PETA is advocating for the retirement of Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog famously known for predicting the weather in the U.S. each year. They propose replacing him with a giant coin.
The animal rights group has written a letter to Tom Dunkel, the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, asking them to substitute the well-known groundhog with a large coin for the celebration of Groundhog Day on February 2.
PETA expressed their opinion stating that the individual in question is not a meteorologist and should not be taken advantage of every year for the sake of generating tourism revenue.
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PETA made a request to the club in 2022, suggesting that they should use a persimmon tree instead of Phil to forecast the weather.
"At the time, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk stated that Phil is highly skilled in digging, searching for food, and embracing a natural way of life, rather than being knowledgeable in meteorology."
PETA is aiming to assist the groundhog club in starting a more compassionate February 2nd by advocating for Phil and his companion to be relocated to a trustworthy sanctuary. This way, Phil can live a life free of concerns, without being handled and spun around, and have the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors that he is currently unable to do in his Plexiglas enclosure, according to Newkirk.
For over a century, people from near and far, including both residents and visitors, have made their way to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Their purpose is to witness the annual event where Phil, a small and furry creature, comes out of his temporary dwelling. Depending on whether Phil sees his shadow or not, it will indicate either six more weeks of winter or an early arrival of spring.
The film Groundhog Day, featuring Bill Murray as a weatherman who is frustrated and trapped in a recurring situation, was made available to the public in 1993.
Famous individuals who attempted to uncover the alleged existence of the Illuminati. Image credit: Taylor Alexis Heady.
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