Steve Jobs, Innovator And Vegetarian, Praised By PETA

Steve Jobs may be remembered most for his innovations in technology, but PETA and other green groups will also remember the Apple co-founder for his kindness to animals and efforts to help the environment.

Jobs, 56, passed away Wednesday after an extended battle with cancer.

The animal rights organization praised Jobs for his vegetarianism and his support of animals through the "Pixar film studio [that] created heartwarming and thought-provoking movies about unlikely animal heroes."

PETA also celebrated Jobs for playing a role in Disney's 2006 decision not to renew its Happy Meal toy deal with McDonald's.

They said of Jobs, "If his movies or his lifestyle inspired even one person to become a vegetarian, he no doubt saved hundreds of animals' lives, and for that we thank him."

Steve Jobs may also be remembered for his efforts to improve Apple's environmental image. Earlier this year, Apple was criticized in China for allegedly "turning a blind eye as its suppliers pollute the country."

According to VatorNews, despite the criticism and the fact that "Apple could have had greener policies from the beginning ... the extent to which Apple literally cleaned up its act is what really commands respect."

Honoring the greener moments in Jobs' career with Apple, TreeHugger praised him for withdrawing Apple from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of the organization's climate change denial.

Comments

[Neil20]

11:39 AM on 10/09/2011

God Bless your soul. We ain't gonna get another Steve Jobs for a long, long time. Become vegetarians. They are smarter in every way as Steve proved himself to be. Sadly, Americans are too meat-centric. Meat is a very environmentally unfriendly diet which Americans don't realize.

[99think99]

02:20 PM on 10/08/2011

Steve,
You're eating lifestyle kept you alive much longer than the typical prognosis for pancreatic cancer.
We are all grateful!

[Natalie Zaracko]

04:46 AM on 10/08/2011

This makes me love the guy even more. Cool!

[AllureAye]

11:43 AM on 10/07/2011

I thought he was a Pescetarian?

[theveggiedude]

08:24 PM on 10/08/2011

It hasn't been confirmed. He is known to eat at sushi places, but then so do I (vegan sushi). He started out as a fruitarian in late teens and then became vegan. Maybe his upcoming book will shed light on this, it is possible he indulged in some fish, but my friends at Apple always saw him eating vegan food. When Deer Hunter finally came to the Mac, he said 'no comment' when asked if he liked the game. That's Steve the diplomat.

[nfischet]

09:32 AM on 10/07/2011

he had one heck of a corporation,didn't he? Look at what he did with all the money that he made....way to go,R I P !

[johnfor3]

08:36 AM on 10/07/2011

Jobs made all our lives a bit easier with the computer advances and I thank him for that. Shame he was fooled by a group of animal haters posing as animal lovers!
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petasdirtysecret.cfm

[kati]

11:27 AM on 10/07/2011

He wasn't fooled, he knew that these dogs and cats would suffer greatly being killed in gas chambers, as is the rule in some, mostly southern states. A needle is kinder, no question about that. You are full of hate because you feel threatened by Peta.

[paddlerchick]

08:08 AM on 10/07/2011

One of the "best" things about Steve Jobs is that he kept his family and personal life private. As opposed to other billionaires who feel the need to flaunt their wealth, he lived a very private life. We can only guess how he lived and I doubt if he would want any of us to know.

[aFtersootdamP]

02:51 AM on 10/07/2011

Low fat diets increases your chances of cancers. Jobs had told reportrers a few years back that some of problems he was having was directly related to lack of protein. Very tricky to get enough protein and fat in your diet as a vegetarian.

[kahalaman]

03:57 AM on 10/07/2011

Been a vegetarian for 40 years and get plenty of protein and fat in my diet.

You appear to have no idea of what you're talking about.

[Caroleeena]

04:08 AM on 10/07/2011

That's just not so. Many entire cultures are vegetarian. They have longer lives and less cancer.

Please share a link where Jobs "told reporters" he was having some problems directly related to his lack of protein. I just do not believe you. Link or it didn't happen.

[brodthebod]

01:15 AM on 10/07/2011

Steve was an is an inspiration to me and our generation. He was born in '55 ...me in '53. It was a great time to grow up and experience rock 'n roll, the love generation, the space age and so many things. Steve took everything he did to a higher level. His technological advances impact everyone, but he was also an environmentalist and animal rights activist. His Pixar films often portrayed animals in heroic roles. He will be missed.

[dvdmon]

11:42 PM on 10/06/2011

Uh, actually, at least according to this article (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/jobs-gets-out-of-the-happy-meal-business/192) was neither a vegan nor a vegetarian, as he ate fish.

[theveggiedude]

08:28 PM on 10/08/2011

I suspect the story might be right, but will wait for his upcoming book for verification.

[darrjt]

11:20 PM on 10/06/2011

No matter what Steve Jobs chose as his lifestyle is non of our business. This man was a genius.

Vegan, cancer they have nothing to do with each other, as far as I know. Our lives are in a much better place because of him. May God greet him with open arms, may he rest in peace knowing what a wonderful job he has done here on earth. He had a tough couple of years and deserves better than what you all are saying.

[Oystercopy]

10:45 PM on 10/06/2011

Vegetarian - Cancer.... Hmmmmm.......? Not a good argument for being Vegan.

[Falconaut]

12:45 AM on 10/07/2011

Really? I'm not a vegetarian but plenty of people who eat meat get cancer so...

[Caroleeena]

04:09 AM on 10/07/2011

He wasn't vegan.
Vegetarians and pescotarians have much lower rates of cancer, especially colon and liver cancer.

[whtwtr123]

10:09 PM on 10/06/2011

Jobs was a great man. Don't destroy our kind thoughts for him PETA.

[Caroleeena]

04:10 AM on 10/07/2011

If you let your thoughts be shaped by other people's thoughts, they're not really your thoughts.

[Just4theHalibut]

07:27 PM on 10/06/2011

I wonder if Jobs ever actually donated to PETA, if so my admiration of him just dropped a notch.
What Pixar movies is the article refering to? Are they talking about the cartoons where animals (eg Nemo's dad) are given human characterisics-- entertaining but hardly a scientific or truthful approach to life.

[Falconaut]

12:46 AM on 10/07/2011

If you want to watch factual movies watch documentaries.

[Just4theHalibut]

05:26 PM on 10/07/2011

These cartoons are sold to children, who don't know the difference. The main reason that much of the US is over-run with deer -- that carry Lyme disease and cause fatal car crashes-- is that Disney brain-washed my generation that Bambi mourned his mommy (shot by the cruel and sadistic hunter).

[theveggiedude]

08:31 PM on 10/08/2011

If you want scientific or truthful approach to life, go visit a slaughterhouse.

[Just4theHalibut]

09:33 PM on 10/08/2011

If you want a scientific and truthful approach to life, go out and observe nature.
Don't make stuff up and then dazzle unsuspecting children (and, apparently, their equally
naive parents) with an alternate reality.

[Chris Berry]

02:49 PM on 10/06/2011

I had no idea. Way to go Steve.