PETA President Is "Unstoppable" as She Makes Her Way to South Florida

"We are fast moving to a postanimal economy."

Or so says Ingrid Newkirk, cofounder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — the world’s largest animal-rights organization.

“Even a plastic doll didn’t want to be seen at Sea World," Newkirk says, referring to Mattel’s recent decision to quit making Sea World Barbie. “Sea World has agreed that they will no longer breed orcas to live their lives in tiny cement tanks. Ringling [Bros. Circus] is taking elephants off the road by May. We have companies like North Face and Patagonia selling fabulous, lightweight, fashionable, comfortable, synthetic wool. All manner of dissection in the school is going the way of pigeons carrying messages.”

Newkirk is traveling the country in support of her new tour, "Unstoppable," and she's bringing her message of cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable lifestyle.

“The reason we chose ‘Unstoppable’ is because the movement to recognize animals as simply ‘others like us’ is unstoppable,” Newkirk says. “It’s catching on in every facet of life, from how we dress to how we eat to how entertain ourselves to how we test products.”

One of subjects she will be discussing this tour is how easy making the transition to vegan, compassionate living has become.

“You can have a fish fillet that’s not made of fish so people needn’t worry about overfishing, mercury poisoning, or eating fish when you’re pregnant. You can have heart-healthy egg replacer that tastes just like egg. There’s even vegan caviar.”

Newkirk promises that her optimistic talk will be filled with humor, inspiring videos, and easy suggestions for anyone wishing to lead a kinder life.

“I want to show [people] behind the curtain — what’s happening to animals and the fabulous options we have, because, as consumers, we rule the world.”

Joining Newkirk at the Fort Lauderdale event will be Nanci Alexander — fellow animal advocate, 30-year vegan, and proprietor of Sublime restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

“It was [PETA’s] information that turned me on to 24/7 activism. I started just by sending a check and didn’t want to read the literature. And then I started reading and saw I had to do more than just send in a check.”

And do more she did: Sublime donates 100 percent of profits to animal causes. Known as a place to see and be seen, Sublime is often frequented by celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson, Alec Baldwin, and Alicia Silverstone.

Newkirk is looking forward to visiting Fort Lauderdale and catching up with Alexander.

“[Nanci] is just a wonderful philanthropist, a kind-hearted soul, and an activist through and through. It will be a pleasure to see her, and I have many, many friends in that area,” Newkirk says.

Join Ingrid Newkirk and Nanci Alexander for PETA’s "Unstoppable" tour at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Cinema Paradiso, located at 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $25 for PETA members, $30 for nonmembers. Students and senior citizens with ID receive a discount of $5. To purchase tickets or for VIP package information, visit peta.org/UnstoppableFlorida or contact Emma Keilbey at 323-210-2262 or [email protected].

Sublime Restaurant & Bar is located at 1431 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-615-1431, or visit sublimerestaurant.com.