Articles in this document:

· Amanda Beard, PETA

· Amanda Beard Poses Nude to Help Save Animals on Fur Farms

· Gratuitous shot of Amanda Beard

The AD (JPG image)

Amanda Beard, PETA

Tribune wire reports

Chicago Tribune

7:38 AM CDT, August 6, 2008

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amanda Beard had to launch her naked, anti-fur campaign poster outside the Athletes' Village on Wednesday after Chinese authorities canceled a planned unveiling, citing safety concerns.

In a poster for the animal rights group PETA, the reigning 200-meter breaststroke champion appears naked in front of the U.S. flag and the slogan "Be comfortable in your own skin. Don't wear fur."

Jason Baker, an Asia-Pacific spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the launch was "a bit more dramatic than we had planned" after Chinese security officials visited a hotel where an official news conference had been scheduled and shut down the event.

"From what I've been told from the hotel, the public security bureau showed up at midnight and told them our specific event had to be canceled for safety reasons, without going into any specifics," Baker said. "When I arrived at 8 a.m., there were public security officials in the press conference room we had booked.

"Amanda didn't want her voice to be silenced, so we went ahead and arranged something else -- we never knew if we were going to be stopped at any point."

Baker said the protest was not against China and did not interfere with the Olympics. Police and security did not interfere with the event outside the village's south gate.

"It was a sexy ad really designed for the U.S. market. It was positive, and it was (supposed) to be done in a private function room," Baker said. "I'm surprised they were so concerned, given we've done similar with Asian celebrities in the past."

The 26-year-old Beard, who has posed nude in men's magazines, said she decided to participate in the PETA campaign because she loved animals and was horrified to see how fur was produced for fashion in some places.

"I have seen a lot of the videos, and (it) brings me to tears," the four-time Olympian was quoted saying in a PETA statement. "What (some people) think is pretty is actually something that's very gruesome and gross."

chicagotribune.com

Amanda Beard Poses Nude to Help Save Animals on Fur Farms

PETA

August 2008

View behind-the-scenes footage of the photo shoot here.

Swimmer Amanda Beard might be the sexiest and most compassionate U.S. Olympic athlete of all time. Need proof? Check out the anti-fur ad that she did—naked—for PETA.

Even with her busy and demanding training schedule, Amanda took the time to bare her skin to help save animals' skins. With the tagline "Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin. Don't Wear Fur," Amanda posed nude to help raise awareness of the cruelty inherent in the fur industry.

With Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, Amanda's ad couldn't have come at a better time. An investigation into the fur industry in China—which is where most fur originates—revealed that minks, foxes, dogs, cats, and other animals are kept in tiny wire cages in all weather extremes. In the video footage, animals were strangled or bludgeoned, and they were often still alive and struggling when workers flipped them onto their backs or hung them by their legs or tails to skin them.

The cruelty of the fur industry does not end at the borders of China. Every dog, fox, rabbit, mink, and baby seal suffers immensely, whether they are killed in China, Europe, or North America. "I have seen a lot of the videos, and [it] brings me to tears," Amanda says. "What [some people] think is pretty is actually something that's very gruesome and gross."

The origin of a particular fur product can't be traced, so anyone who wears any fur at all shares the blame for the horrific conditions on fur farms. The only way to prevent such unimaginable cruelty is never to wear any fur.

By signing the pledge below and encouraging your friends and family members to do so as well, you will be joining forces with Amanda to send a powerful message not only to the fur industry but also to designers, retailers, and others who directly profit from the suffering caused by this cruel industry.

getactive.peta.org

Gratuitous shot of Amanda Beard

Cameron Noakes

The Age - Australia

August 8, 2008

LEAPING Larry has dubbed it "Naked SportWaterGate." And I remember a lecturer of mine once explaining to me the connection of voyeurism and sport. Of course, that was a while ago when athletes were not as eager to peel off their kit, in days more subtle, let's say. Of course, you have to wonder, when Beard revealed her animal rights poster this week, was it really for the poor animals, or was this just about Beard and her skin?

theage.com.au