LogInIt's a "painful reminder of the cruelty cows endure in the meat and dairy industries."
Nintendo
Cow is one of the most adorable characters in Mario Kart World, and now she is even playable! But don't get too attached to her design, as it might change if PETA gets what it wants.
The animal rights organization has asked Nintendo to remove the golden ring from Cow's nose, as it is "a painful reminder of the cruelty cows endure in the meat and dairy industries."
"Since her recent addition to the Mario Kart roster, 'Cow' has taken the world by storm – but did Nintendo spin out on its own banana peel by including a brass ring in her nose? PETA thinks so!"
PETA reminds us all that nose rings are used to forcibly control cows and bulls "by inflicting pain on one of the most sensitive parts of their bodies."
"In the dairy industry, some farmers try to break the maternal bond by running spiked rings through calves’ nostrils, causing their mothers intense pain whenever the calves try to nurse or seek comfort."
So the seemingly innocent accessory that we're used to seeing all our lives in cartoon characters is not harmless at all, and Cow would be better without it, PETA is sure.
"This marvelous Moo Moo’s goofy grin has charmed gamers around the world, but her real-life counterparts who are tormented and violently yanked around by their noses have nothing to smile about," says PETA Senior Vice President Joel Bartlett. "PETA is calling on Nintendo to send a blue shell at this sad nose ring design and let Cow drift toward greener pastures."
The organization has sent a letter to Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, explaining why it's not a good idea to keep the ring.
"We herd there’s a new star in Mario Kart World: Cow! She is already winning hearts everywhere – including ours. But one detail has us hitting the brakes: The brass ring in Cow’s nose. Would you please show empathy towards bovines and remove the nose ring?"
Considering Nintendo's love for suing everybody for everything, I wouldn't be surprised if we get a new design as soon as tomorrow – that is if the company is as receptive to public action as it is to producing it.
What do you think about PETA's move? By the way, the cow has existed in Mario games for a very long time as an obstacle, with that same ring in its nose. But I guess making it a playable character changes things.
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