Animal rights organization PETA is advocating for the retirement of Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog known for predicting the weather in the United States every year. PETA suggests replacing the tradition with a giant coin.
The animal rights group has sent a letter to Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, asking them to replace the well-known groundhog with a large coin for the Groundhog Day celebration on February 2nd.
PETA expressed their concern, stating that the individual mentioned is not a meteorologist and should not be continually exploited for the sake of generating tourism revenue.
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PETA approached the club in 2022 and suggested the idea of utilizing a persimmon tree as a weather predictor instead of relying on Phil.
"Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, stated that Phil is highly skilled in digging underground, searching for food, and living in harmony with nature, rather than being knowledgeable in meteorology."
Newkirk stated that PETA aims to assist the groundhog club in starting a more compassionate February 2nd by advocating for Phil and his companion to be transferred to a trustworthy sanctuary. This way, Phil can live without any concerns, free from being handled and spun around, and have the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors that he is currently deprived of in his Plexiglas enclosure.
For over a century, people from both the local community and visitors from various places have been journeying to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Their purpose is to witness the appearance of a small and furry creature named Phil, who emerges from his temporary dwelling. Depending on whether Phil sees his shadow or not, it will indicate if there will be six more weeks of winter or an early arrival of spring.
Released in 1993, Groundhog Day is a film featuring Bill Murray as a weatherman who is frustrated and trapped in a repeating time cycle.
Famous individuals who attempted to reveal the alleged secret society known as the Illuminati. Image credit: Taylor Alexis Heady.
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