For good reason, animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is boycotting GoDaddy.com and its mastermind and CEO, Bob Parsons, after he recently shared a disturbing video via Twitter. In said video, Parsons, who was visiting Zimbabwe at the time (for unexplained reasons, a vacation maybe?) shot and killed an elephant and proudly hailed his work. In his defense he explained that though what he did may be perceived as wrong, it was only in helping the locality. Apparently, nearby crops were threatened by the wildlife, and it is a necessary evil. Further stating in an interview with CNN, “A lot of the people who are upset about this are animal lovers … their heart is in the right place, but they just don’t understand the situation.”
In the words of Ingrid Newkirk, PETA President, “If Bob Parsons really wanted to help African villagers, he would use his money to promote one of the many effective, non-lethal methods available to protect crops – not act like a little boy with a gun”. Well said Ingrid, being the elephants are a threatened and vulnerable set of species, why not put the little bugger out with a mild tranquilizer and move him to a reserve? Either way, this is sure to be an issue that won’t die down quickly, and in this one, I’m with PETA.