“It’s high time that humans were tried for crimes against our kind;
They’ve a history of butchery, callousness, I remind.
Proof? Just look at their shop shelves, their fridges and freezers too,
For they’re bulging with body parts, that they boil, roast, barbeque.”

“That’s your brothers and sisters, your mums and dads, don’t forget,
With the exception of course, of those that they make their pet.
On the one hand they pamper, take us to a pet boutique,
On the other, they slaughter us, and gorge on us all week”

“They also fatten us too, with food that their own kind need,
Then when we’re looking healthy — they slay us; betrayal indeed!
What gets to us, is: They’ve their own food — veggies, grains, nuts, fruit,
So, why polish off our kind? They do have a substitute.”

“But oh no — it’s us they want, they’ve a taste for flesh and blood,
Thus, we’re destined for a bullet, a quick violent club.
Or death by whatever other means they cruelly enlist,
Like a slash across the throat, or a sudden wrenching twist.”

“And then they talk about love, with our bodies on their plate,
And groan over violence, yet, over us, salivate.
They deplore wanton killing, yet, stab us with knife and fork,
And the very next day, with loaded gun, more poor creatures stalk.”

“Yes, they cut us into pieces, treat us like we’re just meat,
When we’re living creatures too, not food for humans to eat.
They’ve perverted their taste buds, justified killing as well,
In order to devour us — when with them — we’re meant to dwell.”

W H Y ?

BECAUSE heart disease is the number one killer in America.
BECAUSE it doesn't take anything away from a human to be kind to an animal.
BECAUSE every year 100 million animals are killed for their fur.
BECAUSE steel leg-hold traps will become obsolete when people stop wearing fur.
BECAUSE a tradition of eating animals "for traditions sake" should be replaced
... with better traditions.
BECAUSE wincing at animal suffering speaks well of our humanity.
BECAUSE eating meat and dairy is unhealthy for us.
BECAUSE it takes 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of beef.
BECAUSE it only takes 1 pound of grain to produce 1 pound of bread.
BECAUSE 400 pound animals in factory farms are trapped inside 7 foot crates, 22 inches wide.
BECAUSE fattening animals up for slaughter produces environmental waste.
BECAUSE most animals are vertebrae (having spinal columns) just like us.
BECAUSE animals feel pain.
- SHAUN MONSON

EARTHLINGS is a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called "non-human providers." The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby .

With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animals shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, EARTHLINGS uses hidden cameras and never before seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests. There are many worthy animal rights films available, but this one transcends the setting. EARTHLINGS cries to be seen. Highly recommended!

EARTHLINGS has taken five years to produce. What began as a series of Public Service Announcements on spaying and neutering pets, evolved into a feature-length film on every major animal-related issue. Writer/Director Shaun Monson began the process by shooting footage at animal shelters in South Central L.A., Long Beach and North Hollywood. The PSAs were soon completed as his interest moved to other problem areas, like food and scientific research. In time, he accumulated a small library of material from several animal welfare organizations, and started editing. The process was a slow one. As footage gradually came in, Joaquin's narration was recorded (in stages), and a soundtrack was added. Along with all of Moby's music, some original pieces were also written for the film. In 2005, EARTHLINGS premiered at the Artivist Film Festival, (where it won Best Documentary Feature), followed by the Boston International Film Festival, (where it won the Best Content Award), and most recently at the San Diego Film Festival, (where it won Best Documentary Film, as well as the Humanitarian Award to Joaquin Phoenix for his work on the film). EARTHLINGS will be available on DVD on November 4, 2005.