
Protest art piece planned to starve 3 piglets to death. Then they escaped.
Protest art piece planned to starve 3 piglets to death. Then they escaped.
Three piglets have vanished from a controversial Denmark art exhibit in which they were deprived of food and water as a form of protest of mass meat production.
Since debuting last week, the Copenhagen art installation − titled "And Now You Care?" − has captured headlines after an artist caged three live piglets and let them starve. The decision was part of an effort to raise awareness of the cruelty caused by the nation's pork industry, according to the Washington Post and The New York Times.
Chilean artist Marco Evaristti said the animals disappeared after a maintenance crew briefly exited the room to clean a toilet, the Times reported. He said that animal rights activists were around at the scene.
"After four minutes, they come out and it was no pigs," Evaristti told the Times.
Copenhagen police have not confirmed whether the disappearance was theft though Evaristti reported it as such, according to the Post. He later learned that one of his staff had sought the help of the Organization Against the Suffering of Animals to snatch the piglets.
USA TODAY has reached out to Evaristti and Copenhagen police for comment.
Evaristti defends exhibit amid death threats
Evaristti has said he has experienced outrage and death threats against him and his family following his exhibit.
"I receive serious threats, hate letters - so my son is threatened and pictured with a garden cross on his forehead," he wrote on Facebook.
Yet he has not wavered from his mission of showing the world the cruelty that pigs face, adding that he initially believed those on his team shared that same vision, the Washington Post reported.
"I wanted them to die," Evaristti told the Post. "I wanted the people in Denmark to see how a piglet starves to death."
High demand for pigs has led to a rise in both pig breeding and piglet morality, the Post reported. Denmark produces around 28 million pigs annually, according to the data from the Danish Food and Agriculture Council.
Animal rights group says disappearance was not burglary or theft
Organization Against the Suffering of Animals said in a Monday statement that the disappearance was not burglary or theft but rather an "arranged transfer" between one of Evaristti's staff.
The colleague contacted the non-profit Saturday morning to say the pigs could be picked up that day, according to the statement.
"We quickly initiated a plan for the collection, which was completed as agreed. During the pickup, there was no burglary or theft, and Evaristti's colleague delivered subsequent pig feed to our driver," the group said, adding that they want to "emphasize that our purpose in this case has been to keep the animals safe."
Evaristti has previously hosted other controversial art exhibits, including one where people could turn on a blender with a swimming goldfish inside and another where he made and served meatballs out of his own body fat with agnolotti pasta, People Magazine reported.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senator 'Fighting for His Life' After He Was Shot While Speaking to Supporters at a Park, Teen Arrested
A senator and presidential hopeful was shot multiple times during an event with supporters at a public park on June 7 Miguel Uribe Turbay was speaking with locals in the Fontibón neighborhood of Colombia when the incident took place 'He is fighting for his life," the politician's wife said in a statementA presidential hopeful was shot multiple times while speaking to supporters at a public park over the weekend. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a senator part of Colombia's center-right Centro Democrático party, was attacked on Saturday, June 7, while in the Fontibón neighborhood of the country's capital Bogotá. A 15-year-old, who was carrying a Glock-style pistol, has since been arrested, according to CNN and the BBC, both of which cited the local attorney general's office. Colombia's president Gustavo Petro said during a television appearance later that day that it wasn't clear if the teen was acting alone, per The New York Times. According to an update shared on X by Turbay's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, the senator was "fighting for his life" following the shooting. She thanked his supporters for their "solidarity" and "prayers" in a later statement on Sunday, June 8, writing that updates about his health would be shared by the hospital. 'He came out well from the surgery,' his wife later told reporters, per CNN, which cited the Agence France-Presse (AFP). 'He fought the first battle and fought it well. He is fighting for his life.' Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, the hospital where Turbay was admitted, announced in a statement on June 8 that the politician was treated with procedures on his head and his left thigh and remains in intensive care. The hospital called his condition "extremely serious." The BBC reported that Turbay was shot three times on June 7, including twice in the head. Turbay was speaking to supporters at the park over the weekend when loud bangs rang out. He fell to the ground after appearing to be shot from behind, according to widely shared footage from the scene. Later footage showed supporters assisting and carrying the presidential candidate, who appeared to be covered in blood, as he was placed near the hood of a white car. At least three other people were also shot at the park, including a 20-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and a 15-year-old, the Secretaría de Salud de Bogotá said. Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said on June 8, per CNN, that Turbay has since entered 'the critical hours' of recovery following his own procedures. President Petro added during his broadcast on June 7 that "no resource should be spared" when tracking down those responsible for the shooting. "Not a single peso," he said, per the Times, adding that Turbay's security would be investigated for protocol failures. Eyewitness Victor Mosquera told reporters outside of the hospital that he was near the senator during the shooting and still had blood on his clothing while outside of the hospital, per the Times. 