PETA offers to save beach if name is changed
Richard Procter, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Pescadero State Beach could be saved from closure if the ...
Sea Kitten State Park - where humans and sea kittens (read: fish) live in harmony.
That's the idea behind the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' latest campaign, anyway.
PETA sent a letter to California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman on Wednesday offering to pay to keep Pescadero State Beach open, but only if it is renamed Sea Kitten State Beach.
Pescadero State Beach is among the 219 state parks slated for closure under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to close a $26.3 billion deficit.
The term "sea kitten" is an effort to evoke the same sympathy for fish that people feel for cats and dogs, according to PETA Manager of Campaigns Lindsay Rajt.
"Pescadero means 'the place to fish,' so we thought by renaming it 'Sea Kitten State Beach' we could make it the place for fish instead of fishing," she said.
"We're optimistic that (Coleman) will accept our offer," Rajt said.
California parks department could not be reached for comment by press time.
Asked if not renaming the beach to include the term "sea kitten" is a deal breaker, Rajt said: "It would be." Although if the state agreed to prohibit fishing at the beach in return for funds, PETA "would perhaps consider it," she said.
Richard Procter, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Pescadero State Beach could be saved from closure if the ...
Sea Kitten State Park - where humans and sea kittens (read: fish) live in harmony.
That's the idea behind the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' latest campaign, anyway.
PETA sent a letter to California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman on Wednesday offering to pay to keep Pescadero State Beach open, but only if it is renamed Sea Kitten State Beach.
Pescadero State Beach is among the 219 state parks slated for closure under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to close a $26.3 billion deficit.
The term "sea kitten" is an effort to evoke the same sympathy for fish that people feel for cats and dogs, according to PETA Manager of Campaigns Lindsay Rajt.
"Pescadero means 'the place to fish,' so we thought by renaming it 'Sea Kitten State Beach' we could make it the place for fish instead of fishing," she said.
"We're optimistic that (Coleman) will accept our offer," Rajt said.
California parks department could not be reached for comment by press time.
Asked if not renaming the beach to include the term "sea kitten" is a deal breaker, Rajt said: "It would be." Although if the state agreed to prohibit fishing at the beach in return for funds, PETA "would perhaps consider it," she said.