Posted May 18, 2011 by Ryan Huling
Hola!
Last week, I had the great pleasure of being invited to speak at Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon—a major university located in Monterrey, Mexico. I ended up speaking to a crowd of 400 enthusiastic college students, talking about PETA’s unique tactics and innovative strategies to promote animal rights. The crowd loved it, and they even surprised me with a certificate at the end, presented by a student wearing an “I Am Not a Nugget” chicken costume!
To make the most of my trip, I also brought along peta2′s provocative Liberation Project exhibit, which we set up on campus for two jam-packed days. Working alongside me was my host, Annie Leal, a former PETA intern who is single-handedly veganizing Mexico, one person at a time. Here are some pics we snapped during the visit!
Of course, let’s not kid ourselves—we all know what you want to hear about. HOW WAS THE FOOD?
The answer is “mind-blowing.” Sure, we all think we know what Mexican food looks like (pineapple guacamole and nachos), but as I discovered on my trip, the authentic stuff blows our Americanized version out of the water.
I’m talking about hand-made gorditas, stuffed with fresh beans, veggies, potatoes, corn—even cactus! It was my first time ever eating cacti, but certainly won’t be the last. I even had the opportunity to eat with Annie’s family for a traditional (vegan) Mexican dinner, complete with freshly-made guacamole, soyrizo with diced onions, and a creamy bean and corn sauce that defies description.
And as if that weren’t enough, Annie even welcomed me to her lovely country with a homemade gift basket, chock full of accidentally vegan Mexican snack foods. Oh Annie, you know the way to a peta2 staffer’s heart…
Olé, indeed.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Hello! My name is Nina, and I am a musician-in-training, and I play 7 instruments. I am a liberal, an LGBT activist, avid reader, composer, singer, and poi spinner. I am vegan, and a strong supporter of animal rights.
Born and raised in Mexico. I love vegan food and animals!
I was born in Canada and love peta2. I table every month and meet new people:older and younger. I love music and play the recorder. I'm a 6 year spelling bee champion. Again I love peta2!
I'm tall, I love sewing, fashion and the environment, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.) Obviously, I love animals! :)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
739 days ago
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It’s awesome knowing that peta has reached mexico
i was living in Florida for almost 15 year and i’ve been a vegetarian for almost 4 years (1 years vegan)it’s tough being the only vegitarian in school or in the family and i mean whole family(aunt, uncle grandparents, cosines, etc.) but knowing i’m not alone and everytime someone criticize me for being a vegitarian i know i’m making a diference and that i am not alone or never will be.
THANKS ANNIE AND RYAN
740 days ago
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I’m Mexican and iI have known PETA 2 for several years!
740 days ago
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Food in Mexico has been historically more vegetarian than carnivorian, since prehispanic ages mexicans are used to consume lots of vegetables, leguminous plants, fruits and some sort of roots (like potatoes and so on…) and some meat too but because of the natural conditions meat was not the basis of the regular diet, maybe insects but is pretty rare now. If the commet is allowed, since the boom of globalization and American junk food Mexican diet has been changing to a more carnivorian diet. Is pretty easy being vegan or vegetarian in Mexico, but, as a vegetarian I might say that people is not really aware of the semi-vegetarian condition of traditional mexican diet, and combined with the new conditions of global alimentation industry being a vegetarian here is not technically difficult but a bit socially difficult in the “new” global way of life…
740 days ago
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Mr. Felipe Reyes you are so right , i mean is difficult but not that much y had just a month been a vegetarian and in this time my life has changed . im preatty proud of myself , cuz even if averybody is eating meat i go for the rice or the tofu , the last time when people of my family were eating a ” parrillada” i was eating potatooes with a little butter , the best part is THEY WERE delicious!!
756 days ago
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Hello! Wow, I didn´t think that PETA was in Mexico but I suggest you to come to Toluca, it would be amazing to have you with us, I think that it would be good to have an exposition just as Nuevo Leon`s one, if you plan to come to Toluca let me know please! thank you!
761 days ago
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thanks 4 coming, thats very interesting! and i like a lot the information that you made for us. come back 2 Monterrey
762 days ago
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Ryan it was a pleasure having you in Mexico. Next time you should come for a week!
762 days ago
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So happy you enjoyed your time here Ryan!
Can’t wait to have peta2 back in Mexico!
762 days ago
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…..and of curse i hope you have had a wonderful time here in mexico….
762 days ago
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Hi im from mexico , just yeterday i was looking for some stuff in the web and Peta call my atention , so now im traying to do something about animal cruelty …. i opened a count on peta but i doesnt works……can you help me? or tell me what to do …….
Melisa from Mexico
762 days ago
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I wish Americans acted the same why about animal Tigris.
762 days ago
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That is awesome!