'Everyone was screaming and running,' he said, adding, "When I turned around, I saw Miguel lying next to me.' Pedro Sánchez, Colombia's defense minister, has since announced on X that a reward is being offered of up to 3 billion Colombian pesos — roughly $728,000 — for more information. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other politicians from the U.S. and Latin America condemned the shooting of Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe on Sunday. Rubio blamed the assassination attempt on "violent leftist rhetoric" originating from the Colombian government. Uribe, a Colombian senator, is currently fighting for his life after sustaining three gunshot wounds, one of which was to the head. "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe. This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government," Rubio wrote. "Having seen firsthand Colombia's progress over the past few decades to consolidate security and democracy, it can't afford to go back to dark days of political violence. President Petro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials," he added. Who Is Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, Former Marxist Guerrilla And Country's First Leftist Leader? Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno also condemned the attack in a statement on social media. Read On The Fox News App "The assassination attempt on leading presidential candidate Miguel Uribe is a vile attack on democracy. This evil act must be investigated and anyone responsible, directly or indirectly, must face swift punishment," Moreno wrote. Chilean President Gabriel Boric also reacted to Uribe's shooting. "My strongest condemnation of the attack against Miguel Uribe Turbay, pre-presidential candidate in Colombia. In a democracy, violence has no place or justification," Boric wrote. Fbi's Kash Patel Vows 'You're Going To Know Everything We Know' About Trump Assassination Attempt Authorities say Uribe was shot by a boy less than 15 years old, and they are investigating who was behind the attack. Police recovered a 9mm "Glock-type" pistol from the suspect. "Miguel is fighting for his life at this moment. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are attending to him," Maria Claudia Tarazona, Miguel's wife, wrote on her husband's X account. "I ask everyone to join together in a prayer chain for Miguel's life." Tarazona later announced that Uribe's initial surgery at the hospital "went well," though he remains in intensive care. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Uribe's chief opponent in the presidential race, said the attack crossed a "red line" and ordered an investigation. He also canceled a planned trip to France this week, citing the "seriousness of the events." Colombia's Ministry of Defense has offered a nearly $750,000 reward for information relating to the assassination attempt. Reuters contributed to this reportOriginal article source: Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe


Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Colombian senator and would-be presidential candidate is shot and wounded at Bogota rally
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a possible candidate in the country's presidential election next year, was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Bogota on Saturday, authorities said. His conservative Democratic Center party released a statement calling it 'an unacceptable act of violence.' The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former President Alvaro Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed Uribe Turbay, 39, covered in blood being held by several people. So far, no official report has been released on the senator's condition. 'Miguel is fighting for his life,' his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, wrote on the senator's X account, urging Colombians to pray for him. The Attorney General's Office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator 'received two gunshot wounds to his body' in the attack, which wounded two others. The statement from the office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. Colombia's government said it was offering a reward for the capture of all those responsible. 'Respect life, that's the red line,' President Gustavo Petro said in a message posted on his X account. Shortly after making the post, Petro canceled a planned trip to France 'due to the seriousness of the events,' according to a presidential statement. Uribe Turbay is the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of the country's most violent periods. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of the current term of Petro, Colombia's first leftist president. The senator announced his presidential bid in March. Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana said that at the time of the attack Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and 20 other people. A minor who allegedly participated in the attack was apprehended at the scene and was being treated for a leg injury, he said. 'I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts,' said Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the 'United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.' and he urged President Petro 'to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.' 'This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government,' Rubio said. Reactions poured in from around Latin America, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric saying 'there is no room or justification for violence in a democracy,' and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa saying 'we condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.' In Colombia, former President Uribe said 'they attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .