'Injured Bird' Asks Rajasthanis to 'Cut Out Glass-Coated Manja'

For Immediate Release:

23 November 2009

Contact:

Nikunj Sharma (0) 9970802805; NikunjS@petaindia.org

Jaipur -- In a busy part of the city this Tuesday, two "injured birds" will hold a large, kite-shaped sign reading, "Cut Out Glass-Coated Manja". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India aims to show that using glass-coated manja to fly kites injures and kills thousands of birds. The group is encouraging Rajasthanis to boycott glass-coated manja:

Date:     Tuesday, 24 November

Time:     12 noon to 1 pm

Place:    In front of Statue Circle, Jaipur

Why does PETA have a problem with glass-coated manja? The manja used in kite-flying competitions is often gummed and coated with powdered and finely crushed glass, which allows the manja to cut through an opponent's kite line. Unfortunately, glass-coated manja is deadly to thousands of pigeons, crows, owls and other birds who get slashed, wounded and killed when they become entangled in the strings. Animal organisations across the country try their best to save birds who become entangled in manja, but the animals often don't survive.

Glass-coated manja is also responsible for numerous human injuries and deaths every year -- including to people on bicycles, motorcycles and scooters. In one incident in Mumbai, stray manja nearly cut a child's throat. According to a news report, the manja sliced the child's larynx and the surrounding muscles. In another incident, three people in Ahmedabad were decapitated by manja during Makar Sankranti.

"Flying kites with glass-coated manja is against the principle of ahimsa, which Gandhi propagated", says PETA India's Nikunj Sharma. "The land of Gandhi must set an example by banning glass-coated manja."

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