's nothing ‘colorful about tearing elephants away from their families and habitats and forcing them to perform for tourists under the threat of beatings,” said Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President, who grew up in India. “Singapore Airlines is glorifying it with its thoughtless ad."
PETA said that for glorifying the practice, it had awarded Singapore Airlines with its annual ‘Litterbox Award’, saying the awards are given to “companies that have attempted to boost revenues by using ads that stink for animals.”
In response to these recent accusations, Singapore Airlines has replied saying that the advertisement was an old one that hasn’t been used for some time.
25/01/08 e-Travel Blackboard (press release), Australia

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2008